Apparently, the Oil & Gas Industry Would Drill & Frack in Your Back Yard

Even the former Exxon CEO says “Not in MY backyard!”

Letter by Thomas Zielinsky, Weirton Daily Times, December 8, 2021

Recent guest column presenter Mr. Charlie Burd, the executive director of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, gave a stirring account of the great benefits of having gas wells in Weirton. He cited all the reasons why fracking is so great and how it could benefit the city.

His article reminded me of a scene from “The Wizard of Oz.” The line, “pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” came to mind, because two things struck me as very odd. First, he didn’t mention one negative thing about fracking, not one single thing. He said we might experience some minor inconveniences, like loud drilling sounds, and see large tanker trucks on our roadway, congesting traffic even more than it is now, but these should all be considered normal, while we wait for our benefits. That was strangely odd. He made no mention of any health hazards associated with drilling or the potential harm to an aquifer that supplies water to the city. Not one negative thing wrong with fracking.

Secondly, he failed to mention one key fact. He never mentioned that fracking is not allowed in any city in West Virginia but if permits are granted, Weirton would become the first city where fracking would be allowed, in a populated area. To me, this is of great concern. The information he presented is misleading, because this information is for unpopulated rural areas, not populated areas like Weirton. He has no valid data on which to say, it’s all safe for Weirton to start fracking! To me, he’s trying to make us believe everything is okay, when in fact, we will be the first test case, in a populated area, to see if fracking works, sorry, but no thanks. No one, including Mr. Burd, can say what fracking will do to a populated area and I don’t think we should be the first to find out.

If the door opens in Weirton, allowing fracking in the city, everyone’s backyard is fair game to the Gas and Oil companies. Then every city in the entire state would become a target for drilling in populated areas.

Fracking by itself is not a bad thing, when it happens in a rural setting, away from populated areas. But to drill, in a populated setting, such as behind the Super Walmart, in the Three Springs Drive area, would be a major disaster. The only reason Mr. Burd wants the people of Weirton to believe fracking should be welcomed, and a believed asset to the community, is so he can earn his commission. All I can say to Mr. Burd, if fracking is so great, why not let your city, where ever that might be, be the first to develop fracking in a populated area. We here in Weirton, we’ll just sit back and wait the results and see what happens in ten or so years.

>>> Thomas Zielinsky, Weirton, 12/4/21