Participation Type
Experiential Presentation
Session Title
“Where The River Flows! We Talk About the Challenges Threatening Our Ohio River Valley in These Coming Years”
Session Abstract or Summary
This panel will address the planned petrochemical infrastructure headed towards the Ohio River. In the past few years the oil and gas industry has exploded with no pun intended, putting our communities on notice that things will never be the same in our quiet little Appalachian towns.
These exploitive corporations have a plan for the next 50 to 75 years to develop gas fired power plants, massive gas storage area, fracking pads in the Utica and Marcellus shale with the radioactive waste dumped in our backyards and threatening those communities drawing their drinking water from the Ohio River. These actions will continue to destroy the health and safety of our people unless we take action to address policy and develop community leaders to move our messages forward as we transition towards clean energy. We have put together a group of presenters offering of a range of ideas to help understand the magnitude of what we are up against in these coming years. The four presenters represent grassroots activists taking on a variety of infrastructure projects coming towards our Ohio River Valley. The plan is to take a look at the big picture to see what we have to lose as we take on these dirty little industry secrets with real solutions from the ground up. Our Friends For Environmental Justice includes those coming in from the front lines determined to send you away with hope that all is not lost if you stay focused on the prize which is to survive. This group will engage you to take on these industries with a plan of action on local, state and national campaigns already in place to support your efforts. We feel it is time to get the conversation started.
Presentation #1 Title
COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST POLLUTION
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
COMMUNITIES TAKING ACTION...We will share our journey through community outreach addressing immediate actions taken in these impacted communities A short film will showcase the work taking place on the river with mapping to identify these threats around water , air and land quality issues the petrochemical industry has planned for our Ohio River Valley region in the very near future. We will share some solutions on our ongoing survival program and our work providing water replacement for an elementary school. We will share our work as we host monthly community outreach meetings focused on developing local leaders in the community into environmental health justice warriors, as we support community self-defense against pollution. Reclaim basic human rights to air, water and health through self-governance and community needs advocacy. A part of this presentation includes a power point and will be made available to our attendees.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Elaine Tanner, a lifetime resident of Ohio, comes with deep Appalachian roots. She is past founding director and now Program Director with the non profit Friends For Environmental Justice (FFEJ). For the past two years she has worked as the regional organizer for the Ohio River Citizens’ Alliance (ORCA) taking on the many threats coming into the Ohio River Basin. She has spoken at state and federal EPA hearings and other agency and public forums addressing these many concerns.
Brandon Richardson, is a strong community leader and founder of Headwaters Defense in Fayette County, WV. He studied geology at West Virginia University in Morgantown graduating in 2014 then returning home with a greater understanding of what extractive industries do to our environment and the quality of our water. He works towards reclaiming basic human rights to air, water and health through self-governance and community needs advocacy.
Presentation #2 Title
Waste Impact of Unconventional Oil and Gas in Ohio and West Virginia
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
The fracking industry in Appalachia uses 38-39 million liters per well, with demand increasing by 15% per year. Water quantity and associated watershed security issues are acute and chronic concerns at the local level where hydraulic fracturing’s freshwater demands equal 14% of residential demands and exceed 85% of residential demand in several Ohio and West Virginia counties. The industry has taken 340.7 million liters out of county’s underlying watersheds permanently resulting in the production of 36.3 million liters of brine waste, which is then disposed of in one of Ohio’s Class II Injection Wells with the industry spending approximately 1.95% of available capital on water demand(s) and waste disposal. This amounts to 10.7-11.8% of “available” water on a watershed basis prompting broad concerns about this industry’s sustainability. Hydraulic fracturing’s demand is becoming an increasingly larger component of water withdrawals as industry, livestock, and mining become more efficient with respect to water utilization. Wells that are drilled at the perimeter of the Utica Shale are utilizing 1.25 to 2.5 times more water than those that are staged in the shale “Sweet Spots”.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Ted Auch comes to us from The FrackTracker Alliance under the Great Lakes Program, Adjunct Faculty, Cleveland State University. His work on the Ohio River Valley industrial impacts is invaluable to our grassroots groups working on oil and gas issues in this region. FrackTracker Alliance studies, maps, and communicates the risks of oil and gas development to protect our planet and support the renewable energy transformation.
Presentation #3 Title
LIVING DOWNSTREAM
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
As a valuable contribution to this panel you will walk away with new tools in which to discuss the seriousness of what is contaminating our air, land and water supply. You will leave this session knowing what and how these polluting industries plan to continue dumping radioactive waste into our rivers and streams and get away with it. He has presented programs across state lines offering to make you think about what we are doing to our environment as we continue to allow these corporations to pollute our environment without consequences.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Bill Hughes comes to us from West Virginia offering a greater understanding of leachate from frack waste as it travels across state lines. He has a BA from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling West Virginia. Bill started addressing natural gas operation first-hand and close up to the massive traffic congestion from the gas invasion, the road clogging truck accidents, air pollution, and muddy streams turned his life around.
Presentation #4 Title
FINDING SOLUTIONS
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
FINDING SOLUTIONS...Participants will walk away with a strong and compelling vision of a path to a clean energy future designed by and for the local stakeholders and informed with sound environmental and economic analysis . The future of Appalachia need not be limited by a failure of imagination as we move forward addressing the needs these impacted areas. By sharing his work as an international and environmental attorney with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, private law practice, administrative roles in several non-profit organizations, and work as an environmental educator and curriculum consultant there is a plan. His published writings focus on innovation networks, educational system design, organizational culture, biomimicry, evolutionary learning and whole systems approaches to fostering human and ecological health helps pave the way.
plan is in action.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Brett Joseph, LL.M., Ph.D. is founding director of the Center for Ecological Culture, Inc., and serves as sustainable agriculture program coordinator and adjunct faculty at the Lorain County Community College. Dr. Joseph has degrees in organizational systems, international law and humanistic psychology, and accredited certificates in civil mediation, permaculture design, green building, environmental education and socially-engaged spirituality.
Conference Subthemes
Environmental Sustainability, Health
COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST POLLUTION
COMMUNITIES TAKING ACTION...We will share our journey through community outreach addressing immediate actions taken in these impacted communities A short film will showcase the work taking place on the river with mapping to identify these threats around water , air and land quality issues the petrochemical industry has planned for our Ohio River Valley region in the very near future. We will share some solutions on our ongoing survival program and our work providing water replacement for an elementary school. We will share our work as we host monthly community outreach meetings focused on developing local leaders in the community into environmental health justice warriors, as we support community self-defense against pollution. Reclaim basic human rights to air, water and health through self-governance and community needs advocacy. A part of this presentation includes a power point and will be made available to our attendees.
