WJU Students Learn Of Local Gas Industry Effects
The Wetzel County Action Group (WCAG), along with concerned members of the community, and students from Wheeling Jesuit University’s environmental group, met at the New Martinsville Public Library Jan. 16 to discuss many issues surrounding the recent gas drilling in the area.
The WCAG was approached by the Appalachian Institute of Wheeling Jesuit University to give a presentation on the economic and social effects of the local gas development efforts to WJU’s student environmental group. Much more than the drilling itself, these groups were greatly concerned with the large trucks traveling our narrow, winding country roads. The meeting was a way to learn what was going on, the accidents and hazards the trucks pose to local travelers, the costs of such accidents, and an open discussion on what the citizens can do to help make the situation better and safer.
Nearly 30 people packed into the library’s meeting room as Raymond Renaud, a WCAG member and firefighter for the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department, gave a slide show presentation on various aspects of the community’s concerns. Renaud’s thorough presentation began with an introduction on the Marcellus Shale natural gas development to inform attendees on what processes go into oil drilling. After that Renaud laid out the benefits, disparities, limits, and the role of the government in this development.
The mission of the Wetzel County Action Group is to support economic development for the county and state; and work to insure that economic development does not negatively impact the safety, economic interests, and quality of life of the Citizens of Wetzel County. Safety and quality of life were primary concerns at the meeting. While the benefits of the local drilling were cited (increased tax revenue, increased employment, increased business for local merchants, lower energy costs, etc.) the costs seemed to outweigh those benefits. Costs include the safety, health, and environmental damage to the area.
The fact of the matter is the country roads like Doolin Road and state Route 7. weren’t laid out to handle oversized or overweight trucks. Yet Renaud reported that by his home on Friendship Ridge 47 trucks rushed passed in only one hour’s time. There have also been countless accidents on Doolin Hill’s sharp turns, stopping traffic for several hours and leaving road damage and diesel leaks. Particularly, drip gas trucks aren’t escorted but are very large and hold highly flammable gas. Just a week ago a drilling rig fell off a truck. It was reported that there is roughly one major traffic jam a week and many lost cargos that cause further accidents for local travelers. As it is now, oversized trucks are only required to have an escorted vehicle behind a truck.
Another big issue surrounding these vehicles is the respect the truck drivers have for others and for the dangerous rigs they are pulling. Renaud cited many trucks speeding excessively on Calvert Hill and many CB recordings of truckers making offhanded remarks that the locals should just get out of their way. Concerned citizen and business owner Bill Hughes spoke of how he has been run off the road or completely disregarded several times when approaching an oncoming rig on the many one-lane bridges on state Route 7. Truckers or the drivers’ companies also aren’t abiding by a blanket permit from the Department of Transportation that reads oversized trucks are not to run in rain, snow, fog, or ice. Many of the accidents captured on camera took place during the last few weeks when winter weather was at its harshest yet this season.
Chesapeake Energy has worked with the WCAG and Wetzel County in general to have paths cleared for school buses and to voluntarily lead oversized trucks.
Chesapeake Energy also provided the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department with pads, kitty litter, and other aids to help contain diesel spills, in addition to assuring they would clean up any spills they have made, or even clean up after someone else which was one of the cases presented. A gas company was notified of a diesel spill on a Friday night and said they would get to it the following Monday. Chesapeake Energy took it upon themselves to clean their mess immediately.
Along with vehicle and road safety for citizens, the WCAG is concerned with the health and environmental damages evident by these big rigs. Gas bubbles have been found in creeks which may lead to unhealthy water and citizens paying to have clean water brought in. There are severe dust problems on Macedonia Ridge including cinder dust which is filled with many harmful chemicals and materials that are coating the homes and lungs of those living in the area. These cinders also naturally run off from the roads into creeks. Another health concern is EMS accessibility. There has already been one case where an ambulance could not get to a patient because of a pond slip. Renaud said that since the drilling began EMS calls have quadrupled. “It’s better to prevent an accident than to respond to one,” said Renaud.
The list goes on for dangers and concerns from the WCAG and community members present at the meeting. But out of those concerns came a list of demands that everyone present hopes will be recognized and enacted in the near future. The WCAG wants lead truck regulations changed, number eight limestone to replace cinders, a gas development authority, and comprehensive permitting. In addition to truck regulations, the WCAG is requesting harsher penalties for breaking the regulations. Currently there are minimal penalties which are not great enough to stop drivers from pulling rigs on unsafe roadways.
Del. Dave Pethtel (D-Wetzel) and Sen. Larry Edgell (D-Wetzel) were present at the meeting and Edgell announced that there is legislation pending regarding various truck and rig regulations. Renaud concluded, “I don’t want Chesapeake Energy to be the DOH. I want the DOH to be the DOH.”
WJU Students Learn Of Local Gas Industry Effects
The Wetzel County Action Group (WCAG), along with concerned members of the community, and students from Wheeling Jesuit University’s environmental group, met at the New Martinsville Public Library Jan. 16 to discuss many issues surrounding the recent gas drilling in the area.
The WCAG was approached by the Appalachian Institute of Wheeling Jesuit University to give a presentation on the economic and social effects of the local gas development efforts to WJU’s student environmental group. Much more than the drilling itself, these groups were greatly concerned with the large trucks traveling our narrow, winding country roads. The meeting was a way to learn what was going on, the accidents and hazards the trucks pose to local travelers, the costs of such accidents, and an open discussion on what the citizens can do to help make the situation better and safer.
Nearly 30 people packed into the library’s meeting room as Raymond Renaud, a WCAG member and firefighter for the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department, gave a slide show presentation on various aspects of the community’s concerns. Renaud’s thorough presentation began with an introduction on the Marcellus Shale natural gas development to inform attendees on what processes go into oil drilling. After that Renaud laid out the benefits, disparities, limits, and the role of the government in this development.
The mission of the Wetzel County Action Group is to support economic development for the county and state; and work to insure that economic development does not negatively impact the safety, economic interests, and quality of life of the Citizens of Wetzel County. Safety and quality of life were primary concerns at the meeting. While the benefits of the local drilling were cited (increased tax revenue, increased employment, increased business for local merchants, lower energy costs, etc.) the costs seemed to outweigh those benefits. Costs include the safety, health, and environmental damage to the area.
The fact of the matter is the country roads like Doolin Road and state Route 7. weren’t laid out to handle oversized or overweight trucks. Yet Renaud reported that by his home on Friendship Ridge 47 trucks rushed passed in only one hour’s time. There have also been countless accidents on Doolin Hill’s sharp turns, stopping traffic for several hours and leaving road damage and diesel leaks. Particularly, drip gas trucks aren’t escorted but are very large and hold highly flammable gas. Just a week ago a drilling rig fell off a truck. It was reported that there is roughly one major traffic jam a week and many lost cargos that cause further accidents for local travelers. As it is now, oversized trucks are only required to have an escorted vehicle behind a truck.
Another big issue surrounding these vehicles is the respect the truck drivers have for others and for the dangerous rigs they are pulling. Renaud cited many trucks speeding excessively on Calvert Hill and many CB recordings of truckers making offhanded remarks that the locals should just get out of their way. Concerned citizen and business owner Bill Hughes spoke of how he has been run off the road or completely disregarded several times when approaching an oncoming rig on the many one-lane bridges on state Route 7. Truckers or the drivers’ companies also aren’t abiding by a blanket permit from the Department of Transportation that reads oversized trucks are not to run in rain, snow, fog, or ice. Many of the accidents captured on camera took place during the last few weeks when winter weather was at its harshest yet this season.
Chesapeake Energy has worked with the WCAG and Wetzel County in general to have paths cleared for school buses and to voluntarily lead oversized trucks.
Chesapeake Energy also provided the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department with pads, kitty litter, and other aids to help contain diesel spills, in addition to assuring they would clean up any spills they have made, or even clean up after someone else which was one of the cases presented. A gas company was notified of a diesel spill on a Friday night and said they would get to it the following Monday. Chesapeake Energy took it upon themselves to clean their mess immediately.
Along with vehicle and road safety for citizens, the WCAG is concerned with the health and environmental damages evident by these big rigs. Gas bubbles have been found in creeks which may lead to unhealthy water and citizens paying to have clean water brought in. There are severe dust problems on Macedonia Ridge including cinder dust which is filled with many harmful chemicals and materials that are coating the homes and lungs of those living in the area. These cinders also naturally run off from the roads into creeks. Another health concern is EMS accessibility. There has already been one case where an ambulance could not get to a patient because of a pond slip. Renaud said that since the drilling began EMS calls have quadrupled. “It’s better to prevent an accident than to respond to one,” said Renaud.
The list goes on for dangers and concerns from the WCAG and community members present at the meeting. But out of those concerns came a list of demands that everyone present hopes will be recognized and enacted in the near future. The WCAG wants lead truck regulations changed, number eight limestone to replace cinders, a gas development authority, and comprehensive permitting. In addition to truck regulations, the WCAG is requesting harsher penalties for breaking the regulations. Currently there are minimal penalties which are not great enough to stop drivers from pulling rigs on unsafe roadways.
Del. Dave Pethtel (D-Wetzel) and Sen. Larry Edgell (D-Wetzel) were present at the meeting and Edgell announced that there is legislation pending regarding various truck and rig regulations. Renaud concluded, “I don’t want Chesapeake Energy to be the DOH. I want the DOH to be the DOH.”
Local headlines
An Exchange of Cultures
One Gun, Two Bucks And 72 Years Later
