It seems that those who do not live in the Silver Hill area of Wetzel County might not be fully informed of the growing problems caused by the large number of gas wells being drilled out in the county. The Wetzel County Action Group is addressing very serious and voluminous complaints from Wetzel County citizens whose property and safety are being threatened by this activity.

The actual well drilling is not the problem. This activity is welcomed as economic development which is badly needed in our area. However, our citizens need some protection from the destructive results of the extent of this activity. The sheer number of large, heavy vehicles on our highways and secondary roads is literally destroying the roads; and since large trucks necessarily must drive left-of-center to negotiate curves, they are an accident waiting to happen on the many blind curves on our roads, particularly in bad weather.

If there had been as many log trucks on the roads in the same period of time as there are well-related trucks, there would be no trees left in Wetzel County! And our local loggers have always known better than to have their trucks out in bad weather. Not so with the out-of-state flatland drivers of supply trucks associated with the drilling operations.

Photographs are being taken of unsafe situations-the taking of photographs is certainly not causing the unsafe situations-which could cause very serious accidents on our roadways. The officials who regulate truck travel cannot be on-site all the time-it is up to us to inform them of unsafe conditions and possible permit violations. Or should we just allow the drilling companies to walk all over us, just like the coal companies did in the early part of the last century?

Wetzel County Action Group is in no way interfering with these people doing their jobs-but they are attempting to make them do their jobs within the confines of the law and with due respect to Wetzel County citizens and their property. Many of our citizens are being subjected to extreme inconveniences because of the deteriorating conditions of the roads, trucks blocking the roads, sometimes for hours, interfering with our local citizens getting to and doing our jobs.

We are fortunate to have good neighbors who care enough to volunteer their time to make the necessary contacts and investigate possible solutions to this very complex problem. Thank you, Wetzel County Action Group.

Marianne Hughes

New Martinsville