State Representative Jim Buchy
Hydraulic Fracturing chemicals Closely Managed, Similar to Household Items

Over the past few months, those opposed to hydraulic fracturing in Ohio have been misleading the families in Darke County. Hydraulic fracturing does not create more human health risks, and it is highly unlikely that injection wells would be built in Darke County for the disposal of wastewater from the hydraulic fracturing process.

The misconception about the dangers to human health caused by the hydraulic fracturing process is just another part of the misinformation and innuendo confusing the public. Like with any industrial process, proper safety precautions are necessary. But many chemicals used in the process are products we are exposed to on a regular basis. The common additive in the mixture is a substance called “guar”. Guar, which is grown from the guar bean, is a mixing agent found in ice cream. Other chemicals used in the mixture are sodium chloride, which is used as table salt, and petroleum distillates, which are used to help make candy.

The process of hydraulic fracturing uses safe materials, while giving Ohioans good- paying jobs. It is expected that more than 8,000 jobs will be provided in Appalachia and other parts of the state because of the increased oil and gas drilling. That number does not include the 500-1,000 more from the production needed for equipment and other products needed for operations in the oil and gas industry. This is already contributing to a strong economic growth in eastern Ohio. In Darke County we will benefit from money trickling through the state’s economy and cheaper natural gas prices because it is unlikely that hydraulic fracturing or Class II injection wells for fracturing waste disposal will come to Darke County.

People working in these new jobs are safe. Thanks to strict regulation and disclosure laws tougher than other states, Ohioans have the ability to know all but a small percentage of what is being used in fracturing wells, and in the case of emergency the rest of those ingredients are quickly disclosed to medical professionals. Senate Bill 315, which updated Ohio’s oil and gas regulations, paved the way for transparency in the oil and gas industry, allowing all citizens to obtain information about the chemicals being used in the hydraulic fracturing process around the state.

Regulation of hydraulic fracturing is a worthwhile investment because this industry is helping our economy. About $5 billion has already been added to the gross domestic product of Ohio. This is beneficial for the state and continues to build our economy.

Any potential threat from chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process is minimized by close attention to detail from Ohio’s regulatory team. Furthermore, there are no secret chemicals because, when it is appropriate, that information is made available to the public. In Darke county we have a very low likelihood of ever coming in contact with these chemicals because they are used in eastern Ohio and there is plenty of room to permanently store the waste water from the hydraulic fracturing process deep below the earth’s surface close to the fracturing sites in eastern Ohio.

Please become engaged in this learning process by visiting www.gastruth.com.