The Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin of the Defenders of the Earth Outreach Mission speaks at a prayer vigil Dec. 28 in Brookfield Center commemorating the 2011 earthquake in Youngstown.
With a birthday cake and a song in which the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was called the Grinch that stole Christmas, Frackfree America National Coalition and Brookfield residents looking to stop the construction of injection wells held a prayer service in commemoration of the six-year anniversary of a Youngstown earthquake caused by an injection well.
Holding the event Thursday in Brookfield Center was intended to raise awareness of the injection well permits, said Jane Spies, spokeswoman for Frackfree America.
The actual anniversary is Sunday, in commemoration of a magnitude 4.0 quake and one of many this area has experienced since injection wells went into operation.
The Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin of Defenders of the Earth Outreach Mission said ODNR has not benefitted all Ohioans with its issuance of permits for injection wells, which have caused “devastation of Ohio.”
She changed the words from the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” to reflect that statement and promised “any nonviolent means necessary” to protest the wells.
“We will not shut up,” she said. “We will not give up. We will not stand down until the battle is over.”
Jim George of Vienna, left, and Jim Hennessey of Brookfield attended a prayer vigil Dec. 28 in Brookfield Center commemorating the 2011 earthquake in Youngstown.
ODNR recently closed the public comment period on three injection well permits filed by Highland Field Services LLC for a site on Route 7 near Wyngate Manor Mobile Home Park. Earlier this year, ODNR approved two wells, which have not been built, for the site.
The wells would be used to dispose of oil and drilling saltwater waste.
