Buckeye Environmental Network is hosting a statewide meeting to hear from workers affected by oilfield brine contamination and expert scientific perspectives on why this is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed by our policy makers!

Since 1985 when the General Assembly approved the use of oilfield brine to be used as a deicer and dust suppressant, Ohio's state agencies have found harrowing amounts of heavy metals, radioactive isotopes. They have since made recommendations against deicers and dust suppressants derived from oil and gas waste brine.

We will start the day early with a press conference on the steps of the Veterans Plaza before moving into the Atrium.

Our Speaker Lineup:

Richard Cummins is a former brine hauler. He will talk about ways that brine haulers are exposed to radiation daily on a the job and how radioactivity is downplayed to workers.

Jenny Morgan leads the charge of BEN’s Research Team. She will present on disastrous injection wells operations where the Ohio Department of Natural Resources fails to enforce the rule of law.

Bev Reed leads BEN’s campaign on ARCH2 Hydrogen Hubs & Carbon Capture and Sequestration. She will also discuss how ODNR turned a blind eye for many years on the illegal Austin Masters Waste Facility and transition us into our next speaker by priming us on greenwashed hydrogen.

Dr. Randi Pokladnik is one of the leading experts on Ohio’s greenwashed ARCH2 hydrogen projects. She will discuss why pipelines of hydrogen and the farce of carbon capture and sequestration do not make sense. 

Roxanne Groff is a former Athens County Commissioner. Roxanne is an organizing genius who has been working with the grassroots to close injection wells in Athens County for many years and has successfully closed 7 of the 8 wells.

Dr. Yuri Gorby is a former Department of Energy Scientist who is speaking out about the radioactive concerns of oil and gas waste. He will discuss his involvement with ongoing citizen science and demonstrate the waste’s radioactive properties by testing contaminated soil and former workers boots for radioactivity.

Keynote Speaker:

Justin Nobel – Author, Journalist

Justin Noble is an acclaimed science journalist for Rolling Stone magazine whose seven-year investigation into the U.S. oil and gas industry’s avoidance of environmental regulations has created a dangerous and radioactive public health crisis. Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It is both a landmark work of environmental writing and an urgent call to action.

This is a family friendly event but RSVP is required to be accounted for in serving lunch!

Registration link can be found on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/985997810084649