Ohio Valley Consideration for PTT Ethane Cracker Raises Concerns

by Duane Nichols on December 5, 2019

Drilling, fracking, processing, pipelining, cracking and waste disposal all contribute to the pollution emissions

Faith leaders discuss “non-negotiables” for proposed ethane cracker plant

From an Article by Kenny Jackson & D.K. Wright, WTRF News 7, Wheeling, December 3, 2019

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) – A great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounds the proposed ethane cracker plant in Belmont County.

However, there are some residents on both sides of the Ohio River who are raising a red flag ahead of the possible arrival.

The Ohio Valley Interfaith Consortium met Tuesday to discuss their concerns and some of them are “non-negotiable” in their book.

Breathable air and drinkable water is their main concern but with the advancement of technology, faith leaders believe both are feasible.

Rev. Seth Filbum, Lincoln Ave. United Methodist Church — “But we feel like we can have both jobs for people in this area and breathable air and drinkable water. We don’t feel it’s an “either/or,” but it’s a “both/and,” and that’s one of our hopes.”

Although the arrival of the cracker plant is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area, faith leaders are turning their attention to community health and safety.

Bev Reed, Concerned Ohio River Residents — “We’re going to be doing some air monitoring in the Valley just to check the baseline air data because the EPA isn’t doing that.”

There are also concerns for the effects on local schools, housing and crime.

Rev. Bill Meyer, St. John’s United Church of Christ — “We’ve seen rents triple for ordinary people because of the oil and gas boom. So, what’s gonna happen when 10,000 construction workers come to these small communities? Will it be man-camps, basically? Trailer camps — bars and brothels?”

No decision regarding the proposed ethane cracker plant has been announced at this time.

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COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING — DECEMBER 12, 2019

Ohio Valley plastics factory community meeting in Moundsville

Public Event — Hosted by Concerned Ohio River Residents

DATE: Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Next Week · 28–36°F Partly Cloudy

LOCATION: St. Francis Xavier Church, 912 7th Street, Moundsville, WV. (This event is not affiliated with the church. We are simply using their space.)

DETAILS: Please join other Ohio Valley residents for a community meeting as we discuss the proposed plastic factory for the Ohio Valley, just South of Shadyside, OH, in Dilles Bottom. This is organized by the non-profit, Concerned Ohio River Residents. We are a consortium of Ohio River Valley residents and other non-profits who are concerned with the proposed PTT Global plastics factory (ethane cracker) and the associated build-out of petrochemical industry along the Ohio River. We will discuss what it could do to our air, water, health and economy. We will link it to the detrimental effects of fracking and plastics overall.

There will also be a 30-minute overview of how to write a Letter to the Editor since many people have expressed interest in writing their own. We will leave time for brainstorming and coming together as a community to act on these issues that threaten not only the Ohio Valley, but the planet as a whole (by way of plastics proliferation, climate change, etc.)

This plant is not a done deal. Now is the time to act as a community. We welcome anyone and everyone. Light refreshments will be served.

CONTACT: Bev Reed, reed.b1@yahoo.com

SEE ALSO: https://www.facebook.com/events/450648615649417/

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Concerned OV Residents December 5, 2019 at 2:26 am

“A Better Vision for the Valley”

Part of our efforts as an environmental advocacy organization is to put forth energy towards a cleaner, more sustainable economic future for our region. There is a need for that kind of vision for the Ohio River Valley. We held a conference titled “A Better Vision for the Valley” on May 11th that many community members attended. Please CLICK BELOW to see videos/blog of the conference.

https://www.nocrackerplantov.com/a-better-vision-for-the-valley

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No Cracker Plant OV December 5, 2019 at 2:45 am

Home | No Cracker Plant in the Ohio River Valley

GET INVOLVED — We could use help with things like raising public awareness through door-knocking and phone calling, representation at local commissioner and city council meetings, participation in the Health Impact Assessment (see tab at top of site), as well as speaking up to our state and local elected officials

https://www.nocrackerplantov.com/

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Buck Houston December 5, 2019 at 6:13 pm

Next Meeting and Ohio Governor DeWine Calling Campaign!

From the Freshwater Accountability Project

DEC 5, 2019 — URGENT CALL TO ACTION❗️

Gov DeWine met with PTT Global Chemical- the company that wants to build the plastics factory on the Ohio River in Belmont County, OH this week. This was a private meeting and the public has no idea what was discussed.

Gov. DeWine is “optimistic” that this plant will be built. The company has not yet invested in it. He needs to hear from people who would be impacted and begin the represent THEM and not overseas corporations. PLEASE CALL EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN OHIO.

Concerned Ohio River Residents has respectfully requested to meet with the Governor and he has not responded to our requests

ALSO: Please join us at our next public meeting: Thursday, Dec. 12th at 6pm at the St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, 912 7th St. Moundsville, WV.

https://www.nocrackerplantov.com/

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Sharon Kelly December 10, 2019 at 9:06 pm

As Petrochemical Industry Extends Along Ohio River, Pollution Follows Close Behind | WOSU Radio

Projects currently on the drawing board would unleash a flood of newly manufactured plastic from the region, using raw materials from fracked shale gas wells. Shell’s $6 billion ethane cracker in Potter Township in Beaver County, Pa., is projected to create roughly 3.5 billion pounds of polyethylene pellets each year. A similar volume is expected from a second plant proposed just over an hour’s drive south in Dilles Bottom, Ohio — to be built on the site of the razed R.E. Burger coal-fired power plant.

https://radio.wosu.org/post/petrochemical-industry-extends-along-ohio-river-pollution-follows-close-behind

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