Ohio Sheriff protecting the Rover pipeline

Harrison County residents stand up to natural gas company

From the Staff News Report, WTOV News 9, Steubenville, OH

Harrison County, OH — Sheila Bittinger and her husband Stanley have gotten used to the loud noise of heavy machinery the past couple of weeks. But that doesn’t mean they like it. The machines are operated by workers with ET Rover working on their property.

On Monday, the Bittingers took action. “We’re putting up a blockade down there, and we’re gonna tell them they can’t come on today. Might get arrested but whatever,” Sheila said.

“Every morning at 8 o’clock, the big giant parade of heavy equipment comes across.”

As of 11 a.m., the Bittingers said workers had not tried to go through the barricade they created. However, Harrison County Sheriff Joe Myers said Rover does have complete access to the land, and arrests could be made if they don’t move.

The timeline of the project is one that Sheila remembers very well. Workers began doing work on the property February 28th. That’s when they started marking the property. By March 2nd, more than 200 trees on their property had been cut and chipped.

“They were down,” Sheila said. “Over 200 of them, and no chance to save any of them. We tried. They were supposed to notify us when they were cutting trees. They were supposed to let us decide if we wanted to keep the timber or what. They didn’t do any of that.”

Sheila says they aren’t the only family going through this. “There’s at least 34 families that have had the trees cut like we did without knowledge and all that,” she said. “There’s a lot of people who tried to fight this, but you can’t fight deep pockets.”

The pipeline surrounds their house. And while they don’t want to move …

“Safety is a big concern. I mean the one that went off in Texas or whatever was seen and felt for like 100 miles. That means this won’t be here no more. It will be a hole.”

Officials with Rover had not yet responded for calls seeking comment.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net