September 18, 2013
Mr. Donald Supcoe
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Energy Corporation of America
501 56th Street Charleston, WV 25304
Dear Mr. Supcoe:
I am writing for the Board of the League of Women Voters of Morgantown-Monongalia to give you our reasons for being against the installation of an ECA Class II wastewater injection well near Masontown, WV and near Deckers Creek.
We have read the letter written to you on July 30 2013 by Elizabeth Wiles of Friends of Deckers Creek.
We have studied her materials and arguments, and seen maps and pictures of the location of your possible installation. We are concerned for two main reasons.
First, Deckers Creek is in the watershed of the Monongahela River. This is of great concern to those of us in Morgantown and Monongalia County, since the Monongahela is the source of our drinking water as well as important for recreation. Clean water, and therefore a clean watershed,is a goal of the League of Women Voters.
We have been studying hydraulic fracturing and the fluids used in, and retrieved from, the process.
We have also learned about the mishaps in hydraulic fracturing nationwide. Accidents happen, seepage happens, leaking happens. Having the possibility of accidents and the leaking of this hazardous water into Deckers Creek would endanger the water quality of the watershed.
Second, Deckers Creek and the Deckers Creek trail are a relatively new and wonderful recreation area. Many people from Monongalia County have been walking, running and biking on the trail for many years. The 8 million dollars spent on restoring the water in the creek, and the additional funding for the building of the trail , are a public investment that is treasured by the people. Having large trucks and the noise of an industrial site near the trail and the threat of undoing the reclaiming of the creek will jeopardize the beauty of all that has been done.
WE FEEL THAT THE INJECTION WELL WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO DECKERS CREEK AND THE DECKERS CREEK TRAIL. If West Virginia is to promote hydraulic fracturing for gas, then companies must be extra careful to protect the water and all public recreation sites.
We oppose the development of an injection well at this site.
Sincerely,
Catherine Lozier, Chair of Natural Resources Committee
League of Women Voters of Morgantown-Monongalia County
Reference: FODC_Cover_Letter_and_Opposition_Letter_to_ECA_well