Morgan Caplan, morgan.caplan@sierraclub.org
Local communities breathe cautious sigh of relief as controversial petrochemical facility shows signs of dormancy
Columbus, OH—Yesterday, community groups voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) challenging permits the agency issued to Powhatan Salt Company which plans to build Mountaineer NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) Storage facility that would store ethane, butane, and propane from fracked gas wells in Ohio and West Virginia. This dismissal follows the expiration of critical permits needed to build the facility. If built, the project would subject local communities to unreasonable health risks, threaten drinking water sources, and further new toxic petrochemical development in the region.
This project would have involved at least three pipelines that would carry brine and natural gas liquids beneath the Ohio River, creating a risk of explosions and contamination of the river - the drinking water source for 5 million people. These underground storage facilities can also have serious and even deadly incidents caused by inadequate regulation, including fires, explosions, chemical leaks, earthquakes, and sinkholes.
“Our safety and the protection of our drinking water must come first,” said Teresa Mills, Buckeye Environmental Network organizer. "Hopefully, now we can provide more certainty and reassurance that this dangerous facility will not harm our communities and our water sources. The health and safety of Ohioans and those who live downstream on the Ohio River are worth more than fossil fuel industry profits.”
In response, Shelly Corbin, Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign, issued the following statement: “This is a victory for local communities who can finally breathe a cautious sigh of relief as hopes that the Mountaineer NGL Storage facility will never be built are higher than ever. We – along with our partners and concerned residents – will see to it that the facility will not see the light of day. We will continue to work diligently should the Mountaineer NGL Storage facility propose a new petrochemical storage project again.”
Jill Hunkler, Director of Ohio Valley Allies provided the following statement: “For years, the Ohio River Valley has been threatened by the planned development of the petrochemical and plastic production industry, including the construction of the Mountaineer NGL storage project, in Monroe County, Ohio. Many concerned residents have been successfully battling this dangerous NGL storage project with legal support from Earthjustice. As a seventh generation Ohio Valley resident, who has been actively engaged in the fight to stop Mountaineer, I can say I am very relieved. The momentum for this project has been stalled. It will not move forward without the passing of considerable time, and much effort by the company. Some say time is money, and so hopefully this project is dead.”
Megan Hunter, senior attorney for Earthjustice offered the following statement: "Today is a victory for Ohio communities. The Mountaineer NGL Storage Project presented yet another unnecessary risk to local communities who have been fighting this project for over 3 years to make sure they are not subjected to more pollution by the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry. It appears that the project will not be moving forward anytime soon. We will remain ready to fight alongside our partners should the company come back asking for new permits."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.