To the Editor,

I want to reach out to every citizen in Weirton to have them contact their respective council person and tell them not to support Southwestern Energy’s proposal for mineral extraction on the Park Drive property.

I do want to congratulate and thank the Weirton Water Board, and especially the Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni, for taking a stand not to support this effort. It is not only risky and scary, but could be extremely dangerous.

I’m really not sure how city officials thought this was a good idea. What I find hard to believe is that anyone within the administration thought this was a good idea. The whole concept of redeveloping Weirton, along Three Springs Drive and Park Drive, has been in the works for several years. Redeveloping to bring more business into this area. Now, as time approaches to begin infrastructure work, along comes mineral extraction in the same area. What kind of nonsense is that? The two do not complement one another.

Anyone wanting to drill or unearth anything, on or near a watershed or aquifer that supplies the city water, should be given a simple answer of “no.” Weirton currently has enough problems to contend with. We certainly don’t need to be confronted with a potential contamination issue with our drinking water.

If by some chance permits are issued, problems will also begin. As an example, how many emergency plans and drills will county emergency management have to create and conduct to keep the area safe? Water testing; how many tests and how often will tests be performed? What credible agency will perform these tests and at what cost? Add to the mix dozens of tanker trucks on Three Springs and Park Drive, which is already congested, will become a nightmare.

What will this do for all the existing businesses in this area? The idea, as I see it, is absurd.

Our citizens need to speak up now before the administration does something that puts every person, and the city, in peril.

Thomas Zielinksy

Weirton