A COUPLE of the panelists stand with photos of inside Austin Master Services taken by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources after the Concerned Ohio River Residents meeting in Martins Ferry City Park on Wednesday. From left are Silverio Caggiano, a retired battalion fire chief from Youngstown, Ohio; Julie Weatherington-Rice, a geologist, earth scientist and groundwater and water quality expert from Worthington, Ohio; and moderator Bev Reed, Bridgeport resident.

MARTINS FERRY — Members of the Concerned Ohio River Residents held a meeting at City Park to let the public hear from a panel of experts and ask questions about Austin Master Services, a frack waste recycler that operates in Martins Ferry.

The meeting’s moderators included Bridgeport resident Bev Reed and Barnesville resident Jill Hunkler. Guest speakers included Julie Weatherington-Rice, a geologist, earth scientist and groundwater and water quality expert from Worthington, Ohio; Silverio Caggiano, a retired battalion fire chief from Youngstown, Ohio, who also is an Ohio State Hazmat and Weapons of Mass Destruction Technical Advisory Board member; and James Yskamp, a lawyer with Earth Justice.

In recent weeks, Reed has expressed concern about Austin Master Services and the radioactive waste it recycles there. Reed believes the plant is too close to the city’s water treatment plant, in addition to other facilities such as Martins Ferry High School’s football stadium and across Ohio 7 East Ohio Regional Hospital and residences. She believes radium inside the plant eventually will impact the aquifer below. She cited recent violations at the plant found by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Weatherington-Rice said the city does not have a source water management plan. She believes it is just a matter of time before the aquifer becomes contaminated. The city, she said, needs to have groundwater monitoring wells to monitor for radium so it can head off any issues.

Reed said the most recent tests — in 2020 and 2014 — by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency of the city’s water showed there was zero radium. Weatherington-Rice said this means it was “non-detectable.” She added that testing for radium every six years is not frequent enough because “you have a known source” of radium at the Austin Master plant.

Caggiano said Austin Master Services wanted to set up a plant in Youngstown, but after talking to him and other city officials who asked a lot of tough questions decided to move to Martins Ferry instead.

“Put some pressure on these people before they leave a mess,” he said. “At least save your aquifer.”

Yskamp said the Ohio EPA is drafting a regulation related to facilities such as Austin Master. Currently it has none. He encouraged people to comment on the second draft when it comes out in the future. The current draft would not allow such plants to be located near water plants or in a 100-year floodplain — two things that apply to the Austin Master plant now, he said.

A few people asked questions or made comments during the gathering of about 30 people. One woman expressed concern about the water at the Martins Ferry Schools complex. She also believes there is a fracking well pad near the school, though neither Reed nor the panelists knew anything about that.

Reed also claimed that city officials tried to block her from having the meeting on Wednesday at the park.

“Council tried to shut this meeting down,” Reed said.

Following the meeting via telephone, Mayor John Davies said the city did not try to stop Reed’s meeting from happening. But if it wanted to, though, it could have since the park is city-owned property, he said. Reed noted she eventually got approval from the Martins Ferry Park Board, which oversees the parks.

Reed also claimed that city officials tried to block her from having the meeting on Wednesday at the park.

Reed noted they invited several public officials to attend the meeting including Martins Ferry officials. Davies pointed out Reed’s meeting was held the same evening as the City Council meeting.

Reed claimed Wednesday evening was the only day they were given permission to use the park.

Davies noted the city takes the safety of its water plant very seriously. He said the city had its raw water tested by an independent lab for radium and he expects to get the results today. He said he would like to have the raw water tested at least every six months for radium.

Reed said the group plans to have another, less formal meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Rec Center. She said people can learn how to get more involved during that meeting.