The fracking debate continues to rage on in Ohio, with new federal reports that show there may be a lot less natural gas in the Buckeye state than originally thought.
Images of burning tap water are all over the web and opponents claim it's the result of fracking.
However, the oil and gas industry said that that's baloney, ONN's Jim Heath reported on Friday.
"What's happening there was naturally occurring natural gas that was found in the water well of that gentleman's home long before any drilling ever occurred," said Thomas Stewart of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
Stewart blames environmentalists for playing lose with facts. Hydro fracking involves pumping chemicals, sand and water underground to crack rocks and then extract the natural gas and oil that the rocks release.
The industry has grown significantly this past decade and has created at least 200,000 jobs nationally.
Jack Shaner who represents the Ohio Environmental Council said that regulators are still trying to figure out if the process pollutes the air, risks safe drinking water, and creates earthquakes.
"The USEPA is conducting a study right now on what are the risks to ground water and drinking water," said Shaner. "It would be reasonable to hold off on any permits until that study is in and until we can improve our regulations."
Scott Zody from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources acknowledges there are some unanswered questions with fracking, but adds that claims about this weeks DC earthquake are over the top.
"There were people literally online blogging and blaming hydro fracking for the recent earthquake. That's ridiculous," said Zody.
The government this week lowered estimates on how much natural gas they believe exists in the Marcellus Shale.
Stewart said that even though it's dropped from 410 to 84 trillion cubic feet, that's still significant enough amount to proceed.
"They're finding new huge reserves," Stewart said. "The Marcellus Shale could easily, once developed, rival the largest natural gas field in the world which is located in the Middle East."
One thing is certain in this debate is that it's not going away anytime soon.
Gov. John Kasich is a proponent of it, and studies will continue.
ONN will have much more on the fracking issue this Sunday on Capitol Square at 10 am. It replays at noon and 7pm.
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