Fracking opponent pleads for ban on drilling near local water sh - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Opponents of fracking peacefully made their presence known at Youngstown's city council meeting on Wednesday.

Youngstown resident Tom Cvetkovich addressed city council during the meeting's public comments period to an unusually full house of spectators made up of people who are against the fracking process.

Cvetkovich is taking his plea to city leaders, the governing board of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District and Mill Creek Park Commissioners to ban fracking in the Meander and Mill Creek Watersheds.

"That water supply is not going to be replaced. You're not going to be able to run Youngstown on water buffalo," Cvetkovich said.

His concerns were raised by what is happening to one of Pittsburgh's water sources.

"The Monongahelia has had a bromide problem and this has been a chemical known to be associated with the gas industry. That combines with the chlorine and that creates a chemical that is known to form cancer, bladder cancer. The water department has had to switch over to another chemical," Cvetkovich said.

While council gave Cvetkovich its full attention, there's not much it can do.

"The state regulates it now. So we can suggest and they did accept the suggestion that I sent about banning the drilling until we know what's causing the earthquake."

During a meeting Monday at Mill Creek Park, it was announced that for now Chesapeake and Everflow Eastern gas companies will not pursue any drilling in the MetroParks.