Newsman, PR pro joins effort to develop Ohio’s oil, gas resources

                COLUMBUS, OH –  John O. Meekins has come out of retirement to help companies “fracking” to develop oil and gas resources in the Utica and Marcellus Shale gain and keep the important support of local officials and citizens.

                Meekins, a newspaper reporter and then a public relations professional for many years, said he came out of retirement because he believes a lot of those companies need his skills to achieve those two important goals in the communities where they work.

“I say that because there is an awful lot of what I call ‘fakelore’ floating around about fracking, the process many of these companies use to extract oil and gas,” Meekins said. “Fakelore” or misleading and even untrue information about fracking can raise concerns with local officials and citizens. “That can lead to unnecessary laws and rules that benefit no one.”

A number of concerns over “fracking” raised by federal and state agencies have been addressed to assure the process is safe. In fact, one independent academic study found that only the actual drilling to reach oil and gas resources in a few instances caused problems, not the actual “fracking.” Hydraulic “fracking” incidentally, breaks up formations deep underground to free trapped oil and gas.

Meekins will work with companies developing these important resources to make sure they regularly provide correct information to local governments and citizens on what they are doing.

                “This will be information on each well to include steps taken to meet all environmental and safety concerns, the number of jobs created and the revenue poured into each community,” Meekins said. “These companies also need to let local governments and citizens know the taxes they pay to federal, state and local governments and especially to the support of schools.”

                Meekins predicted local officials and citizens will really support these companies once they understand the real value they bring to their communities.

                “Development of these oil and gas resources is important because it promises to change the ‘rust belt’ image that has depressed Ohio for so long to one of hope and prosperity,” Meekins concluded.

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                More information on Meekins and his company, FracOhio, can be found at:  fracohio.com

He can also be reached by email at jmeek40126@aol.com or phone at 614-436-0027.

FracOhio - Helping develop Ohio’s Marcellus and Utica Shale oil and gas resources