COLUMBUS — The number of horizontal oil and gas wells in Ohio’s shale is growing exponentially, and residents often have concerns about potential environmental impacts.

But people often worry about just one aspect — the potential for groundwater contamination — when the impacts are much broader, said Joe Bonnell, watershed management program director in Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources for Ohio State University Extension.

Farm Science Review

Bonnell will present Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction during this year’s Farm Science Review, Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio.

Bonnell will offer the half-hour presentation at 11 a.m. Sept. 16, and again at noon Sept. 17, in the Interpretative Center (the log cabin) at the Review’s Gwynne Conservation Area.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the number of permitted, drilled or producing horizontal gas and oil wells in Ohio’s Utica/Point Pleasant shale grew from 793 to 1,421 between July 2013 and July 2014.

Potential risks

Besides potential risks to water resources, air contamination, seismic activity and impacts to wildlife habitat are among the concerns, he said.

Bonnell will present findings from areas where horizontal drilling has been going on longer and where studies have been done.

“What are the real risks? Which ones may have gotten a lot of publicity but aren’t necessarily the biggest concern? I want to help separate the hype from the reality.”

Review pre-show tickets are $7 and are available for purchase at all OSU Extension county offices, many local agribusinesses and online at fsr.osu.edu/visitors/tickets. Tickets are $10 at the gate.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-17 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18.

More information can be found at fsr.osu.edu.