Monroe
County Health Department
118 Home Avenue
Woodsfield, Ohio 43793
Phone: 740-472-1677
Fax: 740-472-2508
Open Monday - Friday 9 am to 4 pm
e-mail : monrcohd@odh.ohio.gov
Closed Monday, January 16th and Monday, February 20th
January
- Oil and Gas Drilling
Need a Flu Shot? Call 472-1677 ext 202 for an appointment!
National Influenza Vaccination Week - December 4th - 10th
"The mission of the Monroe County Health Department is to protect the health, safety, and well being of all county residents by providing high quality public health services. These services will be provided in an efficient and effective manner."
We are now offering Baseline Water testing prior to oil and gas well drilling - Call John at 472-1677 ext 206
Quit Line "Dear Me" Campaign
Storm and Flood Safety
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Will you need
a Tetanus Shot
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Classes
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Flu Information for
Ohio
Bed Bugs
Rabies Prevention
DeltAlert
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Do you need your
Birth Certificate?
If you were born in Ohio we can issue you a certified birth record!! This document is accepted by all governmental agencies as proof of birth. No more need to travel to the county where you were born, just give us a call at 472-1677 ext. 200 or 201
Watch the Monroe County
Beacon for our monthly articles!
January -Oil and Gas Drilling
Drilling for Natural gas in the Marcellus and Utica Shales
Over the next several years Monroe County will likely see a significant increase in natural gas drilling, specifically in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations. Both geologic formations lie under Monroe County between 7000 and 12,000 feet beneath the ground. As the drilling activity increases, citizens are becoming more aware and concerned about the potential impacts on them, the environment and their communities.
When a well is drilled there is a short term but significant level of activity at the well site. This may include transporting equipment , production water, sand, flowback water, and possibly drill cuttings to and from the site. The volume of truck traffic is not covered under health department, Ohio EPA’s or ODNR’s regulations. Local officials may have agreements with the drilling company to restrict access or to fix any damage to roads, bridges or other infrastructure.
Natural gas is extracted form the shale through a two step process of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing or “fracing”. Fracing of a Marcellus or Utica Shale gas well involves the high pressure injection of up to 4 million gallons of water, sand and chemical additives down the borehole of the well. This process maximizes the gas production of the well. The Ohio EPA, ODNR and other experts familiar with hydraulic fracturing do not have data showing a risk of water well contamination from brine migrating from the shale layers into aquifers thousands of feet above the shale layers. Gas and oil can migrate from a production gas well into an aquifer or water well if the gas well’s casing is damaged, leaking or poorly constructed. Water wells can also become contaminated from old, abandoned gas wells that are unplugged or from natural oil and gas bearing formations that lie close to the ground surface.
Groundwater testing done prior to the fracing of a Marcellus or Utica Shale gas well is called baseline water testing. This establishes the quality of the groundwater prior to fracing so that if future contamination of the well occurs a cause can be determined. These tests should be done by a professional familiar with sampling protocols. The samples should be submitted to an Ohio EPA certified drinking water laboratory. The Monroe County Health Department is now offering baseline water testing. Information about the price, scheduling a test, or what tests are available can be obtained by calling the Monroe County Health Department at (740) 472-1677 extension 206.
For additional information about Marcellus and Utica gas wells :
ODNR www.ohiodnr.com/tabid/23415/default.aspx.
Ohio EPA www.epa.state.oh.us/shale.aspx.
Are You Ready for a Zombie Apocalypse?
DeltAlert ® - an Emergency and Mass Notification System
Monroe County Health Department has contracted with DeltAlert ® - an Emergency and Mass Notification System, which will allow us to send you critical health messages. We will be working hand-in-hand with The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency who will be able to send you alerts as well. DeltAlert® allows us to quickly and easily deliver messages to thousands of contacts within minutes. The system is simple, fast and accurate and will be used to alert you of public health threats, such as newly emerging diseases, prevention strategies, and flu or other clinic information, as well as natural disasters including severe storms, tornadoes, floods, road closures and winter weather advisories, or man-made disasters, such as chemical spills, bio-hazards and Amber Alerts.
As an additional feature, you have the ability to Opt-in. This will allow all Monroe County citizens to add multiple contact modes or select the best contact method for themselves. The system allows you to select from the following methods of delivery; a voice call to your home and/or cell phone, email, text message or through TDD/TTY devices.
Please click on the DeltAlert link below to Opt-in and select the way you’d like to receive emergency notifications.