In Exposure Episode 7, we sit down with Bob and Darlene Williamson—lifelong residents of Jefferson County, Ohio—whose quiet country life has been upended by the rapid encroachment of oil and gas infrastructure. Their story is not one of opposition to energy development, but a deeply personal account of how fracking infrastructure—particularly compressor stations—can devastate a family's health, property, and peace of mind. What unfolds is a raw, emotional portrait of forced sacrifice in the name of industry profit.

Life Before the Noise

For 30 years, the Williamson family enjoyed the serenity of their rural home—raising children, renovating their house, and planning for a future with grandchildren on the land. That changed in 2015, when a massive compressor station was constructed just 600 yards from their back door. A metering and regulation station followed soon after, and a 30-inch high-pressure gas line now sits just 60 feet from their property.

What was once a dream—a quiet, peaceful, safe little corner of Ohio carved out after a lifetime of hard work, where they hoped to retire and raise chickens with their grandchildren—is now filled with the constant hum of turbines, the roar of blowdowns, the acrid exhaust from massive engines, and the invisible threat of volatile organic compounds drifting through the air. “There’s no enjoyment in coming to this home anymore,” says Darlene. “We drive down the lane with anxiety, thinking, what are we facing today?” She adds, “This was our dream house, and they took that from us.”

The Hidden Emissions No One Monitors

Blowdowns—a process where gas is vented from the pipeline system for maintenance—occur frequently, sometimes multiple times in a single day according to Bob and Darlene. These events can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which are known carcinogens, as well as potent greenhouse gases into the air. The Williamsons have experienced burning eyes, headaches, and sore throats after such events, and they describe an oily residue covering their home, deck, and vehicles.

Air monitors installed by environmental allies documented VOC spikes inside and outside their home. On one occasion, VOC levels exceeded 12,000 parts per billion—an alarming level of VOCs. Dr. Yuri Gorby, monitoring their data remotely, has even urged them to evacuate during certain events.

Despite the mounting evidence, the Williamsons say regulators were initially unresponsive. “You have got to be your own advocate,” Darlene says. “We have written to everyone—from our township to Congress—and we still have no real help.”

The Promise of Prosperity, the Reality of Loss

Like many landowners in fracking-heavy regions, the Williamsons were initially hopeful. They were told their land would bring prosperity. That their community would benefit. That the infrastructure would be small, quiet, and unobtrusive. But nearly every promise was broken.

They don’t feel they can sell their home—both from an ethical standpoint, and from a market standpoint—but beyond that, their mental and physical health and sense of safety have eroded. Darlene recounts waking in the night with chest pain and being rushed to the hospital. No heart damage was found—but her blood oxygen was severely depleted, a condition the family believes is tied to poor air quality in their home.

False promise is a common thread, and none is more painful than what happened when representatives from the industry once promised to buy Bob and Darlene’s home. After years of struggle, they were ready to walk away—just to reclaim peace of mind. A deal was discussed, and they agreed to sell below market value. But the company never followed through. Instead, the offer was used to undermine their credibility within the community, and when the deal was rescinded, Bob and Darlene were left stuck—still in the home, and now unfairly distrusted by their peers.

A Community Impacted, a Way of Life Destroyed

The effects go beyond the family. Neighboring properties, horses on adjacent farms, and even wildlife have been impacted. “There’s an oil film from the compressor station that lays on top of their water, and the horses will not drink the water because they know they sense that danger. So they constantly drum it with their hooves in the barrel to stir the water, to get a fresh drink.”

Bob, an avid hunter, describes how once-vast forests have been sliced up by gas line clearings, inviting invasive species and increasing erosion. Grouse populations have vanished. Fish and aquatic life are threatened by sediment runoff. “It will never be the same again,” he says.

Despite all of this, the Williamsons are not anti-industry. They simply want fair treatment. “If they’re going to do this,” Bob says, “they should relocate us, or at least compensate us for what we’ve lost.”

Science as a Tool for Truth—Not Agenda

Throughout the conversation, Nicole is careful to stress her objectivity. “I wasn’t anti-oil and gas. I didn’t know what we’d find,” she says. That scientific neutrality helped her build trust across the political spectrum. Even residents who benefited financially from fracking opened their doors to her team.

But her work hasn’t come without risk. Early in her career, mentors warned her to avoid such a politically fraught topic. “They said I should establish credibility first before taking on something so controversial,” Nicole recalls. “But I thought—what’s the point of doing research if it’s not relevant to people’s lives?”

The False Promise of Energy Independence

A particularly bitter irony is that despite living next to a massive gas transmission line, the Williamsons have no access to natural gas. “We’re too rural,” they’re told. Instead, the gas flows across the country, and in many cases, overseas. Much of it is liquefied and exported—or used in petrochemical manufacturing, not for local heating or energy.

This mirrors a broader deception: the myth of energy independence. “We were told this was for us,” Jill remarks. “But it’s not. The profits go to the companies. The damage stays here.”

A System Designed for Extraction, Not Protection

Perhaps the most chilling part of their story is the systemic failure to protect them. The Williamsons describe how gas companies are allowed to self-monitor, self-report emissions, and declare compliance—without meaningful oversight. Even when the EPA visited their home, they admitted they had “no jurisdiction” to help.

“This system isn’t broken,” Bob says. “It was built this way.”

Conclusion: Who Pays the Price?

The story of Bob and Darlene Williamson is not just a tale of personal loss—it is a warning. As compressor stations, pipelines, and frack pads multiply across the Ohio River Valley and beyond, more families are finding themselves in the blast zone of an industry that externalizes its costs while privatizing its profits.

They didn’t ask for this. They weren’t activists. But they are now witnesses.

“They told us this was just going to be a little building,” Darlene says. “They sat at our table and said we’d never even know it was there. But we do. Every single day.”

Disclaimer:

Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates.

Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries’ operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization.

We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing.

We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org for timely review and, if warranted, correction.

While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action.

Exposure Episode 8 – A Family Uprooted: The Williamson’s Story of Fracking’s Silent Toll