The Emporia State Green Party held a demonstration Tuesday in Memorial Union Square to protest fracking in the Flint Hills. The demonstration was in response to Quail Oil and Gas, LC of Garden City placing a notice Jan. 5 in the “Council Grove Republican” requesting permission to have an injection into the Arbuckle Formation.

Nick Blessing, president of the Green Party and senior political science major, set up the demonstration.

“It (the injection well proposal) is very unpopular in the community,” Blessing said. “It can quite easily contaminate people’s water, and the people in the area depend on well water.”

Quail Oil plans to inject a disposal well.

“These disposal wells transport waste fluid from the surface deep underground, often into the Arbuckle formation,” according to npr.org.

The Arbuckle formation is part of the Arbuckle Mountains, some of the oldest mountains in North America.

Members of the ESU Green Party passed out flyers stating the potential harms of fracking as well as post cards with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) address label, for students to write and mail their concerns.

Cindy Hoedel is one of five women of the Flint Hills Stewards who are legal protestants, people who protest the fracking, and have filed a request for a hearing to stop the injection well. Hoedel traveled from Matfield Green, Kansas, to attend the protest.

“You are so important,” Hoedel said. “Your voice is powerful…Right now, the hearing is scheduled for June 15 in Wichita. The public comments portion of the legal process is open until that date. By law, the Kansas Corporation Commission, permitting body has to record what the public thinks. Send a letter or postcard that says you oppose the injection wells in the Flint Hills.”

The address of the KCC is 226 N Main St. Suite 220 in Wichita, KS.

Hoedel, along with the other women, have set up a GoFundMe campaign to handle legal fees.

“The Tallgrass National Prairie has been one of my most favorite places to visit and find peace in nature,” said Natasha Karsk, a donor to the fundraiser. “I hope it stays as untouched as possible for years to come.”

The fundraiser, which can be found at gofundme.com/flinthills, has reached over half its goal of $10,000.