League of Women Voters of North Carolina

North Carolina’s delegation to the LWVUS convention was impressive and three from our Lower Cape Fear League (two as NC Board representatives) attended as well. A number of the delegation showed up at a workshop on fracking. It sounds dirty and it is, the underground equivalent of mountain top removal and, as with that method, those living in surrounding areas have very little to say about their land and environment being destroyed. It involves using high pressure steam underground to push out oil from shale, thereby ruining everything in its path, including underground aquifers. Some of the oil is not collected which has led to the demonstration of "lighting streams." If enough mining rights are leased in a particular area, many states give oil companies permission to burrow under land whose owners have not given permission. "Gasland" is a very dramatic movie dealing with the subject in several states and describes the problem in detail. Leagues in several states have become heavily involved.

Barbara Coulson noticed in Clean Water for NC related comments:

"While the movie "Gasland" is based mostly on the experiences of New York and Pennsylvania communities, abuses including pollution of surface water by returned fracking fluids have also been documented in Texas and west Virginia, among other states. New York City is taking action to prevent any hydrofracking in its water supply watersheds."

The land grab is on here, too. Gas companies from N.C. and out of state are sending out signature-ready lease agreements to residents in Lee County, some with checks ready to sign." (Sanford is in Lee County with Moore County just to the Southwest and Wake just to the Northeast.)

The article goes on "The investment of the companies in these leases and the royalties they offer to landowners is an attempt to build a critical mass to change current "injection well" rules that prohibit any injection of wastes or toxic materials, preventing hydrofracking for gas in N.C." (Underlines Barbara’s.)

A professional well driller who participated in recent NC Division of Water Quality stakeholder meetings on injection wells said "If anyone tells you that they can control where or how far the fracturing will go, they're lying." The result? Uncontrolled fracturing that can allow contaminated groundwater and gas to move to areas where water was previously safe.

Barbara adds:

"I think we need to talk to or email our legislators ASAP to alert them to this takeover and urge them to hold fast and even improve those rules in the 2011 legislative session. This could also be something that we, after getting more information, could present to our County commissioners for a resolution for the County before the oil and gas companies get their foot in the door. Anybody agree?"

Well I do.

Sen. Harry Reid introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010. This section of The Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act was added to address fracturing and require disclosure of chemicals being used. Disclosure has been one of the problems in protecting water, air, land, and public health. More background information is available from ProPublica.

The LWVUS caucus committee working on this issue was grateful for the support given to pass our resolution unanimously in convention. We urge you to let your representatives know that you support full disclosure of chemicals used in the development of oil and gas. Action is expected to take place next week.

Joyce Hale,
League of Women Voters of Washington County Arkansas

LWV Action Alert on Fracking