In the Spotlight

Radio Event - Topic: Dirty Drilling

http://www.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1244732844259730.xml&coll=4

http://www.chagrinvalleytimes.com/NC/0/965.html

Gates Mills Adds Tax to Gas Wells

http://www.chagrinvalleytimes.com/NC/0/987.html

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*FEDERAL BILL REQUEST LETTER

Dear Colleague:

We are writing to ask you to co-sponsor the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act” (H.R. 2766).

Natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel, plays an important role in our energy portfolio as we transition to a new energy future.  The United States is fortunate to have significant resources to help meet the changing needs of our economy, and natural gas exploration will only intensify in the coming years.  Producing oil and gas, however, should not come at the expense of public health.

The oil and gas industry uses a process called hydraulic fracturing in 90 percent of wells, whereby tens of thousands of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to blast them open and increase the efficiency of the wells.  “Fracking,” as it is known, often occurs near underground sources of drinking water.  However, a provision was added to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempting this industry from complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), one of our landmark environmental and public health protection statutes.  No other industry has a similar exemption. 

This is a major concern because fracking fluids are believed to contain highly toxic chemicals such as benzene, toluene, methanol and formaldehyde.  These compounds, which can contaminate drinking water, are kept secret from the public as “proprietary information.”  However, even low concentrations of toxic chemicals can have adverse health and environmental consequences.  A number of cases have been reported around the country whereby residents and workers have become ill or groundwater was found to be contaminated after fracking operations began in their communities, including in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Wyoming, Ohio, Arkansas, Utah, Texas, and New Mexico.  This is not simply anecdotal evidence; scientists have found enough evidence to raise concerns as well, especially since non-toxic fracking fluids are available.

We recently re-introduced legislation, the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act” (H.R. 2766), to repeal this exemption, ensure that drinking water supplies are protected, and allow safe hydraulic fracturing operations to continue.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.  To become a co-sponsor, please contact Steve Plevniak in Congresswoman Diana DeGette’s office at 5-4431 or steve.plevniak@mail.house.gov; Michael Iger in Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s office at 5-6335 or michael.iger@mail.house.gov; or Jonathan Asher in Congressman Jared Polis’ office at 5-2161 or jonathan.asher@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette                                    Maurice Hinchey                                Jared Polis

Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                          Member of Congress