State House Approves Fracking Legislation
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The N.C. House on Thursday approved a controversial bill that would legalize fracking in several years.
After nearly three hours of debate, the House voted 66 to 43 in favor of the measure that would overhaul the state's energy policy to allow drilling for natural gas. The Senate, which approved a different version of the proposal last week, will consider the House version next week.
State Rep. Jamie Boles, a Republican who represents most of Moore County, voted in favor of the bill.
"I liked the bill that we passed because it frames the rule-making process," Boles said. "It doesn't approve fracking. This is the first step of many, and we don't know how the governor is going to weigh in."
Thursday’s movement came a day after the House Environment Committee sent the bill forward after adopting substantial changes, most notably altering the composition of a new Mining and Energy Commission.
The Senate version called for a commission that includes several oil and gas developers, but the House committee replaced them with local governmental officials and a representative of a publicly traded natural gas company.
Boles has long been an advocate for that change.
"I had some concerns with the Senate's composition of the commission," he said. "With our changes, it becomes less industry weighted."
The commission would be responsible for creating the necessary safeguards and protections to ensure that fracking can be done safely.
State Sen. Robert Rucho, a Mecklenburg County Republican who sponsored the Senate bill, said he had no problem with the changes.
The Senate approved the bill last week.
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking,” is a controversial form of natural gas extraction. It is germane to northern Moore County, which lies atop the Deep River Basin, where state geologists initially believed a 40-year supply of natural gas exists.
But a recently released U.S. Geological Survey assessment showed that the Deep River Basin has an amount of natural gas equivalent to 5.6 years of usage based on 2010 consumption rates in North Carolina.
Although geologic conditions in the Deep River Basin are not ideal, similar conditions have yielded profitable operations in the Barnett Shale in Texas, the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and other Northeastern states.
Fracking is illegal in North Carolina — for now. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said last month in a report that fracking “can be done safely” only if lawmakers adopt state-specific regulatory standards and invest “sufficient resources” in compliance and enforcement prior to issuing any drilling permits.
The fracking bill directs several state agencies to draft regulations by October 2014, when the first permits could be issued.
The DENR report also noted the need for additional research on North Carolina’s geology and hydrology to identify conditions under which fracking can be done without risking water resources.
Critics claim that fracking poses risks to the environment and to the public health. They cite reported accidents and spills in other states that were blamed for fish kills, livestock deaths and other complaints.
Fracking supporters, on the other hand, tout the new jobs and tax revenue that fracking will bring to North Carolina. They claim that the risks are manageable with the right laws and regulations.
There is a contentious worldwide debate over whether fracking is safe, and there is little scientific evidence to fill an information gap that has made it difficult for lawmakers and the public to understand the risks.
Another potential impact on any future drilling is the price of natural gas, which currently sits at 10-year lows. Experts believe a glut of natural gas could suppress prices for at least another 10 years, making it less likely energy companies would invest in drilling or exploration options for a relatively small amount of natural gas.
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@the pilot.com.
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handyssc2 11 months, 1 week ago
A compelling case for a fracking veto PART ONE
June 11, 2012
Dear Governor Perdue,
I am writing to ask you to veto any bill passed by the General Assembly that legalizes fracking, whether it is S820, H1054 or other version. There are too many issues that should be studied and understood before legalizing fracking in North Carolina. My professional experience makes me particularly concerned about the potential for contamination of groundwater with hazardous chemicals. I have learned that polluted groundwater cannot be cleaned up and is essentially gone forever. We should do everything in our power to prevent such pollution and not fool ourselves that there is some acceptable way of managing it. Here is the basis of my conclusion:
Background: Although I currently live in Chatham County and work at RTI International in RTP, I had a 25 year career as a water and environmental attorney in Arizona. I wrote laws for the Arizona Legislature on water management, worked with Governors, lobbied for cities and towns on water/environmental issues (usually for laws to protect their water quality and quantity) and represented communities whose groundwater had been polluted. I was also on a state advisory committee on laws governing injection of wastewater into aquifers (which practice would be legalized by S820). I represented the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, for 13 years in a federal Superfund project trying to get the responsible industries to pay for cleanup of the large aquifer that had been contaminated. Groundwater was an important source of water for the city.
After years of negotiation, and with the help of pressure from the federal EPA, several agreements were signed with 3 large industrial companies (the small ones were long gone or had no money) to pay to build a treatment plant for the City. Similar agreements were signed with neighboring cities. The cost of building the plant in Scottsdale was around $100 million (this is from memory – if you want the exact amount I can get it). The cost of operating it each year is also significant. Operating costs in Scottsdale are borne by the City, which has around 300,000 residents. The reason that the plant had to be built is because the contaminated aquifer covered 11 square miles, thus there was too much polluted water to remove and dispose of. Another alternative was to abandon the water supply and only build wells around the edges that would pump enough to keep it from spreading and contaminating other clean wells. This was not acceptable because the city needed the water for its residents and industries. So the only option was to pump, treat and serve. It took several years of public hearings and education to convince the residents to accept the treated water as drinking water (it would meet all federal drinking water standards, but one couldn’t say there were ABSOLUTELY NO contaminants left in the water).
handyssc2 11 months, 1 week ago
A compelling case for a fracking VETO - PART TWO
Fracking in North Carolina When I apply this experience to the small well owners and small communities in the NC shale gas counties, I am frightened. The potential for fracking to contaminate groundwater has been documented and some sources say North Carolina’s geology is particularly vulnerable. If the NC groundwater aquifers (which are much closer to the surface than the aquifers in Arizona by thousands of feet) are contaminated by any of the range of chemicals used by fracking companies, the wells will simply have to be abandoned. Due to the high cost of aquifer cleanup, wellhead treatment or regional treatment plants, it will not be feasible to clean or treat the water in rural areas. Furthermore, under current fiscal constraints, it may not even be feasible to clean up or treat water supplies used by larger towns without tax or rate increases. Affected small landowners will suffer a diminution in property values. It has been documented that fracking can result in contaminated water entering surface water streams over the ground. Also, groundwater flows underground to streams or lakes. So even landowners and towns that rely on surface water can be affected (e.g., Cary and other communities served by Jordan Lake).
The current S820 bill that passed the Senate last week contains a provision that, under certain circumstances, requires an oil and gas company to compensate and provide a “replacement water supply” to the surface owner of a contaminated well within 5000 feet of a fracking well (see section 4b of S820). Even if a well owner can establish liability under this provision, the company is not required to provide the alternative water supply in perpetuity, or to subsequent owners of the property. What if the company goes bankrupt? Who will then provide the ongoing “alternative water supply”? Who will buy a farm without a water supply? Who will compensate the landowner for the diminution in his or her property values? Who will locate a business in a town with a contaminated water supply?
Groundwater flows underground. The contamination in Scottsdale started out under separate isolated industrial properties in the 1960’s, but after 20 years, the contaminated aquifer extended 11 square miles, encompassing the entire downtown and southern half of the City. The legislation does not provide any protection for well owners who are outside the 5000 feet radius, or for doing anything to stop the spread of the contaminated water. This has the potential to ruin a current or future water supply for an entire region, and that could affect the future economic development of that region. I am not even addressing in this letter potential health effects should people drink contaminated water.
handyssc2 11 months, 1 week ago
A compelling case for a fracking VETO - CONCLUSION
North Carolina’s water supplies are crucial to its future. Providing for some limited liability for the contamination of groundwater is no substitute for adequately protecting the groundwater quality in the first place. Fracking should not be legalized, if at all, until much more study is done and stringent regulations are developed. Even assuming adequate regulations, the State would have to have sufficient resources to monitor and enforce the regulations and best practices. Will the state allocate sufficient funds? I doubt it. It is even less likely to happen with a regulatory body controlled by the regulated industry, as S820 provides.
Fracking is too risky for North Carolina landowners and water supplies. The meager speculative rewards do not justify us taking these risks. Please veto any legislation legalizing fracking in 2012.
Yours truly,
Barbara Goldberg
jr27356 11 months, 1 week ago
We are screwed now !!
saddlesore 11 months, 1 week ago
The beginning of the end.
MichaelFlorence 11 months, 1 week ago
Two things - First - everyone writing comments above turn off your computers, and other electrical devices in your house. This Summer when it gets really hot and the power companies are turning on their gas turbines to boost their generating capacity PLEASE turn off your ac units to conserve power so they will not use as much imported gas.
Second - Veto proof vote. Good luck
GJohn 11 months, 1 week ago
You know what's worse than thinking you're going to die? Watching someone you love die. Maybe your child or grandchild. What do we think is going to happen when our children drink a lifetime of contaminated water? You can stop fracking, but you can't fix the water. Why are legislators more concerned with getting re-elected, than they're concerned with the people of North Carolina?
Newton 11 months, 1 week ago
Sanity returns to NC. When we have Pat McCrory as governor and not some hack politician like Bev Perdue, we can finally start moving this state forward. Good old Bev can veto now but it will be signed into law in 2013.
All you alarmist tree hugging liberals should just sit back, relax and take a swig of your Perrier.
Drill Baby Drill
Best,
Ike
tarheelborn 11 months, 1 week ago
@handyscc2. You say you work at RTP and are an authority on fracking and the so called contaminates (chemicals) which are used in the process. Well, I sorry to inform you RIGHT IN DURHAM (RTP) there is an INTERNATIONAL Company which has been building machines for the last several years, which removes EVERYTHING from the water! If you work at RTP you should know about them and their unbelievable products. The State of North Carolina has long APPROVED their method of CLEANSING ALL WATER and actually cleaning it BETTER than the State of North Carolina mandates. In North Carolina, (NCDENR) North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and (DWQ) Division of Water Quality, mandates that ALL Municipalities must provide Clean Drinking Water and said water MUST not have (ANYTHING) in the water with more than (5PPM), Five Parts Per Million.... Well this machine Cleans the water you are so concerned about DOWN TO 2PPM! BETTER than North Carolina says it needs to be.... The State will be making darn SURE this company will be requested to see their machines are utilized in this process. I thought nearly everyone had already heard of them... If you like, I will get their name and contact information so you can contact THEM, and let you REALLY GET UP ON THE NEWEST and CLEANEST Technology on the Market!!! Until then, maybe you need to GO BACK to Az. and help them fight their battles. Our State will be setting a STANDARD NO OTHER NATION has been able to do!
PLUS, these machines do NOT use ANY CHEMICALS, REVERSE OSMOSIS or UltraViolet Light. I'm told and will be soon witnessing these machines. They use (NANO TECHNOLOGY) with (ELECTROMECHANICAL MAGNETIZATION) without ANY Harmful side effects! Everyone needs to COOL their JETS and let the State of North Carolina use the resources RIGHT HERE in OUR STATE! N.C. is going to Set the WORLD STANDARDS! Just wait and See! People are Naturally Afraid or SCARED of something they DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT... That is Natural in the Human Being Structure... More Later!
Bflat 11 months, 1 week ago
As it is said: "There goes the neighborhood." Shame on Jamie Boles for getting the State ready to be thrown under the bus.
getreal 11 months, 1 week ago
So sad for NC! You will notice that this is being pushed forward at break neck speed by the republicans, oh for the almighty dollar! If you want to find out what fracking has done to other states, check out the damage done in PA. From what I have read, there is only enough natural gas underground in the area for a 5 year supply. We need to be spending our time and money on finding alternative energy sources instead of threatening our resources! This is not good for us, start hoarding your drinking water now!
tarheelborn 11 months, 1 week ago
@bflat I have mostly agreed with your comments posted on here, but you and the others must be OLD SCHOOL. Look, it's like my previous post said about the company (Right here in RTP, N.C.)... We CANNOT compare ourselves to Penn, Ohio and the rest of these places..... This company that is in RTP has the capability to clean the water and also several other products they manufacture to safeguard the public from the problems the other states experienced decades ago. It is not Anything like people had to deal with years ago. I have relatives which live in the fracking areas up north. I visit them often. They had to deal with the numerous problems YEARS AGO, But NOW they say it has been cleaned up and they don't have nearly the problems they once did. AND NO, they do not have Land making money off the industry like some would want to try and say!
@getreal. ""oh for the almighty dollar"". You are D_ _ _ Right it is for the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, because what you don't UNDERSTAND or KNOW, or don't want to ADMIT, it takes MONEY and LOTS OF IT to make this and ANY STATE provide Jobs and PAY THE BILLS so ALL Citizens can Benefit from our State Owned Amenities! The next time you visit one of our state parks or ANY other state owned facilities, think about THAT! Maybe you never take advantage of our state properties. Well it takes a lot of money to keep these places up, so YOU and EVERYONE reading this post can ENJOY what we have in North Carolina. HOWEVER, I do agree with most everyone, we can trim back on a lot of WASTEFUL Spending...
@GJohn. You are also obviously ignorant to this new NANO technology from the company at RTP... Because you say, ""You can stop fracking, but you can't fix the water"". Why don't people READ, ASK QUESTIONS of the Industry, before they go out here and start SPEAKING about issues of which they are not EDUCATED...
tarheelborn 11 months, 1 week ago
@jr27356. ""We are screwed now"". Sorry ole pal, but we have BEEN Screwed FOR YEARS! North Carolina has been at the butt end of a LOT OF THINGS, because of the previous Administration . Look, I love Bev and think she is really a sweet and knowledgeable person. She will be leaving office soon. I feel Certain she will SIGN and PASS into LAW this bill, because SHE went to Penn, and witnessed FIRST HAND, as did Congressman Boles, Senator Blake and numerous other Elected Officials. THEY ALL (or at least the ones which took the trip up there), KNOW with the Company at RTP, which the State approved a few years ago for Water Cleansing, (Better than our Own State Mandated Requirements), that North Carolina has JUST WHAT IT TAKES! Look. There goes with any Company, Business or even State certain (BRAGGING RIGHTS) when they have Accomplished something NOBODY Else has been able to do! We need to RALLY BEHIND our State Elected Officials to show the WHOLE WORLD, North Carolina has GOT WHAT IT TAKES! Be PROUD you live in a state which incorporates these type companies! I would also be willing to wager the Elected Officials which voted against the bill, DID NOT EVEN GO to Penn with the Governor and the others. So, if a pull were conducted, once again (EDUCATION FOLKS)! A small group, such have been posting on this story, want to BI _ _ _ about what they don't have a clue to what they are in opposition about! That's the SAD PART of all this!
@saddlesore. I think you have been OUT ON THE RANGE Way Too Long in the SADDLE! The HEAT has gotten to your brain..... If you are a TRUE Saddle Person, look up what TWO of our most Famous Environmentalist, Tree Hugging, Entertainers and Ranch owners have said about the Company at RTP! There are none other with More Money than (TED TURNER and ROBERT REDFORD) in the Protect Mother Earth band of conservationists. I don't know if THEY have anything invested in this company, but IF it were a Publicly Traded Company, (I checked and they are NOT), but if they were, I would be buying stock in them like none other! ! ! Again. As I previously stated, "" Everyone needs to COOL their JETS"", lay off our elected officials and let them do their jobs up there, so they can CREATE JOBS DOWN HERE! I can assure you North Carolina will be MUCH BETTER OFF and the people here will be much better off too!
mymindwanders 11 months, 1 week ago
Tarheelborn- Are they going to put those expensive fancy machines underground in the aquifers when there are accidents. I know enough about fracking to say No Thanks... Please go find another state willing to let you Frack them..
GJohn 11 months, 1 week ago
Tarheelborn: Clean the water? Why dirty it in the first place? Moore County is paying other counties for water right now - why filthy up what we've got? And who is going to pay for all of this wonderful NANO technology? Oops, that would be the taxpayers!! Well, I won't be paying much tax because my land will be taken over by my neighbors. And, oh, by the way, you must never have had cancer like I have and had to endure chemo and radiation. If you had, you might be more concerned about the environment than you are. You and all your greedy ostrich-head-in-the-sand friends, go ahead and drink the contaminated water. I'll stick to the clean, pure water God gave us.
MidwayResident 11 months, 1 week ago
The House vote is not veto proof. The bill needed 72 votes in favor in order to be veto proof. It gained 66 votes in favor vs 43 votes against with 11 members evidently not casting a vote. Also there were 2 Republican House members who voted against the bill. My view is this is an Industry rush to judgement that future generations will be stuck with while the Oil and Gas Industry gets more corporate welfare like they need it! To truly protect the environment and the drinking water of NC, the House should have a supermajority of the governing board (rules writing commission) represented by environmental experts and empowered the State Geologist to speak for the people rather than be a non voting technical adviser to the commission. I am sick and tired of giveaways to industry without proper safeguards for public health and the environment. Let's see if Perdue still has a backbone and vetoes this boomdoogle.
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Newton 11 hours, 23 minutes ago:
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
"PLUS, these machines do NOT use ANY CHEMICALS, REVERSE OSMOSIS or UltraViolet Light. I'm told and will be soon witnessing these machines. They use (NANO TECHNOLOGY) with (ELECTROMECHANICAL MAGNETIZATION) without ANY Harmful side effects! Everyone needs to COOL their JETS and let the State of North Carolina use the resources RIGHT HERE in OUR STATE! N.C."
You can bet your sweet bippy that members of the NC General Assembly have a financial interest...!
Newton 11 months, 1 week ago
Toda,
What do you suggest I run the generator on??? Natural gas of propane (LNG). If the gas comes from NC, gladly. Always hacking on the special interest such as business being behind everything. No one ever speeaks about special interests such as the Sierra Club, AFSCME, George Soros and othe political left leaning elites (like George Kaiser) who gain special favors ??? By the way, being knowledgable about Kaiser's financial position, he has been LONG natural gas for years (in OTC swaps and futures) and says he will always be so. What is his special interest??? Probably restricted access to new natural gas supplies in the market. BTW, he was one of Obama's main contributors and a shareholder in Solyndra. Guess its who's ox is being gored.
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Boles said. "It doesn't approve fracking. (that's a done deal)
Jamie she vetoed the Jobs Bill which includes allowing Fracking...AYE!
Governors Veto:
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Newton 0 minutes ago =>
Most don't want the excess gas, the problems associated with drilling, and water contamination!
Once the Middendorf Aquifer is contaminated there is no return path. Also, one may discover that as the Cape Fear river basin that provides water for Fayetteville and the Lumbee River Basin for Robeson County and Lumberton, depleats, salt water is wicking in from the Atlantic.
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Newton => They being politicians are all in bed together, party makes no difference.
I find politics so hilarious to the point of vomiting...Our Constitution based on the Federalists point of view for a new America was crafted and drafted in a little over 3 months. It's still in effect as you well know.
Congress can't decide on a budge in 12 months much less any other of the Peoples business. Sickening to say the least!
alladat1 11 months, 1 week ago
Quick, someone get a chill pill for TarheelBorn.
tarheelborn 11 months, 1 week ago
Oh boy. Ignorance is just that. If you have never been off you little parcel of ground you were born, than how can I or ANYONE convince you about Canadian Geese flying south and then back to Canada during their annual migration. Point is, if you don't thoroughly KNOW and UNDERSTAND the Process, your best to stay out of the discussion, Kinda like the ole saying "if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch"!
THE GAS Companies PAY for the Machines, NOT THE TAXPAYERS!
Some people just want to keep stirring the pot, mostly because THEY have Nothing to GAIN because THEY don't Own any REAL PROPERTY! Plenty of Personal Property, but this is why it its referred to REAL PROPERTY Folks! LAND, LAND and MORE LAND! NO I don't own lots of LAND either. I'm just not so narrow minded as the ole Mules in this stream, with Blinders such as yourselves, that can't see any further than the nose on the front of your faces.... TRY if you may to Get out of the BOX, so you can THINK, (if you are capable of such a function) Outside the Box!
I'm just trying to find a way to buy some stock in ANY PORTION of this Technology! They may not be publicly traded, but by golly I want in because CLEANING WATER Better than the State of North Carolina says it must be cleaned has GOT TO BE THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD OR SEEN!
@Toda, Come on.... I thought you smarter than this. This is PROVEN, you stated above ""to try to clean up billions of underground water...our only water supply. It's Already being done by this company in New Zealand, Africa and Australia and who know where else... What do you have against a Company Employing Local People with JOBS right here in North Carolina rather than Chain or Mexico??? Jeeeezzzzzz.... I just don't get it with you people. You scream about jobs being sent to these other countries and then you scream about a company right here in N.C. Creating Jobs. Someone said, ME TALKING ABOUT A DOUBLE STANDARD? You folks are the Double Standard!
Newton 11 months, 1 week ago
Toda,
I share your dislike for the landslide of money into politics, especialyl into PAC's where contributions can't be traced because of shell companies. Nonetheless, we need additional supply supply in order to become energy independent. Energy independence will keep us from having to dabble in Mideast politics.
I'll attach a link to this post which shows spot prices, Henry Hub, where most natural gas prices are set for consumers. You'll note that prices spiked at approximately $13.25/MCF (June, 2008). Prices have dropped drastically since then to $2.39/MCF. You'll also note that the drop in natural gas prices corresponds to the ongoing economic crisis and by extension, falling demand in a poor economic climate as opposed to supply. IF we are able to convert our energy usage to more clean burning natural gas, mainly by powering our autos on gas or LNG, demand will increase and we will need additional supply in order to keep prices low. Additionally, you and I probably share the opinion that coal as a source of energy has had a significant negative impact on the NC environmen (acid rain from our neighbors in TN). Even with the advent of better scrubbers for emissions, it still has a negative impact. I believe that natural gas is our cleanest source of fossil fuel and will have to carry us for potentially several decades until we can find a non fossil fuel solution. I also believe that the technology exists currently to negate the risks to the environment in NC and elsewhere. As such, I am all for fracking in NC.
Newton 11 months, 1 week ago
Toda,
Sorry, here's the link.
http://ycharts.com/indicators/natural_gas_spot_price
mymindwanders 11 months, 1 week ago
Newton -as a member of "you people", I do own land. We could be affected by a future contamanation of our water.But, lets say it didn't happen. What about the unknown
costs to our already low water supply.Remember watering on odd/even days? we could go back to that at any time. What about the wear & tear to our already rough roads, are they going to pay us for those losses after they are done with us & move on. NO, N.C. Tax Payers will.
Also, I do believe you about the CanadianGeese. At least they won't be forced to drink our water if something should happen...
JD 11 months, 1 week ago
The fix is in.
tarheelborn 11 months, 1 week ago
@mymindwanders ""What about the wear & tear to our already rough roads, are they going to pay us for those losses after they are done with us & move on. NO, N.C. Tax Payers will.""
ANOTHER misinformed person, which obviously has never been anywhere but to the grocery and back home.... In Pennsylvania the State DOES NOT MAINTAIN The Roads, It is the GAS COMPANY which PAYS for EVERYTHING! An Agreement the state and the Gas company had before they even started operations... Also, the Gas company paid for a Total New Volunteer Fire Station, ALL the Equipment and NEW Fire Truck! They really do GIVE BACK to the Local Communities!
YOU PEOPLE need to get EDUCATED, rather than spouting off at the mouth, like just finishing an EX-LAX Sandwich.......
getreal 11 months, 1 week ago
Totarheelborn, You talk about the new technology available, is it more expensive to use? If so, what guarantees that the loss of extra dollars won't influence the companies to cut corners? Remember BP? As for more jobs, what I have read states that most of the employees will be brought in from other states because they are already trained, so no windfall for NC in jobs. When, not if, there is an accident, (humans are good at messing up) the repercussions will be far reaching. Why risk the damage to our water and environment for only 5.6 years of gas supply??? This just plain greed, greed, greed brought to you by the republicans looking out for their good old boys who will come in here, ruin the area and take the money and run. No thanks!
drefleury 11 months, 1 week ago
I started a petititon a few weeks ago to send to the legislature, and just emailed Bev Perdue last night. Please feel free to sign it and post it to social media if you like. We need help and the collective voice of many to make any difference. Oh, and by the way, email or call Bob Rucho and ask him if he'd like us to start fracking under his mansion over here near Charlotte. He is all in favor of fracking, but just so long as it's 150 miles from where he lives, breathes, etc. He's from up north and has a different perspective, but is trying to impose this ill on our lands. It's sad that this is the legacy these people are leaving in our state government.
http://www.change.org/petitions/no-fracking-in-nc
drefleury 11 months, 1 week ago
I don't understand why any of these people (Newton, tarheelborn) are so vocally in favor of this nonsense. We have an oversupply of NG, the price has plummeted, and the technology advances mean very few jobs would be created. Where's the beef? Something to gain personally?
mymindwanders 11 months, 1 week ago
tarheelborn-You say "you people" like we are the enemy. I thought this was an open forum for discussing issues we worry about. How are we supposed to learn if we don't ask Questions? It almost seems like you are already a part this Fracking Fiasco coming our way.
JD 11 months, 1 week ago
Switching to bottled water and putting out the barrels to collect some rain.
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
tarheelborn => If I were you I would refrain from using the word "ignorance".
" I thought you smarter than this. This is PROVEN, you stated above ""to try to clean up billions of underground water...our only water supply..."
"In Pennsylvania the State DOES NOT MAINTAIN The Roads, It is the GAS COMPANY which PAYS for EVERYTHING!"
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
If is a big word Newton ... my position is based on information developed since 2000 on the remote possibility of out-of-state companies ever moving to North Carolina to setup drilling exploration and subsequent drilling. I'm not sure how familiar you are with our water resources and aquatic environment through aquifers?
That clean up cost taxpayers millions for just one plant and a sub-station on 211. The Pit Golf course may still have residual pockets of the truck loads of malathion illegally dumped.
Are we so secure in our present technology that we can risk our water supply to chance? I think not.
I'm providing a link to an archived article by the late Clark Cox in 2003 regarding fracking and the Middendorf Aquifer. Apparently a lot has changed in the last 9 years ~ or has it?
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Funny ~ me too! http://archives.thepilot.com/August2003/08-03-03/080303Aquifer.html
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
" just don't get it with you people. "
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Just some facts about Fracking going on in Pa:
Hers' your link: http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/pennsylvania-and-fracking
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
"Industry says the process is safe and does not pollute drinking water supplies. But a growing movement of environmentalists, scientists and residents worry that the chemicals used in the fracking process will leak into aquifers. Wastewater from the process returns to the surface contaminated with some of those chemicals, as well as buried salts and naturally occurring radioactive material. That wastewater needs to be treated, or buried in containment wells."
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
O' my friends, yet there is more ... Featured Headlines Pennsylvania County's Dreams of Wealth Didn't Work Out
Today there is no drilling in Wayne County, Bloomberg Businessweek reports in its June 11 issue. The Delaware River Basin Commission, a regional regulatory agency, has declared a moratorium while it studies the environmental impact. Gas companies have invoked force majeure clauses to put their contracts with property owners on hold. Investors who bought farmland are stuck, and farmers who expected to retire on gas royalties are back to eking out a living from agriculture. Meanwhile, fracking opponents are brandishing the example of Wayne County as they fight shale energy exploration across the country.
So much for Rep. Jamie Boles' trip to Pa...may not be a financial windfall for personal wealth development?
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Wells Fargo in the Fracking business? Yes they are and your property is at risk of default if they hold your paper... Fracking Threatens To Put Some Mortgages In Default
Wells Fargo & Company, both the largest home mortgage lender in the United States and a major lender to the country's second largest producer of natural gas, Chesapeake Energy Corp., refuses to make home loans for properties encumbered with natural gas drilling leases. This comes from an article written for the New York State Bar Association Journal by attorney Elisabeth N. Radow. Written in the form of an even-tempered legal brief, Radow relates one astounding finding after another. Perhaps most relevant to homeowners who either have signed drilling leases or who may be asked to sign them in the future is this: "Signing a gas lease without lender consent is likely to constitute a mortgage default."
Greed at the highest levels of national disgrace ~ Opp's that's Romney.
Here is your link: http://www.frackalert.org/
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
Tarhillborn => ready for the trucking scenario?
This is too easy Tarhillborn: "* On April 16, 2010, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation revoked Chesapeake Energy's road use permit for Route 1007 in Bradford County. Chesapeake failed to respond to two notices of unsafe conditions and thus violated their agreement to proactively monitor conditions and repair the road when needed. In March, PennDOT revoked their permit for Route 1001 for the same reasons (LH Express, "PennDOT Revokes" [4/16/10]"
Here's your link: http://www.gdacoalition.org/GDAC_ROADS_SAFETY.html
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
tarheelborn => cat got your tongue?
In more ways than one can imagine...Polluted tributaries, poisoned rivers, aquatic life dead, roads and highways turned into wash boards due to the size and weight of trucks hauling 1000 gallon water tanks, waste containing chemicals and even radioactive materials.
So now greedy companies bring all this to the surface, and we have to do what with it? Anyone? Please chime in on how North Carolina can avoid this mess our General Assembly and Senator Jerry Tillman and Representative Jamie Boles has in store for Taxpayers and voters.
mymindwanders 11 months, 1 week ago
Tarheelborn> Hello?, This Thang on?....
getreal 11 months, 1 week ago
Thank you Toda!!! A voice of truth and reason on this nasty subject, dollars for fat cats, land land owners go scratch! Haven't seen any rebuttal from the all informed Tarheelborn! Yet with all of this information available our wonderful republicans in NC have pushed this thing down our throats. I say, let them frack and when it goes wrong which it will, I hope everyone in this state will get together and file a class action suit against every politician who voted this in, hear that Boles?????? !
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
getreal 16 hours, 20 minutes ago => Those who supported and voted for Senator Jerry Tillman knew wel that he supports Fracking. He was very forthcoming at all the events I attended and spoke. I just don't understand the politics when supposedly intelligent people raise the "don't tread on me" flag when the words rang so true about his position.
Another interesting tidbit about Senator Tillman and his arrogance. A close friend of mine who lives in Pinebluff gave me a ride to an interview with SEANC just outside Burlington. The five member panel asked specific questions about legislation and legislation impacting their organization.
I didn't win nor did I ever think I had a chance with $10.00 in my campaign fund, but his campaign spent thousands and several hundred man hours to win back his seat. Money well spent on my part.
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
@Newton => A news article by David Sinclair on the Aberdeen pesticide dumping. Keep in mind this is just in Aberdeen, what could one expect if Fracking contamination occurred throughout out state?
Bflat 11 months, 1 week ago
I remember those days of the EPA cleanup of toxic chemicals in Aberdeen. One thing that stands out was there being officials quick to say no drinking water was contaminated. Well, what do you know....about a week or two later the No1 well for Aberdeen was shut down because it was contaminated with those chemicals at an unsafe level. All that time, people had been drinking that water. The same thing will happen if fracking comes in, and the water will be contaminated while people drink it before they find out about the contamination. Lab tests cannot be done too soon to find out about contamination. The risk is too high on the detrimental effects it can cause to our health..
theoldguy 11 months, 1 week ago
Once again our duly elected (and bought and paid for) public officials pay little or no heed to the scientific community.....hope everyone has enough bottled water nearby for all our daily needs
Toda 11 months, 1 week ago
theoldguy 22 minutes ago => you are spot on sir...what other reason can one think of that warrants the destruction of our great State. Has to be kickback ... Jamie Boles went to PA, so why would he come back and support Fracking? Gezzzz ~ but then again he is in the mortuary business. More people who pass as a result of chemical contamination the better his business.