Fracking in N.C. Comes Down to Perdue Decision

As of Friday, June 15, 2012

The decision to legalize fracking in North Carolina is likely to come down to Gov. Beverly Perdue and whether the Republican-led General Assembly has enough votes to override a potential veto.

Perdue, a Democrat, has remained silent on the controversial form of extracting natural gas since stating early last month that she supports fracking if it can be properly regulated.

The state House, in a 66-43 vote last Thursday, approved a bill that would overhaul North Carolina’s energy policy to allow drilling for natural gas. The bill now goes back to the state Senate, where it is expected to be approved early this week.

State Rep. Jamie Boles, a Republican who represents most of Moore County, supported the bill.

“I like 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.”

If Perdue vetoes the bill, fracking proponents would need 72 votes in the House for an override.

If the governor does not veto it, next steps include naming the members of the Mining and Energy Commission and setting a schedule for the creation of regulations and other related work.

Boles said the General Assembly worked closely with the governor’s office to send her a bill with growing bipartisan support. The bill passed Thursday also gives the governor four appointees to the commission.

“She had none in previous versions of the bill,” Boles said. “If she vetoes it, we address her concerns. We want the rules and regulations process to start, whether it’s now or with a new administration.”

The General Assembly would have to approve all new regulations and standards before any drilling and fracking permits could be issued. That vote could at least be two years away.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking,” 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 (USGS) 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.

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.

Critics of the legislation say it does not allow enough time to develop rules and regulations to ensure families, communities and the environment will be protected from the risks associated with natural gas development.

The bill directs the commission and several state agencies to study the impacts and develop the regulations by October 2014.

Jane Preyer, director of the Southeast office of the Environmental Defense Fund, called the timeline “arbitrary and irresponsible.”

“The new law does not give agencies time, staff or money to know the facts and develop responsible policies,” Preyer said. “This is a new industry for North Carolina. State agencies are being forced to write regulations in the dark.”

Preyer cited the USGS assessment as another reason for a “go-slow” approach.

“Geologists say gas resources here are modest and will not attract industry interest for years, so it makes no sense for the legislature to race this fast on such a big decision for the state,” she said.

Molly Diggins, state director of the N.C. Sierra Club, said the aquifer in the Deep River Basin is closer to shale gas deposits than in other states, which may make groundwater more vulnerable to contamination from chemicals used in the fracking process.

“Unfortunately, the legislature seems committed to moving forward with fracking without getting essential questions answered about the potential impact on our water resources,” Diggins said. “There’s too much at stake to make a risky bet like this. The public deserves better.”

Fracking supporters, on the other hand, tout the new jobs and tax revenue that fracking will bring to North Carolina. They claim 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.

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.

More like this story

mymindwanders 11 months ago

Governor Perdue- Is 5.6 years of gas worth all the Headache? I ask you to Veto the bill & let the house deal with it. Then, at least the they would get a chance to think more on this & come to the right decision.40 years of gas might be worth considering doing safely, If that is possible consistently. I have t-shirts older than 5.6 years. I do not think the pros out way the cons.

This may be one of the Biggest decisions You will be remembered for. How will we remember you?

LSM 11 months ago

Governor Perdue's vote while head of the NC Senate brought us the lottery. Now how she votes will either bring fracking or not. The pressure of real leadership, will it be for the good of the people as she failed with her lottery vote, or for the interest of the few. What will she do? As mentioned above, just how will we remember you Mrs. Perdue, now not very favorably and basically a failure up to this point?

PBinNC 11 months ago

Wish my representative was one of the 43 who voted against it, but I am sure he is not.

Toda 11 months ago

For Representative Jamie Boles => http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/sessions/2011/S709Veto/govobjections.pdf

You'll probably have to wait until McCrory wins or loses.

"If Perdue vetoes the bill, fracking proponents would need 72 votes in the House for an override."

Trying your best to contaminate our beautiful state with toxic chemicals, low grade radiation, and water contamination.

Who exactly are you and Jerry Tillman representing? The people don't want Fracking coming to a community near you ... Unless it's near Pinehurst!

Toda 11 months ago

Perhaps Representative Boles recalls this story from a few years back of clean up contamination... http://www.thepilot.com/news/2011/dec...

Toda 11 months ago

Another interesting article by David Sinclair that reflects the importance of contamination in our small town over the years.

Wicker’s First Big Story by David Sinclair

With all the negative information, one would think that David would write about the contamination in other states, and the probable impact on North Carolina. Unless it has something to do with The Pilots endorsement of Senator Jerry Tillman...(blush)

carlj1161 11 months ago

The title for this article is just a plain outright lie. Perdue's decision means absolutely nothing in this case. No matter what she does, the Republican legislature will do what it wants. If she signs it, they will over turn it just because they can. She might as well ignore it and not waste her energy on it. The only hope for this not passing is for Obama to come out for it, then the Republican legislature will run in droves to vote it down.

carlj1161 11 months ago

I meant if she vetoes it, the legislature will just over turn it just because they can.

greatbrit 11 months ago

I can't think of one example where "it can never happen" has actually NOT happened. Think Titanic - it can never sink. Think "Torrey Canyon" or "Exxon Valdiz" - it will never run aground. Alaskan Pipeline - It will never break. And so on. Now we are asked to believe Politicians (reknown for telling the truth?) when they tell us - it can never contaminate our water. Sure they'll placate us with "This is only the first step". but with so many citizens against that first step, who are they actually voting for - the people or big money?

teufelhunden 11 months ago

They don't care about people-it is all about the money. They will sugarcoat all of this talking about what a boon to our economy this will be and it will create jobs, etc. The bottom line, IMHO, is that this is a huge mistake. Just say NO to fracking.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
28	29	30	1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31	1