Can you attend a hearing on the new fracking rules in either Gaylord or Lansing next week?* If so, we need your help delivering an important message critical to strengthening these proposed protections.
Extracting gas by breaking apart shale formations is dramatically different from extracting oil or gas in a “pool” within a geological formation. Therefore compulsory pooling, or forcing unwilling landowners to allow oil or gas extraction, should not apply to hydro fracturing, in particular horizontal hydrofracturing. Here are some important points to make:
- Unlike extracting from a true “pool,” extraction of gas from fracturing of shale formations can be controlled. One part of a shale formation can be fracked and part can be left un-fracked;
- The size of an area to be horizontally hydro fractured is drastically larger than past drilling units – potentially up to 55 times larger or more. Our historic compulsory pooling practices were never designed to cover such vast areas and therefore should not apply here; and
- The process injects millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals, including toxic chemicals, under high pressure into a well, cracking the rock to release natural gas as opposed to extracting it from a traditional “pool.” This is different from historic practices. Whether the contamination ever reaches the surface is irrelevant because the land below the surface will be contaminated with fracking fluids, potentially limiting future use that we may not foresee at this time. The rights of property owners should not be limited or taken as fracking can still happen with willing landowners.
Below are details about the hearing. If you can’t make a hearing, can you submit written comments before July 31? See where to send those comments below. And let us know if you do!
Public Hearings:
July 15th, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Treetops Resort
3962 Wilkinson Road
Gaylord, MI
July 16th, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Lansing Center
333 East Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI
Address for Written Comments
Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals
MI Dept. of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 30256
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7756
DEQ-FrackingRules@michigan.gov
Thank you for considering lending your voice to make these proposed rules stronger!
Source: Freshwater Future