facts on fracking

Facts on Fracking

A public informational sessionAug 21 2014

Jeremy WarrenStesha Warren

Disclaimer Not an expert, just a concerned citizen Glad to refer to credible sources of

information Check out factsheets Too much to cover here

In North Carolina?? 2005 Energy Policy Act amendment-

Congress (Haliburton Loophole) Exempt from 6 major environmental laws

ie Clean Water, Clean Air, etc…

Ban in NC until 2012 –Senate Bill 820 Energy Moderinzation Act 2014 Pre-Approved ‘rules/regulations’ Can start early 2015

What is fracking? Hydraulic fracturing aka fracking “A process in which fractures in rocks

below the earth’s surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure. Used especially to extract natural gas or oil.” www.dictionary.com

Fracking Fluid Water (lots!) Chemicals (2%) Sand

Sand? Yes, sand… Suspends the fracking fluid Keeps fractures open

Water… 3-5 MILLION gallons of water PER frack

Each well can be fracked up to 18 times! One frack = 11,000 U.S. family/day Dan River & wells No drought restrictions

*Chemicals* 2+/- % frack fluid is chemicals

40,000 to 180,000 gal Over 649 different chemicals Ie lead, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid,

hydrofluoric acid, formaldehyde, benzene, many…many…many more.

*Chemicals* 78% sensory, respiratory, gastro, liver 55% affect brain & nervous system 22-47% cancer, organ damage or

endocrine damage (infertility, etc)

60% are water soluble 40% are volatile (airborne)

Trade Secrets… List of chemicals kept with state geologist Emergency 2 hrs Revealed…misdemeanor, possible jail time Full disclosure?? Not.

Fracking fluid Estimated 50% stays underground Surface 50% highly toxic/radioactive

Recycle/Reuse? Infrastructure?

Tanked away? To where?

Open pits? No please…coal ash spill anyone?

No plan set…

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Water contamination 60% chemicals water soluble Only held liable for 30 days after leaving Can report up to 10 years later Pennsylvania confirmed 209+ well water

contaminations since 2007 Ohio, W. Virginian, Wyoming, etc

complaints of water contamination Recent Ohio river spill

Looking ahead 5+% of all well casings fail initially Up to 50% over 30 years Water, air, health issues…just a few Law allows 10 years for reporting of

contamination incidents

Ours vs. Theirs Contamination at 8,000-10,000ft depths in

other areas Estimated 2,000-4,000ft deep here Fractures and faults can interconnect Too close to our water table!!! Highest population density in US in

proposed areas (CWNC)

Nuclear power, coal ash dams/pools Seismic activity

Too close? 200 ft setback from open waterways 650 ft (variances to 450 ft) from homes,

schools, churches, etc. ½ mile radius from well head

contamination liability Can drill for miles horizontially underground Water must be pre tested—hard to test for

unknown

Economics Estimated 387 jobs per YEAR for STATE for 7

years (2012 NC Oil/Gas study) Equals opening two grocery stores Temporary jobs

Highly specialized field Only enough gas for 3-7 years

High risk, low/temporary return

Economics Strain on emergency services/responders Roadways ruined---$$$ tax payers

PA received $204 mil. Revenue, $3.5 bill road damages

AK $182 mil. Revenue, $450 mill road damage TX $3.6 bill revenue, $4 bill road damages ND $1.3 bill revenue, $7 bill road damages

We are funding exploration…. $550k state budget explore this fall

Homes Well water 24% decrease in home value

(Duke Study)

Higher rent rates during drilling phases (N. Dakota, Colorado, etc)

Possible mortgage financing cancelled Fannie mae, freddie mac Credit unions, etc.

Possible home insurance cancelled Forced ‘pooling’ & eminent domain

Not addressed in rules Forces ‘poor’ people from area

Rockingham County Dan River concerns Economy

Jobs ruined: ecotourism, agriculture, destination, wineries, organic growers, etc…

Noise and traffic Possible hundreds of semi’s/day

What can we do? Educate yourself Talk to your neighbors Vote! MEC hearing Monday MEC comments online or mail Ordinances…Kate to discuss Refuse to lease, if you have option

Want to get involved? No Fracking in Rockingham seeking

volunteers! www.nofrackinginrockingham.org Facebook pages & group Email updates:

nofrackinginrockingham@gmail.com Twitter