Fracking in TN?

[Carol Landis]

Hi all:  The following was sent by Marianne Huff, yesterday:

Frances Lamberts asked me to contact you and GIN to see if anyone is interested in going with her to the Rulemaking Hearing on the state’s proposed regulations on fracking, at the Knoxville Environmental Field Office (of TDEC), 2 PM and 6 PM, on July 10.  She would like to get as many people as possible to go with her to encourage Tennessee to set regulations in regards to fracking.  Please see her article below that will be in the Jonesborough Herald and Tribune next Tuesday.  What is the best way to let our members know about this?

 

Marianne Huff

 

From Frances:

Fracking regulation for Tennessee　

On New Year’s Eve, Youngstown was shaken by the biggest in a succession of earthquakes. Though not causing damage or injuries, they were strong enough to be felt well beyond Ohio state lines. The region, with normally insignificant earthquake activity, had seen a great increase in oil and gas production through hydraulic fracturing methods over several years. The US Geological Survey found the frequency of earthquakes of 3.0 magnitude or greater in the region, away from significant fault lines, to be “unprecedented” and “almost certainly manmade.” Earthquakes of that size there last year (134) were six times the number registered in any year throughout the 20^th century.

Governor Kasich ordered a temporary suspension of drilling operations at wells closest to the epicenter of the New Year’s Eve quake and the state is upgrading its regulations pertaining to “fracking” in oil and natural gas extraction, to improve its safety.

The practice involves injecting a mixture of water, sand and chemical additives into wells under high pressure, creating cracks in rock formations for higher gas recovery. Deep geologic formations such as shale, formerly unprofitable to extract, are being rapidly developed through this technology. More than 400,000 wells using it have been drilled since 2001. By 2021, according to projections by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas could be produced in such plenty as to make the United Stated a net exporter of it.

Amendments to the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water laws enacted by the previous administration exempted hydrofracking from basic water-protection requirements.

Its threats to water resources, however, beyond earthquakes and a host of other concerns, have generated significant community opposition to fracking nationwide. Freshwater withdrawals during a drilling well’s operation, typically ranging from 2.3 to 5 million gallons, can conflict with other uses, especially as droughts under climate change increase stresses on water. Groundwater contamination can occur if accidental spills, improperly cased well bores or equipment failures release fracking fluids onto or in the ground. Large amounts of wastewater, temporarily held in embankments or pits, which themselves can overflow or leak, must be treated and disposed of after well closure. Typical drilling operations require the clearing of vegetation from seven-to-eight acres, through which stormwater runoff can add to water-quality degradation in local waterways.

Small wonder that a number of US states and towns, Maryland, Vermont, New Jersy, Pittsburgh among others, and countries from Germany and France to South Africa have placed moratoriums or outright bans on natural gas production through fracking.

In Tennessee, where it is occurring but still uncommon, Governor Haslam is taking steps, ahead of the curve in large-scale fracking, to upgrade relevant regulations. Under a “forced integration of tracts” provision, regulations currently allow drilling companies’ use of eminent domain to “pool” privately owned parcels for higher extraction yield and profits. Citizens may wish to attend a Rulemaking Hearing on the state’s proposed regulations on fracking, at the Knoxville Environmental Field Office (of TDEC), 2 PM and 6 PM, on July 10 or submit written comments--email to [e-mail]--by July 20.

 

Frances Lamberts 753-5288