Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on May 3, 2012
Fracking is the dangerous method of oil and gas drilling that’s causing poisoned water and air in Wyoming, earthquakes in Ohio, and tap water that can light on fire in Pennsylvania.1
Fracking is happening here in California, too.
Yet state regulators have no idea where, or how much our state is being fracked — and even worse, California has no laws to ensure we are protected from fracking!2
Last week, Vermont became the first state to ban hydraulic fracturing. As gas companies scramble to expand this risky practice, Governor Brown needs to follow Vermont’s lead and stop the unregulated fracking of California, now.
Tell Governor Brown: Ban Fracking in California
California has some of the best environmental and public health protections in the country. And our state understands all too well the importance of our precious water, and keeping it clean.
But on fracking, we are dangerously behind, leaving our water at risk.
Fracking uses millions of gallons of our precious water, mixed with secret, toxic chemicals, pumped deep underground at high pressure to release trapped pockets of oil or gas — a process that has contaminated groundwater water across the country with toxic chemicals and gas.
Yet California’s Monterey shale formation – which stretches from Monterey County and the Central Valley to the Northern Los Angeles area, is a top prize for frackers. We can’t wait until a drilling disaster to take action.
Tell Governor Brown: Ban Fracking in California
Despite the dangers, fracking also remains unregulated at the federal level. In a massive giveaway to his buddies at Halliburton, Dick Cheney exempted fracking from federal regulation in his 2005 energy bill.
Now, efforts to regulate the practice both federally and at the state level have met tremendous opposition from polluters, who appear to get the upper hand at every step.
President Obama has repeatedly caved to the gas industry, and substantially weakened new federal rules to reduce air pollution from fracking, to regulate it on federal lands, and even refused to take action to ban diesel fuel from fracking fluid.3
In California the State Senate was considering a bill that would have set the strongest standards in the nation for companies to disclose the chemicals used in fracking fluid. But pressure from the gas industry stalled the bill, and now it has been hopelessly watered down.4
Governor Brown shouldn’t continue allowing fracking to move forward as we wait for rules that may or may not be sufficient to protect our state. Governor Brown needs to show leadership on behalf of California, and implement a statewide ban now.
1. “Fracking,” Water Defense
2. “California Government Has No Idea Fracking Is Happening,” Mother Jones, February 29, 2012
3. “Obama Warms to Energy Industry by Supporting Natural Gas,” Bloomberg, May 9, 2012
4. “California fracking bill would protect industry ‘trade secrets’,” Los Angeles Times, April 18, 2012