Let’s go into what is involved in fracking. First of all a hole is drilled 10,000 feet
into a 40 foot layer of rock referred to as Utica/Collingwood formation in
Cheboygan county which encompasses underground 20 northern Michigan counties. A protective lining is
inserted for the first part of the drilled hole closest to the opening. It does not always prevent its intended purpose of preventing toxic leakage. Then approximately five million gallons of water from our Great Lakes,
rivers, etc. is pumped into the hole with great force along with toxic
chemicals such as arsenic and HCL.
Earthquakes have been associated with the fracking in Oklahoma and other
states. It only makes sense that
earthquakes could be the devastating result of fracking.
After this process is completed and natural gas is
located, it is sucked out of the hole by using a vacuum
process. The polluted water is burned
off into the air until what is coming from the hole is pure natural gas. The fire was reported as being at least 200
feet high. Elizabeth could see the fire
from her home which was separated by very large hills and her home. The large conglomerate from Canada called
Encana Corporation is behind the fracking operation in Cheboygan County.
This is a reality folks in Michigan. According to a report prepared by Michigan
State University entitled Michigan oil
and gas development: A mid-year update, drilling in Michigan was down 22%
for the first half of 2012. A total of
66 wells were drilled between the dates of January 1st to June 30th
compared to the higher numbers in 2011. Jackson and Lenawee Counties were the previous
focal points for the majority of the drilling activity. There were 19 well completions in these
areas. However, 14 applications are
still pending for new wells and just two of the 28 permitted well drillings are
reported to date as producing in the Kalkaska and Cheboygan counties. What lies
in the future for these counties concerning the air quality, water quality, and
peace and tranquility of these areas?
Helen reported that her health and the health of many
others in the area in the rural area of Pennsylvania she resided in suffered
greatly. She knows of people who died
due to life threatening illnesses.
People who were healthy the year before, then became very ill and were
met with an untimely death shortly after they were diagnosed with a host of
possible ailments . Helen, who was an avid outdoor person, was
reduced to staying indoors or limiting where she went hiking and walking to
where the air didn’t make her sick. The
dirt roads to her home and the area were always under continuous repair because
of all the truck traffic. She was run
off the road by the large trucks during the winter months and the roads were
impassable most of the time due to the heavy truck traffic. Her quiet beautiful serene home became a loud
polluted industrial zone.
Before the fracking began in her area she paid for an independent study that was approved by Penn State concerning her water supply as a safety measure. According to Helen, because of the proposed
fracking, the water study involved the measure of chemicals that would not
usually be included in other water studies to test for purity such as the level
of arsenic that may be in the water. Upon reading research I discovered that
arsenic can be a problem that many areas experience concerning their water supplies. It was explained in the State of Michigan’s
Triennial Report that organic arsenic is not lethal, it is the inorganic form
of arsenic that can be lethal.
Back to the water study, Helen didn’t report a follow up
water study that was conducted after the fracking began or perhaps she did and
I missed that part of her report. She told me at a later date that they were still fracking so a follow up report could not be conducted. I
would be curious to see what those results would be. She was asked if the air quality was tested before
and after the fracking and she said it was not.
Helen moved to northern Michigan and had to take precautions
concerning her health such as limiting the stress in her life.
According to Special
Report: Modern gas rush stirs controversy in Michigan officials at the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, they reported that the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality provides the regulation of oil and gas
exploration and also generates fees on the industry. This report also included
that increasing national demand for natural gas would increase more drilling in
the Utica/Collingwood formation. I
reviewed the 2011triennial report prepared by the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality and there was only one section addressing the capping of abandoned
gas and oil drilling sites. I did not
see in the report information about the managing and monitoring of the fracking
process in Michigan. The Air Toxics
Chemical Release Inventory is usually self reported by citizens. Only facilities that exceed activity
thresholds for manufacturing, processing, or otherwise use of chemicals on the
registry are required to report. There were no reports provided by oil and gas
companies regarding their contributions to air or water pollution in Michigan
so it is my understanding that their emissions of toxic waste into the water
and air aren’t being monitored or at the very least not a part of this report.
In conclusion, I was made aware of a process that is
occurring in Michigan, North Dakota, Colorado, and extensively in Pennsylvania
that is causing many warranted concerns from early deaths to earth quakes. A dollar amount is placed on our freedom to
breathe fresh air and drink water that is safe.
Penn State University reported that the drilling in the Marcellus Shale
in Pennsylvania where I understand Helen is from added $3.9 million to
Pennsylvania’s coffers in 2009 and created 48,000 jobs. According to Helen, many of the local
people from her area had to quit these jobs because it went against their values.
The corporate leaders from Canada are even more removed from taking any
ownership for their actions. She made a point that needs our consideration that
the company that caused the oil spill in the Gulf were permitted to earn a
profit before they cleaned up the spill.
Michigan State University is warning Michigan citizens to be wary of
leasing their land to the oil and gas conglomerates and suggest seeking advice
from an oil and gas attorney before signing a lease. Leases of land are being
actively sought in Michigan by oil and gas companies. What comes to mind with
fracking and the mining of uranium in the area where the Navajo Indian people
reside in, is let’s sacrifice a few people
for many people and last but certainly not least let’s earn a huge profit
while doing so. The people who are
suffering from the aftereffects of fracking are not getting rich. Helen reported that her checks averaged
almost $5.00 for her royalties from the natural gas company who fracked near
where she lived.
Why are there no comments? I don't get this.This subject is so important . I was there at this meeting and Sharon you did a gret job reporting on this. People,Earth,water and air do matter. Health beauty and peace matter. I know Helen and I can not believe the damage that is doneto people right her in our sate and the Untied States .Why are we not protected? Why does no one care about it until it is to late. Why do the people not have a voice adn choice. I agree this environmental disasterous activity is much to close to home ,in way to many ways. Wake up friends. Lets get out there and care about our environment.
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