Hydraulic Fracture: Data Helps Build Momentum for Safeguards

“It’s not an argument about stopping gas drilling by any means,” said Tara Meixsell of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance (GVCA). “It’s an argument about not using undisclosed and toxic chemicals and not using carcinogenic chemicals. It’s an argument about being a little more prudent about protecting people’s health and water quality.”

Prudence about protecting a vital natural resource sounds so reasonable and the mounting data proving that water problems follow hydraulic fracturing is building momentum for safeguards.

EPA data strengthens call to safeguard water in Garfield County

Meixsell said there are several cases in Garfield County, which is Colorado’s undisputed epicenter of Western Slope gas production, that show a pattern of problems with fracking, which was exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2005 under the Bush administration.

Meixsell said that at today’s meeting she’ll introduce more evidence from some of those cases, including that of Larry and Laura Amos of Silt, whose water well exploded in 2001 after nearby gas wells were fracked. The Canadian company EnCana denies the Amos’s well was contaminated by fracking, but did reach a settlement with the couple, who later moved away.

Results from a Western Organization of Resource Councils poll shows “Voters in Montana and Colorado 3rd Congressional District strongly support protecting water from pollution.” Voters favor:

• Regulating hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process that injects water, sand and chemicals into oil and gas wells to release the oil and gas trapped inside and for protecting all water under the Clean Water Act.
• Protecting all bodies of water from pollution under the Clean Water Act.

Part of the momentum has resulted in 3 new co-sponsors for the FRAC Act. Please say thank you to:

• Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8]
• Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19]
• Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21]

UPDATE: Here is some press covering the poll and growing support:

Poll: Voters favor fracking legislation

The poll of 504 registered voters conducted by Harstad Strategic Research of Boulder showed 67 percent of respondents favoring the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act and 22 percent opposing it, pollster Chris Keating said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

New survey finds overwhelming support for FRAC Act in Salazar’s CD3