HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2012.05.17 - 20244MISCELLANEOUS RESOEDITOK #11228
BY: Commissioner Craig Covey, District 125; Jim Nash, District #15
EN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SUPPORT FOR FRAC ACT, H.R. 1084/S. 587
AND BREATHE ACT, H.R. 1204
70 THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OE COMMISSIONERS
Chairperson, Ladies and. Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas
involves the use of chemicals and hazardous materials during
corstruction, drilling, hydraulic fracturing, gas production and
delivery, well ma.intenance, and work over operations; and
WHEREAS, hydraulic fracturing of underground geologic formation
is often accomplished by injecting a complex mix of fluids and
chemicals, incgiding large volumes of water, on average 4.5 million
gallons per well, under very high pressure to create fractures in gas
tearing geologic formations; and
WHEREAS, many of the chemical constituents injected during
hydraulic fracturing have documented adverse health effects and/or
adverse environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, there have been more than a 1,000 documented cases of
water contamination near tracking sites; some people who live near
these sites can now light their drinking water on fire; and
WHEREAS, wastewater from fracking can contain radioactive
o -ements and has been discharged. into rivers that supply linking water
for millions, according to the New York Times; and
WHEREAS, use of these hydraulic fracturing mixes exposed adjacent
land and surface waters to the risk of contamination through open pit
storage, truck transport on roadways, and activities during well
development; and
WHEREAS, the pollution of water caused by frackEEng threatens the
long term economic well-being of communities, as businesses and
consumers depend on clean drinking water; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, as part of the federal Energy Policy Act and
over objections of health care, scientific, environmental, and
conservation communities, regulation of hydraulic fracturing fluids
under the Safe Drinking Water Act by the Environmental Protection
Agency was exempted, thereby allowing oil and gas companies to use
these substances without federal oversight or standards; and
WHEREAS, the oil and gas industry is not required by federal law
to publicly disclose chemical formulas of hydraulic fracturing fluids
so thal this information is publicly available for health and safety
purposes; and
WHEREAS, Former ?resident George W. Bush's ERA point derson on
water now admits frocking Should never have been exempted from
regulation; and
WHEREAS, the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals
Oct (FRAC Act), which is currently pending in Congress, would repeal
the tracking exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act and require
disclosure of chemicals used in fracking; and
WHEREAS, the Bringing Reductions to Energy's Airborne Toxic
Health Effects Oct (BREATHE Act), which is carrently pending in
Congress, would repeal the exception to the Clean Al Act tor
aggregation of emissions from oil and gas development sources; and
WHEREAS, the wise stewardship of our natural resources involves
protection of Oakland Counly's water supplies ard water resources for
generations to come; and
WHEREAS, protection of Oakland County's water supplies and
resources is better accomplished by prevention of contamination and
envi.ronmental degradation, rather than attempting to cleaning up
contamtnation and restoring degraded environments after the fact; and
NOW, THEREFORE, RE IT RESOLVED, that the Oakland County -Beard of
Commissioners supports a statewide moratorium on the issuance of new
permits for the extraction of natural gas using hydraulic fracturing
until adequate environmental studies are completed regarding the
potential risks of hydra uric fracturing to our natural resources
including local water supplies within the State cf Michigan and until
regulations and safeguards are in place to fully protect our slate's
water supply and environment from such operations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution. with cover
letter be sent to our countv's state representatives and state senators
in Lansing, the Soyernor, and to. our national members of Congress.
Cdmostoner Craigtovey
District # 25
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Resolution #11228 September 22, 2011
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.
Resolution #11228 May 17, 2012
Moved by Covey supported by Nash to discharge the resolution from the General Government
Committee.
Discussion followed.
Chairperson Michael Gingell declared a brief recess.
The Board was reconvened.
Discussion followed.
AYES: Jackson, McGillivray, Nash, Woodward, Zack, Covey, Dwyer, Gershenson. (8)
NAYS: Hoffman, Long, Matis, Middleton, Nuccio, Potts, River, Scott, Taub, Weipert, Bosnic,
Crawford, Gingell, Gosselin. (14)
A sufficient majority having not voted in favor, the discharge failed.