FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016
|
Contact: Rep.
Sarah Roberts
Phone: (517)-373-1180
Contact: Rep. Jeff
Irwin
Phone: (734)-834-7152
|
Bills
would protect air, water and soil from fracking waste
LANSING
— State Representatives Sarah
Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) and Jeff
Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) have announced a six-bill package of legislation to address
threats to Michigan’s land, air and water as a result of fracking. Together,
these bills address gaps in Michigan laws regarding the disposal of fracking
waste and the leakage of methane at drilling sites.
“Other
states are seeing fracking operations that dump waste, pollute the air and
water, and are possibly causing earthquakes,” said Rep. Roberts. “In Michigan,
we need to update our oil and gas laws to ensure we protect our environment and
the public’s health.”
“Disposing
of fracking waste is one of the biggest threats to our water,” said Nic Clark
of Clean Water Action. “These bills protect water quality by prohibiting any
dumping in groundwater aquifers and by enacting strict standards for
radioactive fracking waste.”
The
bills in the package would:
·
Ban radioactive fracking waste from
landfills if the radioactivity exceeds strict limits
·
Require that water used in the fracking
process be in compliance with state guidelines and be cleaned up before disposal
·
Ban fracking operations from injecting
fracking wastes or water into an aquifer
·
Require oil and gas well operators to
use methane recapture systems to reduce methane released by 99 percent
·
Prohibit oil and gas wells from burning
off (flaring) methane emissions
·
Require oil and gas well operators to
set up a system to check for leaks of dangerous gases on a regular basis and
promptly repair any leaks found.
“Michigan
is planning to meet the requirements of the Clean Power Plan by switching from
coal to natural gas and renewable energy sources,” said Mike Berkowitz of the
Sierra Club. “But methane released from the extraction of gas and oil is 20 times
more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide, so we need to ensure gas
isn’t leaking from sloppily drilled wells.”
“Michigan
deserves solid rules to protect water quality and prevent wasteful or careless
drilling practices,” said Rep. Irwin. “Preventing methane leaks is important to
combat climate change, and it also ensures that oil and gas drillers are
running professional operations that are respectful of our air and water.”
For
more information about fracking, the bills in the package or to sign a petition
supporting the legislation, go to www.protectmiwater.com.
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