To: The Colorado State House, The Colorado State Senate, and Governor Jared Polis
Ban hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") in Colorado
Ban hydraulic fracturing in the state of Colorado, on all public and private lands.
Why is this important?
Please read the information below. If you agree that hydraulic fracturing should be banned in Colorado, sign my petition using your full name, and if you're part of a couple please take time to sign individually.
Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a process used in the majority of natural gas wells in Colorado, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped to depths as much as 10,000 feet below the surface of the earth to break apart bedrock formations and release trapped natural gas [1]. Many of the chemicals used in fracking are known to cause adverse health effects, including cancer [2]. Fracking also releases radioactive substances and other naturally occurring toxins embedded deep in bedrock [3].
After a well is fracked, an average of 50% of the toxic soup returns to the surface (called “flowback”). It’s either dumped into an open pit “holding pond" and the toxins allowed to evaporate into our air and leach into our soil, or transported “away” and dumped into injection wells, often in undisclosed locations, where its presumably gone “forever” [4]. Clean water is “recycled” over and over again for new fracks until it becomes so saturated with toxic chemicals that it can’t be returned to the water cycle from which it came [5].
To make matters worse, the oil and gas industry is exempt from numerous environmental laws including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act and Hazardous Waste Regulations [6].
There is no such thing as "away" and "forever". When a toxic chemical is introduced into the surface environment it mixes with our soil, air and water where it continues to circulate. Once fracked, toxic chemicals can percolate slowly upward from the subsurface through existing natural fractures and deteriorated well casings, creating a long-term threat to our aquifers and drinking water [7].
According to the COGCC’s own records, thousands of releases have occurred in Colorado where toxic chemicals from fracking have poisoned the land, wildlife, and humans [8],[9]. In some cases, even death has resulted [10]. No business, and no benefits resulting from doing such a business, is worth the loss of our health, safety and the pursuit of happiness. Fracking threatens our air and water and all living organisms that rely on a healthy environment.
There is growing evidence that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are increasing cancer rates [11],[12]. Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers has opened at least 17 cancer centers across Colorado in the last decade [13]. Could the next boom in our economy be the treatment of cancer, resulting from the chemical exposure of fracking fluids in our soil, water and air?
Please sign this petition and let Colorado's Governor and state legislature know the People of Colorado want a ban on the dangerous and life-threatening process of hydraulic fracturing. To learn more and support the campaign, visit: Banfrackingcolorado.blogspot.com
Mary Russell, Garfield County
Endorsed by*:
GrassRoots Energy activist Network (GREEN) (http://grassrootsenergynet.blogspot.com/p/aboutsupport.html)
Our Healthy Earth: Inspiring Sustainability through Education
Renewable Communities Alliance (http://www.renewablecommunities.org)
Citizens for Huerfano County (www.huerfanofrack.com/)
Commerce City Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/CommerceCityUniteNow/timeline)
Adams County Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adams-County-Unite-NOW/437630749622216)
The Mother's Project-Colorado (http://www.mothersforsustainableenergy.com)
Rio Grand Watchdogs (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rio-Grande-Watchdogs/109319245803522)
Sustainable Earth Education and Development (http://www.seed-llc.org)
Denver Community Rights (http://www.denvercommunityrights.org)
Citizens for a Healthy Community (http://www.citizensforahealthycommunity.org/)
What the Frack?! Arapahoe (http://frackingcolorado.wordpress.com)
Colorado Citizens Against Toxicwaste, Inc (http://www.ccatoxicwaste.org)
*If your group is interested in endorsing this petition contact: [email protected]
___________________________________________________________________
[1] ProPublica, What is Hydraulic Fracturing?, http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national
[2] Earthworks, Hydraulic Fracturing 101, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#CHEMICALS
[3] Hammer, Rebecca and VanBriesen J. Ph.D., PE, “In Fracking’s Wake: New Rules are Needed to Protect Our Health and Environment from Contaminated Waste Water”, NRDC Document, May 2012: 12-05-A, http://www.nrdc.org/energy/fracking-wastewater.asp
[4] Garfield County pits, A Photo Essay by Judy Jordan (former Garfield County Oil & Gas Liaison.
http://fromthestyx.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/garfield-county-pits/
[5] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, “Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations:Introduction”. http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/chemicals.introduction.php and US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, “Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing”, April 2011 (view or download here).
[6] Earthworks: “Gaps in Federal Oversight of Oil and Gas Production”, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/gaps_in_federal_oversight
[7] Tom Myers. “Potential Contaminant Pathways from Hydraulically Fractured Shale to Aquifers.” Ground Water. April 17, 2012, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2012.00933.x/abstract
[8 Earthworks, Colorado Contamination incidents, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/colorado_contamination_incidents
[9] Bruce Finley, Denver Post, Drilling spills rise in Colorado, but fines rare, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18881512
[10] Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Letter to Governor Cuomo about fracking: http://steingraber.com/
[11] Dave Fehling, NPR State Impact, Texas, Texas ‘Needs More Research’ into Health Risk of Living Near Drilling Sites, http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/08/20/texas-to-investigate-health-risk-of-living-...
Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a process used in the majority of natural gas wells in Colorado, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped to depths as much as 10,000 feet below the surface of the earth to break apart bedrock formations and release trapped natural gas [1]. Many of the chemicals used in fracking are known to cause adverse health effects, including cancer [2]. Fracking also releases radioactive substances and other naturally occurring toxins embedded deep in bedrock [3].
After a well is fracked, an average of 50% of the toxic soup returns to the surface (called “flowback”). It’s either dumped into an open pit “holding pond" and the toxins allowed to evaporate into our air and leach into our soil, or transported “away” and dumped into injection wells, often in undisclosed locations, where its presumably gone “forever” [4]. Clean water is “recycled” over and over again for new fracks until it becomes so saturated with toxic chemicals that it can’t be returned to the water cycle from which it came [5].
To make matters worse, the oil and gas industry is exempt from numerous environmental laws including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act and Hazardous Waste Regulations [6].
There is no such thing as "away" and "forever". When a toxic chemical is introduced into the surface environment it mixes with our soil, air and water where it continues to circulate. Once fracked, toxic chemicals can percolate slowly upward from the subsurface through existing natural fractures and deteriorated well casings, creating a long-term threat to our aquifers and drinking water [7].
According to the COGCC’s own records, thousands of releases have occurred in Colorado where toxic chemicals from fracking have poisoned the land, wildlife, and humans [8],[9]. In some cases, even death has resulted [10]. No business, and no benefits resulting from doing such a business, is worth the loss of our health, safety and the pursuit of happiness. Fracking threatens our air and water and all living organisms that rely on a healthy environment.
There is growing evidence that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are increasing cancer rates [11],[12]. Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers has opened at least 17 cancer centers across Colorado in the last decade [13]. Could the next boom in our economy be the treatment of cancer, resulting from the chemical exposure of fracking fluids in our soil, water and air?
Please sign this petition and let Colorado's Governor and state legislature know the People of Colorado want a ban on the dangerous and life-threatening process of hydraulic fracturing. To learn more and support the campaign, visit: Banfrackingcolorado.blogspot.com
Mary Russell, Garfield County
Endorsed by*:
GrassRoots Energy activist Network (GREEN) (http://grassrootsenergynet.blogspot.com/p/aboutsupport.html)
Our Healthy Earth: Inspiring Sustainability through Education
Renewable Communities Alliance (http://www.renewablecommunities.org)
Citizens for Huerfano County (www.huerfanofrack.com/)
Commerce City Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/CommerceCityUniteNow/timeline)
Adams County Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adams-County-Unite-NOW/437630749622216)
The Mother's Project-Colorado (http://www.mothersforsustainableenergy.com)
Rio Grand Watchdogs (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rio-Grande-Watchdogs/109319245803522)
Sustainable Earth Education and Development (http://www.seed-llc.org)
Denver Community Rights (http://www.denvercommunityrights.org)
Citizens for a Healthy Community (http://www.citizensforahealthycommunity.org/)
What the Frack?! Arapahoe (http://frackingcolorado.wordpress.com)
Colorado Citizens Against Toxicwaste, Inc (http://www.ccatoxicwaste.org)
*If your group is interested in endorsing this petition contact: [email protected]
___________________________________________________________________
[1] ProPublica, What is Hydraulic Fracturing?, http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national
[2] Earthworks, Hydraulic Fracturing 101, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#CHEMICALS
[3] Hammer, Rebecca and VanBriesen J. Ph.D., PE, “In Fracking’s Wake: New Rules are Needed to Protect Our Health and Environment from Contaminated Waste Water”, NRDC Document, May 2012: 12-05-A, http://www.nrdc.org/energy/fracking-wastewater.asp
[4] Garfield County pits, A Photo Essay by Judy Jordan (former Garfield County Oil & Gas Liaison.
http://fromthestyx.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/garfield-county-pits/
[5] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, “Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations:Introduction”. http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/chemicals.introduction.php and US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, “Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing”, April 2011 (view or download here).
[6] Earthworks: “Gaps in Federal Oversight of Oil and Gas Production”, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/gaps_in_federal_oversight
[7] Tom Myers. “Potential Contaminant Pathways from Hydraulically Fractured Shale to Aquifers.” Ground Water. April 17, 2012, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2012.00933.x/abstract
[8 Earthworks, Colorado Contamination incidents, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/colorado_contamination_incidents
[9] Bruce Finley, Denver Post, Drilling spills rise in Colorado, but fines rare, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18881512
[10] Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Letter to Governor Cuomo about fracking: http://steingraber.com/
[11] Dave Fehling, NPR State Impact, Texas, Texas ‘Needs More Research’ into Health Risk of Living Near Drilling Sites, http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/08/20/texas-to-investigate-health-risk-of-living-...