The Board of Health for the City of Lubbock provided a through review of the existing oil exploration practice termed "Hydraulic Fracturing" and the risks/benefits to the citizens of our community. We believe that the City Council should not disregard their review in favor of the Oil and Gas Subcommittee more recently formed for a "second opinion". The citizens of our community deserve to be protected by the establishing of "best practice" guidelines as laid out by the Board of Health. Proper oil and gas exploration is good for the community but not at the price of illness and death if poor practices are allowed.
Why is this important?
Public health concerns have been raised about the oil exploration process termed "Hydraulic Fracturing". The City of Lubbock Board of Health was asked to investigate this practice and after almost one year of article review, meetings with a variety of experts in oil exploration, and gathering "best practice" recommendations, the board presented their recommendations to the City Council. Following this the council appointed an Oil and Gas subcommittee to independently review the recommendations and prepare their own submission for council. Despite having had only two meetings this committee, whose membership is heavily weighted with representatives from those companies who stand to profit by no operational restrictions, now is preparing their final report to the council. We believe that this lack of review by those who stand to profit is in error to the public health interests of our community. We are asking citizens to provide input on this petition so that other voices can be heard.
