To: Rep. Lou Lang (IL-16), Gregory Harris (IL-13), André Thapedi (IL-32), Dale Righter (IL-55), Ram Villivalam (IL-8), Antonio Muñoz (IL-1), Don Harmon (IL-39), Craig Wilcox (IL-32), Sue Rezin (IL-38), and Governor J.B. Pritzker
JCAR members - Please prohibit the rules for fracking in IL
Dear Gov. Quinn and JCAR members,
On Sept 21st, the historic People's Climate March in NYC drew the line - the climate scientists have told us that 80% of the known carbon reserves must stay in the ground or it is "game over" for the planet. The fracking industry is the new carbon polluter in town. Please say "no" to their oily and gassy plans for Illinois.
JCAR can block the fracking industry for up to 180 days by prohibiting the rules for fracking at their next meeting, Oct 14th. (Prohibiting means the rules will go back to the IDNR for further work.)
The rules for fracking are NOT going to keep Illinois residents safe. They are inadequate on many levels, but particularly insufficient for: induced earthquakes, radioactive waste water and debris, carcinogenic air pollution including silica sand, water contamination, and the industry's chemical "secrets". Also the fines for violations are a pittance.
The frackers are gutting the rules right now in closed door sessions. We say, "No to back room deals - bring the rules out to the light of day and start public hearings - listen to the scientists and not the profiteers. Protect the planet, and the people, animals, land, air and water of Illinois over the profits of the oil and natural gas industry. Prohibit the rules for fracking!"
On Sept 21st, the historic People's Climate March in NYC drew the line - the climate scientists have told us that 80% of the known carbon reserves must stay in the ground or it is "game over" for the planet. The fracking industry is the new carbon polluter in town. Please say "no" to their oily and gassy plans for Illinois.
JCAR can block the fracking industry for up to 180 days by prohibiting the rules for fracking at their next meeting, Oct 14th. (Prohibiting means the rules will go back to the IDNR for further work.)
The rules for fracking are NOT going to keep Illinois residents safe. They are inadequate on many levels, but particularly insufficient for: induced earthquakes, radioactive waste water and debris, carcinogenic air pollution including silica sand, water contamination, and the industry's chemical "secrets". Also the fines for violations are a pittance.
The frackers are gutting the rules right now in closed door sessions. We say, "No to back room deals - bring the rules out to the light of day and start public hearings - listen to the scientists and not the profiteers. Protect the planet, and the people, animals, land, air and water of Illinois over the profits of the oil and natural gas industry. Prohibit the rules for fracking!"
Why is this important?
On Sept 21st, the historic People's Climate March in NYC drew the line - the climate scientists have told us that 80% of the known carbon reserves must stay in the ground or it is "game over" for the planet. The fracking industry is the new carbon polluter in town. Please say "no" to their oily and gassy plans for Illinois.
JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, can block the fracking industry for up to 180 days by prohibiting the rules for fracking at their next meeting, Oct 14th. (Prohibiting means the rules will go back to the IDNR for further work.)
The rules for fracking are NOT going to keep Illinois residents safe. They are inadequate on many levels, but particularly insufficient for: induced earthquakes, radioactive waste water and debris, carcinogenic air pollution including silica sand, water contamination, and the industry's chemical "secrets". Also the fines for violations are a pittance.
The frackers are gutting the rules right now in closed door sessions.
We say, "No to back room deals - bring the rules out to the light of day and start public hearings - listen to the scientists and not the profiteers!"
You can do 4 things to block fracking in the next 2 weeks:
1) Call all 12 JCAR members - you do not have to be their constituents - all calls are helpful. Please tell them,
"No back room deals with the frackers!
Protect the planet, and the people, animals, land, air and water of Illinois over the profits of the oil and natural gas industry
- please prohibit the rules for fracking."
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/member.pdf
(If you cannot open this pdf for any reason, please go to https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeIllinois to see the top post with all phone numbers and emails addresses.)
2) Join us on Sat, Oct 11th to send a message to Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park in person, for details and RSVP go to: https://actionnetwork.org/events/il-global-frackdown-defend-the-shawnee
3) Attend a press conference and the JCAR meeting on
Tues, Oct 14th at
-10:30am - press conference in front of the building
-11:30am - meeting, Rm 600 C.
MICHAEL A. BILANDIC BUILDING,
160 North LaSalle St., Chicago , IL
4) Sign and pass this petition, if you are a member of an environmental / community / business / not-for-profit organization, please have your organization sign onto it as well.
Please spread the word and bring your friends and family to these events.
It is up to us to demand our freedom from carbon pollution,
and to kick start our renewable energy renaissance.
More details below - thanks!
Frack Free Illinois
A) It is too dangerous to frack in the active earthquake zones! The rules for hydraulic fracturing should be prohibited because the rulemaking for seismicity constitutes a threat to the public interest, safety and welfare. The rules for seismicity are not protective against the proven threat of induced earthquakes from horizontal drilling and deep injection well disposal of waste water in the active earthquake zones of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley. We urge prohibition of these rules for seismicity.
JCAR could then take the time to host public hearings where independent seismologists could testify as to the threat of this extreme extraction in the active earthquake zones. Fracking induced earthquakes are real and proven, they have been experienced in OK, AR, NM, OH, TX and other states where fracking has already taken place. Per recent polling in Southern Illinois, approximately 40% of the population fear the threat of induced earthquakes. Prohibit the rules for seismicity.
B) Fracking accelerates climate change! The rules for hydraulic fracturing are a threat to the public interest, safety and welfare of all Illinois residents because they will accelerate climate change by facilitating the extraction of carbon emitting oil and natural gas. The climate scientists from around the world have been calling the alarm about the ever growing threats of climate change. Their dire predictions and warnings of collapsing ocean ecosystems, severe storms, droughts, food shortages, public health emergencies, forest fires, rising seas, and wars for resources are coming true. They are begging the industries and the governments of the world to leave 80% of ALL known carbon reserves in the ground to stave off run away global warming. JCAR members - pay attention to the proven planetary threat of climate change. Please vote to Prohibit the rules for fracking because they will open the door to the inevitable emissions of CO2, methane, volatile organic compounds and other green house gases associated with fracking, all of which will accelerate climate change.
C) Back room deals undermine the public's interests and process. We ask that the rules for hydraulic fracturing be prohibited because the rulemaking process has now been taken behind closed doors, out of the sight of the public, undermining the largest public response on any issue in the history of the IDNR. Negotiations over these rules are now being conducted between IDNR, JCAR staff, and the Industry. The Industry has over 60 points of contention with the rules; we believe that they are targeting the few protections that the IDNR added to the rules since receiving well over 30,000 public comments. We, the residents of Illinois, deserve that this rulemaking process come back out under the watchful eyes of the public. Prohibit the rules and proceed to public hearings where all of Illinois can bear witness to the the Industry's comments and requests for changes. A public process is the only way for the residents to appropriately respond to the many dangerous issues that are associated with fracking.
JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, can block the fracking industry for up to 180 days by prohibiting the rules for fracking at their next meeting, Oct 14th. (Prohibiting means the rules will go back to the IDNR for further work.)
The rules for fracking are NOT going to keep Illinois residents safe. They are inadequate on many levels, but particularly insufficient for: induced earthquakes, radioactive waste water and debris, carcinogenic air pollution including silica sand, water contamination, and the industry's chemical "secrets". Also the fines for violations are a pittance.
The frackers are gutting the rules right now in closed door sessions.
We say, "No to back room deals - bring the rules out to the light of day and start public hearings - listen to the scientists and not the profiteers!"
You can do 4 things to block fracking in the next 2 weeks:
1) Call all 12 JCAR members - you do not have to be their constituents - all calls are helpful. Please tell them,
"No back room deals with the frackers!
Protect the planet, and the people, animals, land, air and water of Illinois over the profits of the oil and natural gas industry
- please prohibit the rules for fracking."
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/member.pdf
(If you cannot open this pdf for any reason, please go to https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeIllinois to see the top post with all phone numbers and emails addresses.)
2) Join us on Sat, Oct 11th to send a message to Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park in person, for details and RSVP go to: https://actionnetwork.org/events/il-global-frackdown-defend-the-shawnee
3) Attend a press conference and the JCAR meeting on
Tues, Oct 14th at
-10:30am - press conference in front of the building
-11:30am - meeting, Rm 600 C.
MICHAEL A. BILANDIC BUILDING,
160 North LaSalle St., Chicago , IL
4) Sign and pass this petition, if you are a member of an environmental / community / business / not-for-profit organization, please have your organization sign onto it as well.
Please spread the word and bring your friends and family to these events.
It is up to us to demand our freedom from carbon pollution,
and to kick start our renewable energy renaissance.
More details below - thanks!
Frack Free Illinois
A) It is too dangerous to frack in the active earthquake zones! The rules for hydraulic fracturing should be prohibited because the rulemaking for seismicity constitutes a threat to the public interest, safety and welfare. The rules for seismicity are not protective against the proven threat of induced earthquakes from horizontal drilling and deep injection well disposal of waste water in the active earthquake zones of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley. We urge prohibition of these rules for seismicity.
JCAR could then take the time to host public hearings where independent seismologists could testify as to the threat of this extreme extraction in the active earthquake zones. Fracking induced earthquakes are real and proven, they have been experienced in OK, AR, NM, OH, TX and other states where fracking has already taken place. Per recent polling in Southern Illinois, approximately 40% of the population fear the threat of induced earthquakes. Prohibit the rules for seismicity.
B) Fracking accelerates climate change! The rules for hydraulic fracturing are a threat to the public interest, safety and welfare of all Illinois residents because they will accelerate climate change by facilitating the extraction of carbon emitting oil and natural gas. The climate scientists from around the world have been calling the alarm about the ever growing threats of climate change. Their dire predictions and warnings of collapsing ocean ecosystems, severe storms, droughts, food shortages, public health emergencies, forest fires, rising seas, and wars for resources are coming true. They are begging the industries and the governments of the world to leave 80% of ALL known carbon reserves in the ground to stave off run away global warming. JCAR members - pay attention to the proven planetary threat of climate change. Please vote to Prohibit the rules for fracking because they will open the door to the inevitable emissions of CO2, methane, volatile organic compounds and other green house gases associated with fracking, all of which will accelerate climate change.
C) Back room deals undermine the public's interests and process. We ask that the rules for hydraulic fracturing be prohibited because the rulemaking process has now been taken behind closed doors, out of the sight of the public, undermining the largest public response on any issue in the history of the IDNR. Negotiations over these rules are now being conducted between IDNR, JCAR staff, and the Industry. The Industry has over 60 points of contention with the rules; we believe that they are targeting the few protections that the IDNR added to the rules since receiving well over 30,000 public comments. We, the residents of Illinois, deserve that this rulemaking process come back out under the watchful eyes of the public. Prohibit the rules and proceed to public hearings where all of Illinois can bear witness to the the Industry's comments and requests for changes. A public process is the only way for the residents to appropriately respond to the many dangerous issues that are associated with fracking.