Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 21:58:28 -0400
From: Caroline Siverson
Subject: More Facts for Fact Guy!
On Sept 3rd a Chatlist post by someone calling himself Fact Guy suggested that our incumbent BOC had taken a “pretty strong stance” against fracking (otherwise known as hydraulic fracturing) and offered as evidence a link to a resolution passed by the BOC on June 2, 2014. This resolution states that the BOC has concerns about safety, property rights and the stripping of local controls. That is well and good but unfortunately this isolated fact does not tell the whole truth.
Our commissioners sat silent and unresponsive during early 2011 when fracking became a household word for many in Chatham County as the state began the process of lifting the long-time ban that North Carolina had imposed against the practice of horizontal drilling to allow for fracking. Citizens, however, were not silent and asked questions and appealed to the BOC for answers and protection.
On Sept. 6, 2011 Commissioner Kost asked Colleen Kendrick of the Deep River Clean Water Society to give a brief presentation on the potential environmental impacts of fracking and brought forth a resolution in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto of senate bill 709 that sought to accelerate the permitting of fracking in NC. This resolution failed with all 3 Republican Commissioners voting against it. Their logic being that they liked some of bill 709 and so could not vote to support the governor’s veto. Of the 17 people who addressed the resolution during public input that evening only 2 opposed Commissioner Kost’s resolution.
ww.chathamnc.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=17800
At their regular meeting on Oct 17, 2011 the BOC incumbents invited Lewis Fromkin, CEO of Fromkin Energy, a fracking company, to explain to Chatham citizens that fracking is perfectly safe. Mr. Fromkin stated that to his knowledge there has never been any pollution caused by fracking but offered no evidence to support this claim. Many citizens attending this meeting felt patronized by Mr Fromkin’s simplistic assertions. Appeals by citizens and Commissioner Kost for equal time for an opposing viewpoint were never responded to by the board chair or vice chair. This long meeting can be viewed at:
http://vimeo.com/channels/chathambocmeetings/30926982
http://vimeo.com/channels/chathambocmeetings/30929356
In May of 2012 there were dueling resolutions on fracking. Commissioner Bock proposed a resolution that urged the General Assembly to exercise caution and asked that they take time to debate the merits of fracking whereas Commissoner Kost’s resolution asked that the ban remain in effect until it could be fully demonstrated that North Carolina public health, waters, land, air, economy, and quality of life were fully protected. Both resolutions were tabled.
Commissioner Bock’s resolution:
http://www.chathamnc.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=19698
Commissioner Kost’s resolution:
http://www.chathamnc.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=19712
In early 2013, the BOC sent a letter to the Rules Committee of the NC Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) asking that they put “no compulsory pooling” in their rules. While citizens had many other concerns not addressed in this letter, this effort was appreciated. However, the MEC was not listening.
On May 29th 2014, the General Assembly ratified the Energy Modernization Act that lifted the moratorium on fracking and on June 2nd the BOC passed the resolution referred to by Fact Guy just two days before Governor McCrory signed that bill into law on June 4th. A case of too little too late.
http://www.chathamnc.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=23677
Is it any wonder then that many in Chatham County doubt that Commissioners Bock, Petty and Stewart have taken a ‘pretty strong stance’ against fracking? In contrast, Diana Hales, Jim Crawford and Karen Howard are unequivocal and unwavering in their opposition to fracking in North Carolina.