Letter to the Petoskey News-Review: Is Fracking Safe?

Response to Petoskey News-Review Article: Fracking transparency: hazardous chemicals used in fracking now to be posted online

Dear Editor,

I am writing with regard to the “Fracking transparency: hazardous chemicals used in fracking now to be posted online” article from October 14, 2011.  I applaud Michigan’s efforts to be more transparent about toxic chemicals we are allowing the fracking industry to mix in our water and pump underground. While taking steps in a positive direction, what concerns me is the comment by one of our lead decision makers on fracking.  Hal Fitch, Director of the Office of Geologial Survey, states: "I think there's a lot of misinformation about fracking. There had been problems with oil and gas developments in other states associated with wells that use hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracking has not caused any groundwater or surface water contaminations," said Fitch. "It's other incidental parts of the drilling of wells. It's been due to inadequate well construction or inadequate management of wastewater, water that flows back up from the wells."

If problems occur in any part of the process, whether it is well construction or wastewater management, hydraulic fracturing is a problem. Trying to dissociate the two is like stating “it’s not the rope in the bungee jump that is the problem, it is the faulty harness.”  Harness or rope, if it is not 100% safe we shouldn’t be doing it! And therein lies the question – is fracking in Michigan 100% safe? Because at risk is the groundwater we drink and that feeds our streams and rivers. Experiences from around the country time and again show how dangerous this practice can be on a multitude of levels.  I encourage everyone to learn more about fracking and speak out if you have concerns.  We don’t want to look back years from now wishing we had before it was too late.

Cheryl Mendoza, Associate Director

Freshwater Future