In from Anglers of the AuSable - Fracking!

[LadyFisher]

Dear Members, The tip of the Mitt Watershed Council let us know that on Thursday, 21 April, the Michigan DEQ Office of Geological Survey (OGS) will meet again with the Oil and Gas Industry and Services Industry. The point of the meeting is to discuss the disclosure of chemicals used in the fracking process, which the DEQ has the flexibility to require under current regulations. Below is the letter that the Anglers have sent to Governor Snyder, DEQ director Dan Wyant and the DEQ OGS Division Chief Hal Fitch. Please take a moment to review this and call, fax email and send letters to those involved. Contacts: Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
phone: 517-335-7858 fax: 517-335-6863
email: Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Director Dan Wyant
P.O. Box 30473
Lansing, MI 48909-7973
phone: 517-373-7917
email: WyantD@michigan.gov

DEQ Office of Geological Survey
Division Chief Harold Fitch
P.O. Box 30256
Lansing, MI 48909-7756
phone: 517-241-1515
email: FitchH@michigan.gov

Please feel free to use any part of the Anglers' letter as a talking point for your own communication. Sincerely, Bruce Pregler President, Anglers of the Au Sable

April 19, 2011 Via Facsimile,
E-mail & US Mail Gov. Rick Snyder
PO Box 30013
Lansing Michigan 48909
Email: Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
In Re: April 21, 2011 meeting with DEQ Office of Geological Survey and the Oil & Gas Industry and Services Industry

Dear Governor Snyder: This Thursday April 21, 2011 the DEQ office of Geological Survey (OGS) is meeting with the Oil & Gas Industry and Services Industry to discuss the disclosure of chemicals utilized during the ?Fracking Process?. It is our understanding that the OSG has the flexibility to require, under current regulations, full disclosure of all chemical ingredients mixed with the fracking solution prior to this mixture being pumped into the ground. Our research has revealed that fracking fluids contain dozens of toxic chemicals, including but not limited to, hydrochloric acid, ethylene glycol, alcohol and benzene. All of which are harmful or carcinogenic to humans. Therefore, we request that the OGS require the following: ? Prior to the commencement of Fracking; a full disclosure of exactly what chemicals and the quantity of said chemicals are being utilized in the Fracking fluids;
? Disclose the quantity of water usage during the fracking process; ? Make the Fracking Companies monitor and disclose the volume of recovered fracking fluids (water, sand and chemicals) that flow back to the surface; and
? Monitoring the disposal of recovered fracking waste water;
? Mandate that water withdrawals for Fracking be subject to the same regulations applied to other large water users. Michigan?s fresh water is a precious resource which must be protected and preserved. Let?s have the foresight and the commitment to prevent our single greatest asset from being contaminated.
Sincerely, Anglers of the Au Sable
Bruce M. Pregler ? President

xc: Dan Wyant, Michigan Dept of Environmental Quality
Harold Fitch, DEQ Office of Geological Survey

[fishdog54]

List of chemicals used in fracking: http://www.earthworksaction.org/fracfluidslarge.cfm

Best regards, Dave S.

[CharlaineC]

I just learned what Fracking was this afternoon. befor that i always knew it as a swear from the original battlestar gallatica

[okflyfisher]

I am in the dreaded oil and gas industry in Oklahoma. Frac'ing is injecting primarily water into formations 1000s of feet under ground. This high pressure fluid causes fractures to form in the marginal oil & gas formations we are producing from today. Most of these formations would not give up any oil or gas without the aid of these fractures. In Michigan many of these formations are carbonates( limestone or dolomite) Hydro chloric acid( HCl) helps desolve carvities into these carbonate formations or formations with carbonate cement.
Most of the frac liquid is recovered. Hcl comes back spent as water after interacting with the carbonates. Some of the frac fluid does stay deep under ground in the formations that were frac'ed. The industry has been frac' ing wells since very nearly the beginng of drilling at least here in Oklahoma.
Frac'ing is a designed and controlled process and has to be because most of the deeper formations contain saltwater.

Oil & gas has fallen out of favor, but really it is the bridge that allows us time to deveolop real alternative energy sources. Think of that the next time you turn your ignition key

[fishdog54]

The difference between now and then is that in the past people wanted what they wanted and didn't care nor had access about the process that got them what they wanted. We are not as ignorant as we used to be! We want to know that our car is not going to kill us, or what's in our food. The age of information allows us to asked the right questions - whether we get the correct answer is based solely on the integrity of the person providing the answer. If someone says that they are going to drill a hole in the ground, suck out the gas, you'll have cheaper gas, then we'll be gone, and you can just go back to your life as you knew it before we drilled that little ole hole - you used to say - OK then, have at it. You will NOT get that same naive reaction from any thinking person today. Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice - shame on ME!! My parents didn't send me to school because they wanted me to be less educated than them!!