Tag: fracking

Annapolis legislators unveil three-point fracking moratorium plan

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2013

Contact:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Moratorium bill introduced in the House of Delegates on the heels of Baltimore City Council vote to freeze fracking process in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS—Maryland legislators today unveiled a new, three-point plan to establish a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – for natural gas in the state. The legislation introduced today comes in the wake of new federal studies highlighting potential harm from fracking and on the same week that the Baltimore City Council voted to endorse a fracking moratorium.

fracking Maryland

Baltimore City Council backs statewide fracking moratorium in unanimous vote

Yesterday evening, the Baltimore City Council unanimously endorsed our legislation before the state General Assembly that would place a moratorium on fracking in Maryland, adding its voice to the mounting calls for tougher scrutiny of the risks of the controversial gas drilling method.

The resolution, introduced by Councilman Bill Henry and co-sponsored by 10 council members, including Council President Bernard Young, supports passage of the “Maryland Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium and Right to Know Act of 2013,” which is being introduced in Annapolis by State Senator Rob Zirkin and State Delegate Heather Mizeur.

“The City Council is taking up this issue because it’s clear that fracking can seriously impact not only the physical environment, but the health of entire communities,” said Councilman Bill Henry. “We want to make sure that when the General Assembly makes their ultimate decision about fracking’s future in Maryland, it won’t be because they’ve been rushed, but because they have been fully informed about all of the potential risks.”

fracking Maryland

Would you drink this water?

On Wednesday, fracking activists held a fracking water taste test directly in front of the State House to showcase for legislators the threat that fracking poses to drinking water in Maryland. In states like PA and Wyoming, concerned homeowners have pointed to fracking as a cause of drinking water contamination.

Dozens of Marylanders from across the state donned red Fracking Moratorium Now! t-shirts, buttons, and stickers to make sure the issue of fracking was on legislators minds as they headed in for their first day of the 2013 General Assembly session.

To convey the dangers and risks of fracking to Maryland water sources, we had a series of water samples collected from PA and Maryland The first sample was clearly contaminated drinking water taken from an abandoned home near a fracking site in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The previous owners, the McEvoy family, suffered severe health impacts from drinking and bathing in the contaminated water and had to move away. Their community, called the Woodlands area, includes 12 families who are still without a clean water source. Please visit: http://www.marcellusoutreachbutler.org/ for more information.

fracking Maryland

Activists launch fracking moratorium campaign with ‘water taste test’ on Lawyer’s Mall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2013

CONTACT:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022 or 717-439-0346, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Lawmakers are greeted with the choice of polluted well water from a PA fracking area or clean water from a MD State House drinking fountain to underscore risk to state water resources

ANNAPOLIS—As the 2013 Maryland General Assembly session commenced Wednesday, dozens of activists came out to kick off an historic campaign to pass a legislative moratorium on fracking by holding a “water taste test” for lawmakers on Lawyer’s Mall. Activists have declared 2013 the year for legislators to finally put a moratorium in place and guarantee protections for communities at risk of water and air pollution, health problems and other harmful impacts associated with this controversial drilling process.

“Our neighbors in Pennsylvania have drilled first and asked questions later, and the polluted PA well water sample we brought to Annapolis today shows the potentially dire costs of that approach,” said Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Lawmakers need to make our state policy clear in 2013: As long as the gas industry continues to block thorough study of the dangers of fracking in Maryland, there should be no fracking in Maryland—period.”

fracking Maryland

No study, no fracking

The Baltimore Sun

Our view: The potential impact of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in Maryland, both good and bad, is too great not to merit a thorough, unbiased study

Most of us have probably seen or heard the ubiquitous ads promoting domestic natural gas drilling. While they don’t tend to use the word “fracking,” their message about hydraulic fracturing of shale is clear enough — little kids playing happily on green patches of grass and the promise of bountiful clean energy, jobs and all-around happiness all rolled into one.

Two things can be inferred from the ads. First, that those in the oil and gas industry are absolutely intent on selling their product with extraordinary promises; and second, that they are willing to spend an enormous sum to do so.

fracking Maryland

Drilling Down: Maryland’s first statewide fracking conference

UPDATE (12/10/12): Read on to take action and to download and view featured presentations from the conference.

On Saturday, nearly 300 Marylanders from across the state are gathering in Baltimore to discuss a big emerging threat to our communities: fracking.

Fracking is a dangerous method of drilling for natural gas linked to widespread environmental and health impacts in neighboring states. The conference is the first to bring activists from across Maryland together with state lawmakers, national climate and health experts, and people on the front lines of fracking in western Maryland and Pennsylvania to discuss the risks of fracking and how our state should respond.

To join us on Saturday and for more details, go to: http://mdfrackingconference.eventbrite.com.

fracking Maryland

Stop Fracking, Heal the Planet

Mark Ruffalo and Josh Fox have just released a short video about why it is so important for people to come to Washington, D.C. on July 28 to take part in the Stop the Frack Attack demonstration.

They’re right! It is! Join them!

DC Federal fracking Hampton Roads renewable energy

Meet Fracking Victims Angela and Wayne Smith

As we gear up for the Stop the Frack Attack rally in DC on July 28th, we’ll share stories of the victims of fracking. Today we meet the Smiths.

DC fracking Maryland

Fracking, Climate Action and July 28

“On July 28th, 2012, we invite community members and organizations everywhere to join us in Washington, D.C. for a rally at the Capitol to demand no more drilling that harms public health, water, and air. . . Elected officials and public agencies must insist that the industry stop all drilling that is dirty and dangerous, and put communities and the environment first, starting by removing special exemptions and subsidies for the oil and gas industry. Join community leaders, celebrities and policymakers and add your voice to the call for a clean, fossil fuel free energy future.” -Call to Action at www.stopthefrackattack.org

Federal fracking global warming keystone xl tar sands