CHAPEL HILL – The community has a chance Tuesday night to participate in a discussion about the controversial subject of fracking in North Carolina. It’s happening at 7:00 p.m. at the Schley Grange Hall in Hillsborough.

Bonnie Hauser is the president Orange County Voice, the group that organized the discussion.

“The event is a chance for people to get just the facts,” Hauser said.

Last year, hydraulic fracturing—otherwise known as “fracking”— was formally legalized in the state. Since then, the N.C. Mining & Energy Commission has been charged with creating regulations for the procedure.

Dr. Rob Jackson of Duke University will lead the discussion. He’s a professor of Global Environmental Health and the director of the Duke Center for Global Change.

“Dr. Jackson and his group have been studying fracking sites all over the country, working with the US Geological Survey,” Hauser said. “They have the facts and they can tell us what has really been going on. It’s a chance for people who might not be engaged in the discussion– to engage.”

Hauser says the goal is not to tell people what their opinion on fracking should be—but rather to explain the basics of the complex topic.

“It’s easy for us all to jump on the anti-fracking advocacy.  There’s a lot of risks involved with fracking and a lot of concerns especially with water quality,” she said.

Hauser says there will be a question and answer session following Jackson’s talk.

 

Schley Grange Hall:  

3416 Schley Rd

Hillsborough, NC27278 ‎

– Off NC 57 about 6 miles north of Hillsborough

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