Triangle residents may not realize that fracking areas run through Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange, and Lee counties, affecting the water supply of 2.4 million people.  This map shows watersheds and fracking areas (slide 2 at this link).

North Carolina has the least separation between water and natural gas layers of rock, where fracking fluids could irreversibly pollute the water supply.  Some fracking fluids contain 93 times more benzene than diesel.   ProPublica identified 1,000+ documented cases of water contamination nationwide near fracking sites prior to 2009.   In Houston, there is more air pollution from fracking than cars!  A Texas hospital reported asthma rates 3x higher than the state average in counties with drilling sites, with one-quarter of children having asthma.  A new shale health office has opened in Pennsylvania.  For 387 mostly temporary jobs and a five year supply of low-priced natural gas in NC, the current legislature is willing to sell out our air and water quality.

I am afraid we will open a Pandora’s Box if we allow fracking in our state. Health problems seen at the new shale health clinic in PA are suspiciously similar to those that caused the mayor of Dish, TX to move out of his own town where he allowed fracking – the severe nosebleeds of his kids. All the different Ethyl Methyl Deathyl chemicals fracking puts into the air are not a happy addition to our already ozone-polluted air in NC. The industry will have jurisdiction over municipalities on this, where municipalities have no control. Our watersheds are exactly where the shale rock is located.

If other states have not been able to make fracking work without creating health problems, what makes us think it can be done safely in ours?

Governor Perdue’s veto early this week is the only thing that can stop this.

What are your thoughts? Is North Carolina different from PA and TX? Is Governor Perdue going to make the right decision? Let us know in the Comments below.

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