Gas and Oil Industry Needs to Play by the Rules

By [insert name], board member of Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited

Summer cottages, tubing, kayaking, fishing and days at the beach: theres a reason every
Michigan license plate proudly boasted The Great Lakes State for years. Our state is home to
more fresh water than any other, providing us with many recreational activities, not to mention a
groundwater supply to sustain every community. However, with this great resource comes great
responsibility. Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited has worked for decades to conserve and
protect Michigan water, and weve spotted a serious threat on the horizon.
After Marathon Co. took over all the oil wells previously owned by Encana Oil and Gas
USA, hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, became a controversial matter for
Michigan citizens. Fracking is the practice of pumping water, chemicals and solids (such as
sand) thousands of feet into the ground to fracture shale beds and release natural gas and oil.
Marathon Co. plans to expand fracking practices substantially in Michigan. It is a very lucrative
method for companies in the gas and oil industry. It creates jobs, benefits landowners financially
and lowers gas prices. The practice has been around for over half a century and seems to be a
financial no-brainer. So why is it just now a serious concern for Michiganders?
New methods of hydraulic fracturing have been introduced in recent years to increase the
amount of energy obtained from each fracture. Gas and oil companies now use horizontal
fracking: they drill thousands of feet vertically then further horizontally. The water is pumped
through the drilled wells at a high pressure to fracture shale and create fissures. It is first mixed
with several toxic chemicals such as lead, uranium, mercury, and hydrochloric acid, to affect the
fluids consistency. Solids, such as sand, within the fluid are used to widen and hold the spaces
open. Then, natural gas and oil flow upward through the fissures to be acquired.
Horizontal fracking uses several hundred times more water than traditional vertical
fracking. Each frack uses approximately 2-5 million gallons of water, and wells can be fracked
more than once, using that much more water. Essentially, for every frack, millions of gallons of
water are removed from Michigans water system and made too toxic to return. Following each
fracture, the now-contaminated flowback water has to be dealt with somehow. It is often
deposited in Michigans disposal wells. Sometimes it is sent to water treatment facilities, but
these facilities are not equipped to handle such high levels of toxic waste. Supporters of fracking
argue that this flowback water is able to be recycled, therefore preventing the need to transport
millions of gallons of contaminated water to disposal wells. While the idea of recycling flowback
water holds good intentions, it is not commonly used. Nor does it negate the fact that the
fracturing process poisons fresh water, usually permanently removing substantial amounts of
water from Michigans water system.

Not only does this process remove water from Michigans water system, but it also runs
the risk of contaminating surrounding groundwater. Proponents of fracking argue that the bed of
shale protects surrounding aquifers from the contaminated water and the risk is small. This may
be true; however, there is evidence that groundwater near fracking sites is polluted by natural gas
escaped from wells. Research conducted by Duke University showed that methane levels in
shallow wells close to active extraction sites were 17 times higher than that of wells close to
inactive sites.
With all of this potential and proven pollution, where are the regulations that have been
put in place to protect us? Shouldnt the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 prevent the
contamination of our ground water? Or maybe the National Environmental Policy Act will hold
these companies accountable for their actions? Unfortunately, many of these regulations, that
were created to safeguard our land, water, and air, have since been modified to exempt the gas
and oil industry from adhering to the rules. Dont believe us? Heres an example: in 1987,
Congress amended the Clean Water Act to account for rainwater run-off, but oil and gas
productions were excused. And again: in 2005 the Energy Policy Act was passed by Congress to
exempt the gas and oil industry from being held to the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water
Act, and the Clean Air Act.
Fracking may be a lucrative financial decision, but at what cost? Allowing the gas and oil
industry to exercise dangerous methods with little to no regulation is far too harmful for the
future of our state. Federal and state regulations need to reclaim control over environmentally
destructive practices. Michiganders need to find their voice and speak for the future of natural
resources. Water is our most precious resource, and it needs to be protected. Regulating current
methods of obtaining gas and oil and encouraging alternatives to fossil fuel will help ensure the
future of our home.
For facts about fracking, visit www.swmtu.org.