For Immediate Release

March XX, 2015

Concerned Citizens of St Tammany Parish Seeking Signatures
for Referendum to Ban Fracking
On March 25, 2015, a community meeting to discuss a referendum to
ban fracking in St. Tammany Parish will be held at 6:00 pm at the
XXXXXX auditorium.
This meeting will be hosted by Concerned
Citizens of St. Tammany Parish along with the Loyola Law
Environmental Advocacy Group.
Concerned Citizens of St Tammany Parish is a local nonprofit,
championing transparency in government action. Over the past 18
months, CCST became the frontrunner in the local outcry against
fracking.
Helis Oil & Gas is seeking an oil and gas extraction permit which will
utilize a process called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.
Numerous public health, economic, and social concerns surround this
project.
During fracking, large amounts of water, mixed with an undisclosed
chemical cocktail called "fracking fluid" is injected into the ground
under high pressure to crack the rocks below, allowing oil and natural
gas to flow to the surface to be collected.
Fracking fluid includes hazardous chemicals known to cause cancer
and otherwise be toxic. If anything goes wrong during the process of
hydraulic fracturing, the toxic chemicals contained in fracking fluid
may leak into ground water, contaminating drinking water sources.
This poses a special danger to St. Tammany Parish, which relies upon
underground aquifers for 90 percent of its drinking water. This risk to
groundwater can also lead to economic concerns, such as a decrease
in property values.
The chemicals used in fracking also can lead to air pollution and the
release of volatile organic compounds, also known to be toxic. Fracking
has even been shown to increase the risk of seismic activity, including
earthquakes.

Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany and the Loyola Law Environmental

Advocacy Clinic encourage citizens to attend the March 25, 2015
meeting to show their support for a ban on fracking in St. Tammany
Parish.
The groups will be presenting talks on hydraulic fracturing, a question
and answer session, and there will be an opportunity for supporters to
sign a petition to enact a referendum banning fracking in St. Tammany
Parish.
###

Example Images

A Big Fracking Mess

in our community?
Helis Oil & Gas Company is proposing to search for oil and gas in St.
Tammany Parish using a process called hydraulic fracturing, also known
as fracking.
During fracking, water, mixed with an undisclosed chemical cocktail
called "fracking fluid" is injected into the ground under high pressure to
crack the rocks below, allowing oil and natural gas to flow to the
surface to be collected. i
Fracking fluid" often includes hazardous chemicals known to cause
cancer and otherwise be toxic. ii
The site for the first ever fracking well in St. Tammany Parish is in an
area zoned residential, only 1.2 miles from Lakeshore High School. iii
Our money, health and safety at risk!
Water pollution, economics, earthquakes.
If anything goes wrong during the process of hydraulic fracturing, the
toxic chemicals contained in fracking fluid may leak into ground water,
contaminating drinking water sources. iv
St. Tammany Parish and the surrounding region rely heavily upon
underground aquifers for the majority of municipal drinking
water. v
The proposed fracking well site lies above the Southern Hills
aquifer, the source of 90 percent of all water used in St.
Tammany, vi and provides drinking water for over 744,000
residents of southeastern Louisiana. vii
Water pollution will not only be a health concern for St. Tammany
Parish but also a large economic burden for the community.
Fracking also diminishes air qualityviii, releasing harmful volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and other toxins at every stage of the extraction
and delivery process. ix

Additionally, the groundwater risk posed by fracking can reduce

property values up to 24 percent due to concerns around groundwater
contaminationx, and a single fracking well yields only as few as 4
permanent local jobs xi, with the majority of jobs going to outsiders,
raising the cost of living for locals. xii Municipal roads and infrastructure
can also be damaged due to a sudden increase in vehicle traffic and
population.xiii Once extraction stops, a fracking boom can quickly turn
to an economic bust, as population and jobs move on to profit
elsewhere. xiv
The injection of fracking fluids has even been shown to increase
seismic activityxv, causing earthquakes large enough to be felt and
cause damage in areas that previously experienced few or no
earthquakes. xvi
Get on Board:
Tell Helis : Dont Frack Up St. Tammany!
St. Tammany Parish is whats called a home-rule municipality. The
Louisiana Constitution grants home-rule parishes a wide range of
power to make decisions and laws to manage its own affairs.
Through either a vote by the St. Tammany Parish Council or by a
referendum by the Parish residents themselves, fracking can be
stopped in St. Tammany Parish.
AND if our local government wont help we are asking our state
legislators to step in too. Tell them you dont want fracking in St
Tammany!
What You Can Do:
Sign the petition at [WEBPAGE]
Come to a meeting.
o On March _____, Loyola Law Environmental Advocacy Group
and The Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish ask you
attend the community meeting to learn more about how you
protect your right and your community. (more details for
meeting)
Call your state legislative representatives

AN ORDINANCE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. TAMMANY PARISH,

LOUISIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 16, LICENSES, TAXATION AND
REGULATIONS, OF THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES,
BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE XIII, PROHIBITION OF HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING, GENERALLY PROVIDING THAT HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH; MAKING
FINDINGS; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING
FOR PUBLICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, as a Louisiana home-rule municipality pursuant to Article
IV, Section 5(E), of the Louisiana Constitution, St. Tammany Parish,
Louisiana may exercise any power and perform any function
necessary, requisite or proper for the management of its affairs, not
denied by general law or inconsistent with the Constitution of
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the Parish government of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana,
pursuant to its powers granted by Section 1-05 of the Home Rule
Charter of St. Tammany Parish, has the right, power, and authority to
pass all ordinances requisite or necessary to promote, protect, and
preserve the general welfare, safety, health, peace, and good order
of the Parish;
WHEREAS, natural gas drilling and production operations in general
involve or otherwise impact the environment of St. Tammany Parish,
infrastructure and related public health, welfare and safety matters,
including but not limited to noise issues, road repair issues due to
use of heavy equipment, site security and signage issues, issues
related to operating hours, venting of gas, fire suppression issues,
lighting issues, containment systems, hazardous materials
management, spill issues, operator insurance issues, environmental
impairment matters and other regulatory issues; and
WHEREAS, there is an abundance of reports, studies, information and
data about the effects of natural gas drilling on public health, welfare
and safety, some of which reports, studies, information and data are
contradictory, and due to such, many of the Parish residents have
undertaken extensive study and investigation to determine what, if
any, effects natural gas drilling may have on the public health,
welfare and safety of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and its residents;
and
WHEREAS, the well stimulation process known as hydraulic fracturing
is used to extract

oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons through the underground injection

of water, gels, acids or gases, sands or other proppants along with
chemical additives, many of which chemicals are known to be toxic;
and
WHEREAS, during hydraulic fracturing, chemicals and waste fluid
pumped into such wells
may be introduced into and could contaminate drinking water aquifers;
and
WHEREAS, it is the purpose of this Ordinance to protect the public
health, safety and
welfare, the environment, and property values by prohibiting hydraulic
fracturing within
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance is enacted pursuant to the right of the
residents of St. Tammany Parish to govern their own community,
specifically with regard to the well stimulation process known as
hydraulic fracturing, as referenced in this Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of St. Tammany Parish are seeking to
protect themselves from the dangers associated with hydraulic
fracturing, including ground and surface water contamination, air
pollution, property devaluation, and other threats to the public
safety, health, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the experience of other municipalities has proved
that meaningful limitations concerning hydraulic fracturing,
along with other land use provisions, are ineffective for a
variety of reasons, including both legal and regulatory; and
WHEREAS, it is neither the intent nor the purpose of this Ordinance
to rezone property and/or otherwise engage in land use regulation
authorized by Article IV, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution;
rather, it is the intent of this Ordinance to regulate certain aspects
of business operations that directly and/or indirectly impact the
public safety, health, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of St. Tammany Parish believe that the
protection of the residents, neighborhoods, community integrity,
and the natural environment of the Parish is an appropriate
purpose for the adoption of this Ordinance and as such, the Parish
is legally authorized to adopt this Ordinance pursuant to its police
powers.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL OF

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LOUISIANA THAT:
SECTION 1
The matters and facts recited in the preamble to this Ordinance are
hereby found and determined to be true and correct and incorporated
herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2
From and after the effective date of this Ordinance, Chapter 16,
Licenses, Taxation and Regulations, of the St. Tammany Parish
Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended by adding a new Article
XIII, Prohibition of Hydraulic Fracturing, to read as follows:
ARTICLE VII PROHIBITION OF HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING Sec. 13-202.00 Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly
indicates a different
meaning:
Fluid means any material or substance which flows or moves whether
in semi-solid, liquid, sludge, gas, or any other form or state.
Gas means all natural gas, whether hydrocarbon or non-hydrocarbon,
including hydrogen sulfide, helium, carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
hydrogen, casinghead gas, and all other fluid hydrocarbons not
defined as oil.
Hydraulic fracturing means the process of directing pressurized
fluids containing any combination of water, proppant, and any
added chemicals to penetrate tight formations,
such as shale or coal formations, that subsequently require high rate,
extended flowback to expel fracture fluids and solids during
completions.
Oil means crude petroleum, oil, and all hydrocarbons, regardless of
specific gravity, that are in the liquid phase in the reservoir and are
produced at the wellhead in liquid form.
Oil and gas means both oil and gas, or either oil or gas, as the
context may require to give effect to the purposes of this article.
Person means any person, firm, association of persons, company,
corporation, or their agents, servants, or employees.

Sec.13-203.00 Prohibition of Hydraulic Fracturing.

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in hydraulic fracturing
within the corporate limits of St. Tammany Parish.
Sec. 13-204.00 Penalty.
The violation of or noncompliance with this article by any person,
firm, association of persons, company, corporation, or their agents,
servants, or employees shall be punishable as a misdemeanor and
upon conviction, such person, firm, association, company,
corporation or their agents, servants or employees shall be fined a
sum not less than one dollar ($1.00) but shall not exceed two
thousand dollars ($2,000.00), and each day any violation or
noncompliance continues shall constitute a separate and distinct
offense.
SECTION 3
All ordinances, orders or resolutions heretofore passed and adopted
by the Parish Council of
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, are hereby repealed to the
extent that said ordinances, resolutions, or parts thereof, are
in conflict herewith.
SECTION 4
If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or provision of this
Ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance,
shall to any extent be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unconstitutional, the remaining sections,
subsections, clauses, phrases and provisions of this Ordinance, or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
SECTION 5
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or
terms of this Ordinance
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall
be punished pursuant to the provisions contained in Section 13204.00 of the St. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances, as amended.
SECTION 6
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage and publication as
provided by law, and it is so ordained

Dear Rick,
Our group from the Loyola Law School Environmental Advocacy Project
(aka, "The A-Team") are planning on having a community on the St.
Tammany fracking ban.
The community meeting will consist of a presentation put together by
our team outlining the strategy for banning fracking in St. Tammany
Parish, short talks by passionate speakers, and a Q&A session. We will
also be providing fact sheets and of course, collecting signatures for
the fracking ban referendum.
Our tentative date for the meeting is March ___th - does that work for
you and your organization?
We were wondering if Concerned Citizens could help us out with
[securing a venue], finding speakers, and getting the word out to
constituents in the Parish. Thanks for all your help.
thanks,
Will Kovalchik & Annelise Rickert
-Loyola University College of Law Environmental Advocacy Project
-------Dear [Potential Ally],
I am a law student working on community organizing to ban fracking in
St. Tammany Parish as part of Loyola University College of Law's
Environmental Advocacy Clinic.
We have a two pronged approach to banning affecting a fracking ban
in St. Tammany - getting Parish citizens behind a referendum which will
place a moratorium or outright ban on hydraulic fracturing in the
parish by enacting a new local ordinance, and changing the language
of a state-wide law which would enable such a ban to go into effect by
action of the Parish.
I came across your group while searching for potential allies in our
fight. Since a referendum would require a certain number of
signatures, your established support base would be critical. Any other
help your organization could provide would also be helpful.
We will also be holding a community meeting on March ___th, and
would love if you and your constituents could attend.

Any help you can provide will be appreciated. There is already a good
deal of support for banning fracking in St. Tammany, and we are trying
to tip the scales in favor of a ban.
You can reach me at this e-mail or at (808)271-5509 or (832)689-0095
thanks,
Will Kovalchik & Annelise Rickert
-Loyola University College of Law Environmental Advocacy Project

i Lincoln Davies, et al., ENERGY LAW AND POLICY, American Casebook Series, (1st ed.
2014).

ii Concerned Health Professionals of New York (2014, December 11), Compendium of

Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking
(Unconventional Gas and Oil Extraction) (2nd Edition), http://concernedhealthny.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/07/CHPNY-Fracking-Compendium.pdf
iii Roberts III, Faimon A. Crowd fills high school gym for latest forum on Tammany
fracking well. The New Orleans Advocate. Nov. 15, 2014.
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/10816244-171/crowd-fills-high-school-gym

iv Urbina, Ian. A tainted water well, and concern there may be more. New York Times.
August 3, 2011; Energy Resources Conservation Board. Caltex Energy Inc. hydraulic
fracturing incident 16-27-068-10W6M September 22, 2011: ERCB investigation report.
December 20, 2012 at 1; Banerjee, Neela. Oil companies fracking into water sources,
new research shows. Los Angeles Times. August 12, 2014; Lustgarten (July 18, 2014).

v U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Louisana Department of

Transportation and Development. Water Resources of St. Tammany Parish. Washington,

2009. http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2009/3064/pdf/StTammy_FS.pdf

vi Aguillard, Anna. St. Tammany Parish sues to prevent fracking; Cites concerns
over aquifer. The Louisiana Record. August 27, 2014.
http://louisianarecord.com/news/262864-st-tammany-parish-sues-to-preventfracking-cites-concerns-over-aquifer
vii U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. The Southern Hills
regional aquifer system of southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi:
Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4189. Washington, D.C.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1983/4189/report.pdf
viii Adgate, John L. et al. Potential public health hazards, exposures andHealth Effects
from Unconventional Oil & Gas Development. Environmental
Science & Technology. Vol 48, Iss. 15. August 5, 2014 at 8308.

ix Physicians for Social Responsibility. Hydraulic Fracturing and Your Health: Air
Contamination. Washington, 2014. http://www.psr.org/assets/pdfs/fracking-andair-pollution.pdf
x Muehlenbachs, Lucija, et al. Shale Gas Development and Property Values: Differences
Across Drinking Water Sources. National Bureau of Economic Research. Working Paper
18390. Cambridge, MA. September 2012.
http://public.econ.duke.edu/~timmins/w18390.pdf

xi Mauro, Frank et al. Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative. Pennsylvania

Budget and Policy Center. Exaggerating the Employment Impacts of Shale
Drilling: How and Why. November 2013.
https://pennbpc.org/sites/pennbpc.org/files/MSSRC-Employment-Impact-11-21-

2013.pdf
xii Donavan, Lauren. With housing shortage in western ND, some look to make a
buck. Bismarck Tribune. July 2, 2011. http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-andregional/article_12f53694-a348-11e0-8727-001cc4c002e0.html
xiii Wicker, Alden. Fracking: Economic Friend or Foe?.
http://www.learnvest.com/2012/11/is-fracking-the-future-or-a-really-bad-idea-123/
Learnvest. November 2, 2012.
xiv Community and Regional Development Institute. Christopherson, Susan and
Rightor, Ned. The Boom-Bust Cycle of Shale Gas Extraction Economies. CaRDI
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http://www.greenchoices.cornell.edu/downloads/development/shale/Economic_Con
sequences.pdf
xv Zuckerman, L. (2014, October 29). Gas wastewater likely triggered 2011 quake in
Colorado: USGS. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/29/us-usaearthquake-colorado-idUSKBNoII2NP20141029
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with Earthquakes Induced by Fluid Injection. U.S. Geological Survey. Washington,
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ID=4132#.VPi5cnzF-xp