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UPDATE: May 6, 2011. TCWN, Sierra Club and United Mountain Defense submitted comments and a 27-page technical report to the Oil and Gas Commission requesting significant changes to the rules to protect against the worst practices in hydrofracking.  TDEC has let us know that they will not be changing the regulations to include these protections. Maybe next time?!
 
 
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has reached out to industry to write the rules governing hydrofracking. As you can guess, the next round of rulemaking is silent on fracking.  Big Surprise!
 
In 2007, a State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc (STRONGER) evaluated the TDEC's Division of Water Pollution Control and the Oil and Gas Section and found that the oil and gas regulations were not sufficient to protect human health and the environment.  To read the report, click here.
 
TDEC says hydrofracking isn't happening in Tennessee. Well, if that's the case, lets ban it.
 
What is hydrofracking?  It's a process by which natural gas is extracted from shale rock deep within shale formations using a lot of water, chemicals and an electric shock to break up the rock. Many other states where hydrofracking exists have experienced drinking well contamination, contaminated streams and private property damage.  Check out this fact sheet.
 
Is it going on in Tennessee?  A process called nitrogen fracking happens in Tennessee. TDEC calls it "dry" fracking but it uses 2 - 4 tankers of water per well according to Jonathan Burr, TDEC employee.  If it uses water, its hydrofracking.  Injecting nitrogen and water into a gas well in karst geology is bad.  Its bad for ground water, drinking water and surface water.  Where are these companies going to get the water? Probably the local stream.
 
Why doesn't the state protect us from this?   At first the State thought they did not have the right to regulate hydrofracking.  They realized that they do, but refused to do it in this round of rulemaking. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry are exempt from the federal Clean Water Act, federal Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act via the Haliburton Exemption in all these acts. The ultimate solution is to reverse the loophole in Federal Legislation.
 
What can you do about it?  There is a hearing in Knoxville on Feb. 22, 2011 at the Knoxville Field Office 3711 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921. The hearing starts at 6:00 pm.  Check out these comments.  But first, join us for a free screening of the Oscar nominated documentary Gasland.  You can also sign this petition and let your voice be heard!!
 
Every state that has had hydrofracking activities has experienced contaminated wells, flammable drinking water, and noise pollution.  Why do we think Tennessee will be any different?  Heck, even Arkansas has disclosure regulations!
 
Some resources for further study.
EPA powerpoint on hydrofracking