July 28- Hundreds of protesters came to voice their opposition to the oil industry practice of fracking, a highly destructive process that injects water and chemicals deep underground to break up the bedrock, and release the natural gas pathways. Their political aim was to get movement on two bills before Congress. S. 587 also called the “FRAC ACT” and H.R. 1084. These Bills, if enacted into law, would repeal the oil and gas industry’s exemption from the, “Safe Drinking Water Act.” It would allow the EPA to regulate fracking’s impact on our drinking water supply and force the oil and gas industry to publicly disclose the types and amounts of chemicals they use in fracking. The passage of these Bills does not look good, they are both still in committee. If you would like to track the progress of any Bills before Congress, the Government will send you e-mail alerts when you subscribe to http://www.govtrack.us They will even tell you the likelihood of your Bill becoming law based on some weighted averages.
There was speeches by politicians and celebrity environmentalists. Most poignant to me, were the average citizens whose drinking water was ruined by fracking. Two groups from Pennsylvania stood out to me. Mr. Ray Kemble of Dimock, PA, brought a sample of his tap water to the rally. I honestly thought it might be the liquid that the oil companies use for fracking, and not the water you get out your tap. he explained the EPA found over 60 different types of chemicals in his water, everything from lithium, to 4 different types of uranium. There was another gentleman from another part of PA, who also had some horrible contaminated tap water in a gallon jug. He belonged to a group that started a website: http://www.marcellusoutreachbutler.org This environmental crisis apparently gets real, when it affects you personally. Though they are no doubt loyal Americans, these two men would, no doubt, be just as happy at a Pittsburg Pirate baseball game. Let’s just eliminate this practice of fracking. Our environment can’t afford it. If we held the oil companies accountable fo the mess they were making, the practice would end over night as a liability issue to them.
Paul Perrin
Over 60 poisons in his tap water due to fraking.
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Tags: #congress, #dc, #fracking, #PA, climate, environment, occupy-wall-street, science
