Background factsheets on proposed North Carolina fracking rules

The NC Mining & Energy Commission has proposed a package of 120+ rules establishing a regulatory framework for shale gas development - fracking - in North Carolina.  The Commission is holding four public hearings and accepting public comment on the proposed rules through Monday, September 15.  We've collected the factsheets below, from several organizations, addressing various aspects of the proposed fracking rules, in hopes that these will be a useful resource if you're planning to comment.

NCCN comment letter: fracking stormwater rule

The comment period just closed (Aug. 1) for public input on the NC Environmental Management Commission's proposed rules to manage stormwater at shale gas development (fracking) sites.  The main package of fracking rules - proposed by the NC Mining & Energy Commission - remains open for comment through Monday, Sept. 15.

In brief, our comments urge the EMC to:

Foreign direct investment in North Carolina

In late June, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program released a geographic analysis of 'foreign direct investment' (FDI) in US cities from 1991 to 2011.  The chief purpose of the report is to encourage cities to think about FDI with greater sophistication - not as a golden ticket to generating new jobs, because it doesn't reliably do that, but as one component of a balanced economic development strategy.  Three North Carolina metro areas receive special attention in the report.

Emerging contaminants and groundwater

A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey of 118 groundwater wells in Minnesota found contaminants of emerging concern in over a third of water samples.  Roughly half of North Carolinians get our water from groundwater, and this study has interesting lessons for our state.

Concerns with S38, Amend Environmental Laws 2014

Every year, as the NC General Assembly approaches the end of session, one or more bills appears that is a grab bag of special interest loopholes and statutory changes requested by agencies.  This year, S734, Regulatory Reform Act of 2014, left the NC Senate loaded with damaging environmental provisions.  The NC House transferred some of them to S38, Amend Environmental Laws 2014, and left others out, and then sent S38 back to the Senate, where it has not yet been brought up for concurrence.  Our factsheet outlining the sections of S38 of greatest concern is here. 

Natural gas extraction and post-closure methane emissions

In North Carolina, much opposition to fracking has reflected concern over air, water, and soil contamination.  At the national level, debate has also swirled around the potential impact of natural gas extraction on the global climate.  A recent PhD dissertation from Princeton University attaches numbers to a concern that has largely escaped notice until now: the potential impact of methane leaking, not from active wells, but from old wells that have ceased production.

Environmental highlights of the NC House budget, S744

Today the NC House takes up its version of S744, the Appropriations Act of 2014, which would make adjustments to the state budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.  In general, the House budget is much better for the environment than the Senate budget, dropping a number of harmful special provisions and adding a handful of smart expansion items.  Our one-page take on the House budget's environmental highlights is here.