Read the report, “Investigation of Ground Water Contamination near Pavillion, Wyoming.”. Submit comments through . . . → Read More: Submit your comments on EPA Pavilion Study]]> Update: The important and highly controversial study by EPA Region 8 on groundwater contamination and hydraulic fracturing in Pavilion, WY, is an important read for all digging deeper. Due to high public interest, deadline for public comments has been extended to MARCH 12. CWFNC will be submitting comments and urges others to do so. The industry is dominating the comment docket so far!

Read the report, “Investigation of Ground Water Contamination near Pavillion, Wyoming.”. Submit comments through this submission site or by e-mailing ORD.Docket@epa.gov or mailing 3 copies to: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. Make sure to reference Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2011– 0895.

The year had been rough, lots of bad bills had passed Leaving us fearing we’d be “natural gassed.” But the “fractivists” fought it, the movement took root, Giving NC the chance to give fracking the boot…. From rural Pennsylvania and small Texas towns Speakers came to reveal shale drilling’s . . . → Read More: A Frackless NC Holiday to You]]> ‘Twas the holiday season, and all through the state
People gathered with loved ones for t’ celebrate.
Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care
Hoping St. Nick would bring clean water and air!

The year had been rough, lots of bad bills had passed
Leaving us fearing we’d be “natural gassed.”
But the “fractivists” fought it, the movement took root,
Giving NC the chance to give fracking the boot….

From rural Pennsylvania and small Texas towns
Speakers came to reveal shale drilling’s ups and downs.
They spoke at our Summit, they urged us to wait,
To protect our communities before it’s too late.

Yes, more challenges stretched from the mountains to sea:
Nukes and landfills, contaminants like TCE,
Urban streams to protect, bad frack bills to avoid,
Enough coal ash for all Santa’s bad girls and boys!

Now as you gather with those you hold dear
May your towns all be “frackless,” your rivers run clear.
And if you can spare a small gift for us here,
It will help us so much as we start a new year!

Happy Holidays from the Staff and Board of CWFNC

More footage from our Summit! Ryke Longest, Director, Duke University Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, & Jennifer Hayes, Duke University Law School present “NC Legal and Regulatory Control of Natural Gas Exploration” at Clean Water for North Carolina’s summit on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing in September (View presentation slides).

We’re so grateful for all these clips from filmmaker Todd Tinkham, winner of the 2009 Indy Arts Award from the Independent Weekly and director of the upcoming . . . → Read More: Ryke Longest and Jennifer Hayes presentation]]>

More footage from our Summit! Ryke Longest, Director, Duke University Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, & Jennifer Hayes, Duke University Law School present “NC Legal and Regulatory Control of Natural Gas Exploration” at Clean Water for North Carolina’s summit on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing in September (View presentation slides).

We’re so grateful for all these clips from filmmaker Todd Tinkham, winner of the 2009 Indy Arts Award from the Independent Weekly and director of the upcoming feature documentary, “Dispersed”. The film follows the ongoing struggle between the fossil fuel industry and the alternative energy movement in the state of North Carolina. A short video from “Dispersed” can be viewed here.

As a public health graduate student, my focus was on maternal health and nutrition. Environmental health was a factor in studies of food supply, equitable . . . → Read More: Reflections on environmental health and justice from an expectant mother]]> by Rachel Lang-Balde

As I await the birth of my second child, I’m considering the implications of environmental health and justice on my family, my community and our state. Environmental health and justice affect all parents – and come into play in multiple ways throughout pregnancy, the birthing process, parenthood and child development.

As a public health graduate student, my focus was on maternal health and nutrition. Environmental health was a factor in studies of food supply, equitable distribution of resources, water and sanitation, and the community implications of nutritional choices. Becoming a mother while in graduate school made me take a closer look at environmental health and justice beyond the scope of research, thinking about potential consequences to my family and the most vulnerable in my community. I realized environmental health and justice included a safe environment, but also access to healthy organic food, safety from chemicals (Scientific American article) and pollutants in water, and use of nontoxic products. In other words, motherhood encompasses not just the care of a child, but becoming an advocate for others, too, and helping them understand their power to advocate for a clean, safe and just environment for all families….

As CWFNC’s Outreach Coordinator, I work with individuals and communities to build access to resources about environmental health. As I embark upon motherhood for the second time, I reflect on recent NC legislation and decisions that can affect all families, specifically in regards to hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” for natural gas in shale formations.

Any parent knows there is an innate concern, a constant nagging in the back of your head, concerning your child’s health and safety. Even the most laid-back parent is occasionally thrown for a loop by the multitude of factors one must consider on a daily basis –plastics like BPA in bottles and toys, pesticides and chemicals in foods and medicines, and exposure to pollutants in drinking water are just a few. My family is lucky to live in a community with access to clean water, not affected by heavy pollution; and my education gives me an advanced understanding of the consequences of environmental degradation.

I’ve been profoundly affected by what we’ve learned about the community and health impacts of fracking: the unspeakable stories of families experiencing toxic water and air, chronic illness, and an assault on their basic rights to safe homes and liveable communities. The fact that residents’ rights to personal health, access to clean water and non-polluted air are being threatened elsewhere should be of immense concern to all North Carolinians as we evaluate whether to allow fracking here.

Many folks at a 2010 Oil and Gas Accountability Project conference I attended on the impacts of fracking commented on NC’s “lucky” position – unlike 30+ other states, our current laws preventing injection of toxic wastes and high pressure fracturing have given us time to carefully review how others have been affected and to honestly evaluate before we take the same path. Someone suggested that we needed to engage mothers (I wanted to add fathers, too!) in order to really mobilize folks. This year’s General Assembly session made us all aware of how quickly a state can undermine its environmental agency and protections, and proceed with a highly risky process without seriously evaluating the risks.

The maternal (or parental) instinct is a real and powerful force that should be acknowledged and acted upon. Those of us with more direct engagement in the environmental health and justice movements need to use those connections within our communities – schools, playgroups, churches, and beyond — to spread our knowledge and take action. Before NC allows a process as potentially destructive as fracking, we must be ready to answer for how our families and communities will be protected for generations to come. As a mother and public health professional, I am very concerned about the level of awareness and understanding our elected officials have about fracking. I urge all North Carolinians, and especially the parents among us, to educate ourselves, and to push our elected officials to proceed intelligently and cautiously. We need to ask ourselves difficult questions about whether the risks and environmental injustices can possibly be worth it, and who will reap the benefits and costs, before considering any changes allowing fracking in NC.

Thanks to organizations which co-sponsored the tour or specific events: Deep River Clean Water Society, NC Policy Watch and Save Our Sandhills. And thanks to all who got the word out about events in Raleigh, Southern Pines and Durham, provided refreshments and made Carol and Carolyn . . . → Read More: Thanks to PA Dairy Farmers, NC Allies]]> Thanks to all who made last week’s tour of PA dairy farmers Carol French and Carolyn Knapp a big success, generating a “buzz” all the way up to their home state!

Thanks to organizations which co-sponsored the tour or specific events: Deep River Clean Water Society, NC Policy Watch and Save Our Sandhills. And thanks to all who got the word out about events in Raleigh, Southern Pines and Durham, provided refreshments and made Carol and Carolyn welcome, expressed their support and asked great questions. They emailed that they have lots of good memories from their NC visit and saw our state at its most beautiful. It’s “healing,” writes Carolyn, “to open the eyes of people before the natural gas industry knocks on their door.”

In the news:
“Two dairy farmers from Pennsylvania put a face on the international fracking debate Thursday by describing the personal, community and business risks they say are associated with the controversial natural gas extraction method.” -Ted Natt, The Pilot, “Effects Of Fracking Laid Out: Pa. Farmers Speak During SP Meeting” (Nov. 12)

“Geologists say six North Carolina counties have the potential for natural gas production, with the best prospects in Lee County. Getting that gas, using a process called fracking, has divided some local landowners and lawmakers.” -WRAL, “NC landowners, lawmakers divided over fracking” (Nov. 11)

Click for details on when you can hear Carol . . . → Read More: PA Dairy Farmers Speak in NC Nov 10, 11]]> Back by popular demand, Pennsylvania dairy farmers Carol French and Carolyn Knapp will speak about the impacts of shale gas drilling at a series of events next week in Wake, Moore and Durham counties. At Carol and Carolyn’s Sept. 10 presentation at our Annual Meeting, they impressed a lot of folks with their honesty and message of caution to NC based on their experiences in Bradford County, PA.

Click for details on when you can hear Carol and Carolyn speak in NC next week, or visit our events calendar!

Thursday, November 10, 11:45-1:15, Raleigh: NC Policy Watch is hosting a very special Crucial Conversation about potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing, featuring Carol and Carolyn along with Grady McCallie of . Junior League of Raleigh Building, 711 Hillsborough St. Box lunch $10. Click here to register for this event.

Thursday, November 10, 7:00 PM, Southern Pines. Day’s Inn, 805 SW Service Rd. (off Rt 1) “Living in Gasland, The Good, the Bad and The Ugly”, sponsored by Save Our Sandhills. Contact Save Our Sandhills at 910-315-1233 for info. Free.

November 11, 4:00 PM, Durham. Durham County Public Library Auditorium, 300 N. Roxboro St. Durham. “Neighbor to Neighbor: Do You Want Gasland, too?” Sponsored by Clean Water for NC. Refreshments served at 4:00, program starts at 4:30.