Protect Public Lands from Toxic Natural Gas Drilling

Target: Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar and Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey

Goal: Eliminate hydraulic fracturing on public lands.

Oil and gas companies are leasing gas drilling rights on millions of acres of land American taxpayers own. They obtain the rights in order to extract natural gas from shale deposits underlying significant portions of the United States using a method called hydraulic fracturing (also called fracking or hydro-fracking). Activists and experts have called these leases one of the largest transfers of public land to support private interest in history.

During the hydraulic fracturing process, drillers inject millions of gallons of water, sand, and a “proprietary blend” of chemicals into the ground to free natural gas trapped within shale. These chemicals may pose a threat to ground water supplies, wild animals, and humans relying on nearby waterways or wells for their water supply. Additionally, the drilling rigs and caps mar the pristine landscape of taxpayer owned properties, releasing toxic chemicals into the air. The process further results in huge open ponds of toxic wastewater, which may leak additional poisons into the environment or serve as a chemical-filled watering hole for local wildlife.

While the oil and gas industry maintains hydraulic fracturing is completely safe, a recent study shows significantly higher concentrations of methane, ethane, propane, and butane in the well water of homeowners near active gas wells.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently considering placing tighter rules and regulations on hydraulic fracturing on public lands. While these regulations may be a good first step, vastly limiting or prohibiting hydraulic fracturing on taxpayer owned land is the only way to protect this important national asset. Sign the petition below to demand that the BLM severely limit or disallow hydraulic fracturing on public land.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Secretary Salazar and Director Abbey:

Hydraulic fracturing on public lands is not in America’s best interest. American taxpayers own the public lands, and they have entrusted you with their stewardship. Allowing environmentally toxic activity like hydraulic fracturing benefits the oil and gas companies, not the Americans who pay for the land. Studies show it harms the water supply, and it poses a threat the local wildlife and environment.

I know you are considering increasing regulation on hydraulic fracturing. While this is a good first step, it does not go far enough. It’s time to rethink letting the oil and gas companies make private profits at the public expense. Stop allowing them to destroy public lands with hydraulic fracturing.

Please be the good stewards American taxpayers trust you to be. Eliminate hydraulic fracturing on BLM-managed lands.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Will Go Here]