Sierra Club's N.C. chapter launching campaign against fracking : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

FAYETTEVILLE — The state chapter of the Sierra Club is launching a campaign today to call attention to a controversial method of drilling for natural gas known as fracking.

Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a horizontal method of drilling that uses chemicals and water to fracture rock formations and release gas. It is illegal in North Carolina, but a state agency is studying the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of shale gas exploration and development in the state.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources plans to release a draft report in March with its final document expected by May.

Scientists believe prehistoric rock formations beneath Lee and surrounding counties contain large deposits of natural gas.

Opponents of fracking are concerned about environmental and safety issues. Supporters believe it will give the region an economic boost.

Dustin Chicurel-Bayard, a spokesman for the N.C. Sierra Club, said the chapter's campaign is called "The Fracking Truth." A website at TheDailyFrack.com will be available at 7 a.m. today.

The site will include resources about fracking, including scientific studies, Chicurel-Bayard said. It also will have maps showing where fracking could take place in North Carolina, he said.

In addition, the website will have news about fracking, as well as give people an opportunity to share their views and ask questions, he said.

"It's a conversation starter to get people talking," Chicurel-Bayard said.

An Elon University Poll released in November found that North Carolinians are not focused on news about fracking, with 53 percent saying they had paid "not very much" attention or "none at all."

ravencottage

January 25, 2012 - 7:26 am EST

The Sierra Club has zero credibility on this or any other issue.

hugh

January 25, 2012 - 7:39 am EST

For a variety of reasons, the NC slate belt has a pitiful chance of ever being put into production for coal bed methane.

madisonman

January 25, 2012 - 7:52 am EST

No basic problem with environmentalist and yes we should be good stewards of what the Lord has put under our control, but just can't find any environmentalists to help low income and fixed income folks pay their gas bills when they come due. Great compassion for the earth, but is that what we are called to do? What about your neighbor?

itsjustron

January 25, 2012 - 8:07 am EST

Sierra Club... I cant tell you how much I despise this group..As a matter of fact if I woke up tomorrow and found the group to be disbanded, id be very happy.. If a tree they were hugging fell on them, GREAT!... If the little tent they were sleeping in by the river suddenly got flooded and they got washed away, No problem! O.k Overley dramatic but I Really, REALLY hate this group..

BUT.. They are right on this.. my firm has studied this , because we would have went after some of the water monitoring work, and its just bad.. Theres nothing here to justifiy Fracking.. and the up to 2 million gallons of water needed to drill and frack is often not available in a state that suffers drought after drought..
Ive written extensively about this in other posts, so I'll not do it again.. but its wrong for this area.

January 25, 2012 - 8:55 am EST

This process maybe economically impractical for this area but it is not for many places in this country. The process has been used safely for decades and is currently beginning in southern Illinois...maybe your company should explore its options there.

Bosco

January 25, 2012 - 9:08 am EST

Tell the Sierra Club to go frack themselves

infolit

January 25, 2012 - 1:42 pm EST

Republicans will back fracking regardless of the science behind it (like they do everything else that involves making a quick buck).

January 25, 2012 - 3:53 pm EST

Thanks for proving you know nothing about this technique. The use of the word "quick" to relate to fracking is absurd! By the way my information comes directly from trusted friends with boots on the ground where the process is and has been taking place.

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