Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination

News

  • EPA Finalizes Fracking Report
    December 13, 2016
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its scientific report on the impacts of fracking on drinking water resources on Tuesday. The report is intended to provide states and other entities the scientific foundation to better protect drinking water resources in areas where fracking is occurring or being considered. The report was requested by Congress and provides scientific evidence that fracking activities can impact drinking water resources. EPA identified conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe. The report also identifies uncertainties and data gaps. These uncertainties and data gaps limited EPA’s ability to fully assess impacts to drinking water resources both locally and nationally. The oil and gas industry is, of course, highlighting these data gaps in it’s response to the report. These final conclusions are based upon the EPA’s review of over 1,200 cited scientific sources; feedback from an independent peer review conducted by EPA’s Science Advisory Board; input from engaged stakeholders; and new research conducted as part of the study. “The value of high quality science has never been more important in helping to guide decisions around our nation’s fragile water resources. EPA’s assessment provides the scientific foundation for local decision makers, industry, and communities that are looking to protect public health and drinking water resources and make more informed decisions about hydraulic fracturing activities,” said Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA’s Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This assessment is the most complete compilation to date of national scientific data on the relationship of drinking water resources and hydraulic fracturing.” EPA identified cases of impacts on drinking water at each stage in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Impacts cited in the report generally occurred near hydraulically fractured oil and gas production wells. Impacts included contamination that made private drinking water wells unusable. As part of the report, EPA identified certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, including:
    • Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources;
    • Spills during the management of hydraulic fracturing fluids and chemicals or produced water that result in large volumes or high concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources;
    • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to groundwater resources;
    • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources;
    • Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater to surface water resources; and
    • Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in unlined pits, resulting in contamination of groundwater resources.
    For a copy of the study, visit www.epa.gov/hfstudy.
  • Snyder appoints former BP Exec to head DEQ
    July 14, 2016
    Today, Governor Rick Snyder appointed Heidi Grether, the former executive of BP America, as the new director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Grether is the currently the deputy Director of the Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE). Deepwater_Horizon_Oil_Spill_-_Gulf_of_Mexico BP is responsible for one of the largest marine oil spills in history after an oil well deep in the Gulf of Mexico exploded in 2010. In her former role at BP, Grether was in charge of supervising Gulf Coast restoration efforts. In April 2014, BP claimed that cleanup was substantially complete, but the United States Coast Guard said that a lot of work remained. Reports from individuals on the Gulf Coast indicate the same. 4677801702_f4d61c98ea_b While the administration is attempting to greenwash the appointee, enviro and other justice organizations around the state aren’t taking the bait. “I am infuriated but not shocked that Snyder chose to appoint someone who had a hand in one of the worst man-made water disasters and cleanup failures in history to head the MDEQ,” said Melissa Mays, Flint resident and activist with Water You Fighting For and Flint Rising. “We have spoken with residents who are still affected by the BP disaster and they expressed concern that Flint water will also not get cleaned up properly. As we sit here in Flint, still unable to safely use our water, reading about who Snyder handpicked to run the MDEQ, we see those fears are more likely to be realized.” “Snyder’s decision to yet again side with corporate polluters over protecting peoples’ health and safety continues to show his callous indifference to the suffering of Flint families and all Michiganders that have been harmed by the culture of putting the bottom-line first at the MDEQ,” said Lynna Kaucheck, senior organizer with Food & Water Watch. And in our own office, CACC board member and volunteer coordinator Jennifer Raymond was quoted as saying, “Snyder’s actions clearly underscore the need for grassroots environmental efforts as our civic leaders are clearly not prioritizing the needs of the environment around us.”
    [caption id="attachment_474" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Clouds of smoke billow up from controlled burns taking place in the Gulf of Mexico May 19, 2010. The controlled burns were set to reduce the amount of oil in the water following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (DoD photo by Chief Petty Officer John Kepsimelis, U.S. Coast Guard/Released) Clouds of smoke billow up from controlled burns taking place in the Gulf of Mexico (DoD photo by Chief Petty Officer John Kepsimelis, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)[/caption]
    http://flintrising.com/blog-post/snyder-appoints-former-bp-executive-mdeq-director/ https://fenvalleyearthfirst.wordpress.com/2016/07/14/former-bp-executive-appointed-to-direct-michigan-department-of-environmental-quality/
    http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/07/gov_rick_snyder_appoints_forme.html
  • Environmental Risks from Michigan Oil and Gas Development – What Can We DO?
    October 8, 2014
    [caption id="attachment_31" align="alignleft" width="178"]Chris Grobbel, Ph.D Chris Grobbel, Ph.D Photo by: Marian Kromkowski[/caption]   Christopher Grobbel, Ph. D. gave a presentation to CACC’s General Membership Meeting on October 4, 2014: “Environmental Risks from Michigan Oil and Gas Development – What Can We Do?” His powerful presentation gives some basic history of the oil and gas industry in Michigan and also lists important tools that local communities can utilize to help protect their watersheds. Among these tools are: local zoning laws, the Public Trust Doctrine and environmental protections in place through the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA). Christopher Grobbel is a practicing environmental consultant based in Traverse City and an adjunct professor, teaching environmental science, law and policy at MSU since 1992. He has graciously allowed CACC to post his presentation on our website.
  • Groups call on Snyder: Take immediate action to protect Straits
    October 6, 2014
    October 06, 2014 Groups working on the Oil & Water Don’t Mix initiative call a press conference to tell Governor Snyder to take immediate, meaningful action to prevent a pipeline oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac. The press conference took place Monday, October 6, 2014 at 10:30AM at the offices of the Michigan Environmental Council. Read/download the press release here. View video here: Underwater footage of the oil pipeline and a TV spot are . University of Michigan simulation of a straits oil spill . For more information, including the Oil & Water Don’t Mix campaign fact sheet, “Challenging Enbridge’s Line 5 Oil Pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac” visit this site. CACC supports the work of For Love of Water (FLOW) and is a member of the Michigan Environmental Coalition (MEC). Both MEC and FLOW are coalition members of the Oil and Water Don’t Mix Campaign.