Coffee Party learns about hydro-fracking

An example of a hydrofracking site in New York

The Coffee Party, a national response to the infamous “Tea Party” movement, is a group who wants to see co-operation and positive solutions in government. A local chapter meets on the second Saturday of the month in Bridgewater.

On Saturday morning August 14, about 35 folks showed up to learn about the current status of the controversial natural gas mining process known as “hydro-fracking” in Rockingham county. The presenter was Kim Sandum, director of the Community Alliance for Preservation, or CAP.

Hydraulic fracturing, or “hydro-fracking,” is an industrial-scale process that involves injecting toxic chemicals, sand, and millions of gallons of water under high pressure directly into shale formations. This toxic brew, along with any natural gas, is then extracted, or leaked to the surface. There is great potential for contamination of sources of drinking water, among other hazards, including destruction or damage of national forest and small county roads.

Currently, there are no such operations in Viriginia, but it has been approved on a state level. Leases have been signed by about 800 property owners, involving about 10,000 acres in western Rockingham county. However, the process must be approved at the county level by the Board of Supervisors before it can proceed. On February 24, 2010, the County Board of Supervisors tabled a motion for a special use permit for a test well near Bergton. Sandum said she was impressed by the County’s commitment to researching this issue. It is unclear when the issue might be “untabled,” but it is important that the supervisors hear from local residents about their concerns.

It’s a big learning curve, Sandum continued. It’s hard to know what are the right questions to ask. And it’s hard to get it all in one picture—verbally, or in a photo. For example, when she visited the site in WV, there were impacts at the site itself, access roads, and possibly the water table underground. This industry doesn’t need to meet the same standards for water quality and safety as even farmers do. And, the proposed test well in Bergton is in a flood plane, and yet there was no satisfactory plan for the contingency of a flood.

The kind of shale formations that lend itself to this form of gas mining are found in Ohio, PA, NY, and West Virginia, and the entire western region of Virginia. Because of the dangers to the public water supply, there is currently a moratorium on hydro-fracking in New York. Pennsylvania has had some problems, including an explosion of one mine, and is currently trying to impose more regulations on the industry.

While we currently are not at the “decision point” re the proposed test well in Bergton, it is important for local residents to let their county supervisors know about their concerns. It is also important to give input to the Forest Service, currently accepting public comments on their 15-year revision plan.

This post was submitted by Diana Woodall.

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