HomeMy WebLinkAbout20142115.tiff Jennifer Fuller
From: Fort Collins Audubon Membership [fortcollinsaudubonmembership@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 8:36 PM
To: Jennifer Fuller; Mike Freeman; Douglas Rademacher; Barbara Kirkmeyer; Sean Conway;
William Garcia
Subject: Fwd: Position Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing
Attachments: FCAS Letterhead Position Statement_Hydraulic Fracturing on PNG.doc; FCAS Letter of
Concern_PNG_Hydraulic Fracturing.doc.pdf
Hello Weld County Commissioners,
The Board of the Fort Collins Audubon Society would like to share our position statement on Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil
and Gas Development on the Pawnee National Grassland with you. Fort Collins Audubon Society draws membership from
all over northern CO, with nearly 1100 members in our chapter, many from communities in Weld County. The concerns
we express in our statement are certainly not limited to the Pawnee National Grassland. They would apply to any
hydraulic fracturing operations which could impact communities all over Weld County. Given the recent earthquakes in
Greeley and the order to stop disposing of waste water from fracking operations in the high pressure well nearby, we are
sure our statement will be of interest to you. We are enclosing a letter of concern which provides a bit more detail along
with our position statement.
Fort Collins Audubon is also sending out these two documents to express our concerns to the COGCC, the Forest Service
Manager of Pawnee National Grassland, county commissioners for Larimer County, Governor Hickenlooper, our local State
and Federal elected officials, and the mayors of other communities within the area.
We urge the Weld County Commissioners to provide leadership on protecting the health and well-being for all the
inhabitants of northern Colorado.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors of the Fort Collins Audubon Society
J
2014-2115
1
FORT COLLINS AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. Box 271968, Fort Collins, CO 80527-1968
fortcollinsaudubonmembership@gmail.com www.fortnet.org/Audubon
Promoting the appreciation, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems, focusing on birds
and other wildlife, through education, participation, stewardship, and advocacy.
March 12,2014
Fort Collins Audubon Society Position Statement on Hydraulic Fracturing(Fracking) on
the Pawnee National Grassland
The Fort Collins Audubon Society has concerns about hydraulic fracturing(fracking) of shale gas,
shale oil, and coal-bed methane (CBM) on the Pawnee National Grassland.
Whereas the Colorado Division of Wildlife documented both indirect and direct effects of intensive
oil and gas drilling on wildlife, which were population declines and effects in mortality numbers;
Whereas fracking could cause contamination of surface and groundwater with toxic chemicals which
are known to cause cancer, neurological and/or respiratory problems and increase the concentration
of methane and radioactive materials occurring naturally in shale and coal;
Whereas fracking pumps huge amounts of fresh water underground, which becomes irretrievable
and/or contaminated, leading to water scarcity;
Whereas drilling operations produce particulate matter, methane and natural gas, compromising air
quality;
Whereas toxic emissions can damage forage and food crops;
Whereas shale gas and CBM may not have lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to
conventional fossil fuels;
Whereas development of shale gas and shale oil will be at the expense of safer policies involving
renewable energy;
Whereas increased building activity, drilling sites and new roads throughout the Pawnee National
Grassland will disturb and potentially destroy the landscape;
Whereas improper disposal of drill cuttings and radioactive flow-back can end up in wastewater
treatment plants and/or landfills;
Whereas fracking sites generate noise pollution that affects wildlife;
Whereas fracking increases the risk of earthquakes, which increases the risk for damage to, and
leakages from, gas wells;
Therefore be it resolved that due to the combined and cumulative health and environmental impacts
on communities and wildlife, the Fort Collins Audubon Society requests no additional shale gas,
shale oil, and coal-bed methane activities proceed on the Pawnee National Grassland.
FORT COLLINS AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. Box 271968, Fort Collins, CO 80527-1968
fortcollinsaudubonmembership@gmail.com www.fortnet.org/Audubon
Promoting the appreciation. conservation, and restoration of ecosystems. focusing on birds
and other wildlife. through education, participation, stewardship and advocacy•
Fort Collins Audubon Society
P.O. Box 271968
Fort Collins, CO 80527-1968
April 20, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
RE: Fort Collins Audubon Society Concerns Regarding the Practice and Effects of Hydraulic
Fracturing on the Pawnee National Grassland
The Fort Collins Audubon Society (FCAS) submits this letter documenting concerns regarding
the practice and effects of oil and gas development, including hydraulic fracturing(fracking) on
the Pawnee National Grassland (PNG). The Pawnee National Grassland is a highlight destination
of any birding trip to Colorado as well as being considered "globally significant" by the
American Bird Conservancy. More than 300 species of birds have been counted on the PNG,
which provides staging areas for both migratory and resident species such as burrowing owls,
mountain plovers and lark buntings(Colorado's state bird).
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has documented both indirect and direct effects of intensive
oil and gas drilling on wildlife. Indirect effects have been noted in population declines and direct
effects are seen in mortality numbers. Greatest mortality has been documented in waterfowl.
Reserve or production pits at drilling sites contain oily hydrocarbons and toxic substances such
as benzene, which are highly detrimental and/or fatal to waterfowl and other birds. Increased
industrial activity discourages mating and breeding activities, and stress can cause adult birds to
abandon eggs and even young. Such breeding losses will result in population declines over time.
Fort Collins Audubon Society believes that much of the data provided by the oil and gas industry
is general in nature and is not transparent as to the numbers and locations of active, inactive,
abandoned, and proposed oil and gas wells. Furthermore, there is a lack of transparency involved
in disclosure of actual chemicals used in the process of hydraulic fracturing. We are concerned
that the public as well as FCAS will not have reasonable opportunity to comment at key
decision-making points in the process of approving hydraulic fracturing activities, especially in
relation to its potential effects on bird life on the PNG.
FORT COLLINS AUDUBON SOCIETY
In addition, the Fort Collins Audubon Society also wishes to document the following concerns
regarding hydraulic fracturing on the Pawnee National Grassland:
• Water Pollution: Fracking could cause the contamination of surface and groundwater
(including drinking water) with toxic chemicals such as trimethylbenzenes, xylenes, and
aliphatic hydrocarbons which are known to cause cancer, neurological and/or respiratory
problems, as well as increasing the concentration in such water of methane and
radioactive materials which occur naturally in shale and coal;
• Water Use: Fracking involves pumping huge amounts of fresh water underground, much
of which becomes irretrievable and/or contaminated, leading to both social and
environmental pressures on the Pawnee National Grassland, which suffers from water
scarcity;
• Air Pollution: Drilling operations produce particulate matter, methane and natural gas
and air quality may be compromised; methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, may
contribute to climate change;
• Soil Pollution: Toxic emissions can damage forage and food crops; disturbance of the
soil surface can result in erosion, loss of topsoil and increase in invasive weeds;
• Climate: Scientific evidence/agreement is lacking on shale gas and CBM that shows
them to have significantly lowergreenhousegas emissions compared to conventional
g Y P
fossil fuels;
• Energy: Development of shale gas and shale oil will be at the expense of safer policies
involving renewable energy;
• Land Use: Increased building activity, drilling sites, and new roads laced throughout the
Pawnee National Grassland will disturb and potentially destroy the landscape;
• Improper Disposal: Improper disposal of drill cuttings and radioactive flow-back can
end up in wastewater treatment plants and/or landfills;
• Noise: Fracking sites generate noise pollution from equipment and transport that affects
local residents, agricultural livestock and wildlife;
• Seismic Activity: Fracking increases the risk of earthquakes, which in turn increases the
risk for damage to, and leakages from, gas wells;
• Cumulative and Combined Health and Environmental Impacts on Communities
and Wildlife: Fracking causes additional exposure to toxic chemicals known to be
harmful;
• Socioeconomic Impacts: Fracking can drive "boom and bust" cycles in local economies,
undermining more sustainable agricultural and tourism economies;
• Land Rights' Issues: Fracking involves both vertical and horizontal drilling; disputes
over access to certain segments of land both above and below ground will become more
common on the Pawnee National Grassland.
The Fort Collins Audubon Society is concerned for the Pawnee National Grassland and its
wildlife, in particular the birds. FCAS asks that the companies involved in hydraulic fracturing
seek wise development of oil and natural gas through sound engineering practices that protect the
environment, prevent pollution, and ensure the safety of both the public and wildlife.
FORT COLLINS AUDUBON SOCIETY
Thank you for this opportunity to comment and express our concerns. The FCAS would be
pleased to respond to any questions you may have about our concerns.
Sincerely,
1 -nzkv /l-l41-2 -21
Joann Thomas
President, Fort Collins Audubon Society
(970)482-7125
ithornas91@aol.com
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