SHALE DAILY
Illinois County in New Albany Shale Rejects Fracking Measure
Richard Nemec March 19, 2014
By a 58% margin, voters in a Southern Illinois county in the New Albany Shale, on Tuesday rejected a nonbinding measure about whether local elected officials should oppose the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for unconventional drilling. Meanwhile, the state has yet to enact updated drilling rules, leaving producers waiting.
By a 58-42% margin (2,223-1,602), Johnson County voters said no to the recommendation. The Illinois Oil and Gas Association (IOGA) didn't enter the fray before the vote, leaving it to a citizens group to oppose the measure. IOGA Executive Vice President Brad Richards said the measure sought to ban "corporate fracking."
Gov. Pat Quinn last June signed the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act into law, and the state's regulators are preparing final rules (see Shale Daily, Jan. 3). The rules would govern fracking and the state's mining industry that include registration and permitting procedures; well site preparation/construction; water quality; chemical disclosure and trade secrets; and exploration and development preparations.
The formation underlies a substantial portion of the southern part of the state. Johnson County sits on the fringe of the New Albany, which many people are hoping will revitalize this once fossil fuel-dominated area. Proponents of fracking argued that the industry would challenge in court any locally enacted ban, while opponents raised fears of environmental and water contamination problems.
Richards said the initiative is the only one in the southern part of the state, and no oil or gas ever has been produced in Johnson County using conventional drilling. With the advent of shale, one exploration and production company leased about 200 parcels in the county for potential unconventional drilling, he said.
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Illinois County in New Albany Shale Rejects Fracking Measure
Richard Nemec March 19, 2014
By a 58% margin, voters in a Southern Illinois county in the New Albany Shale, on Tuesday rejected a nonbinding measure about whether local elected officials should oppose the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for unconventional drilling. Meanwhile, the state has yet to enact updated drilling rules, leaving producers waiting.
By a 58-42% margin (2,223-1,602), Johnson County voters said no to the recommendation. The Illinois Oil and Gas Association (IOGA) didn't enter the fray before the vote, leaving it to a citizens group to oppose the measure. IOGA Executive Vice President Brad Richards said the measure sought to ban "corporate fracking."
Gov. Pat Quinn last June signed the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act into law, and the state's regulators are preparing final rules (see Shale Daily, Jan. 3). The rules would govern fracking and the state's mining industry that include registration and permitting procedures; well site preparation/construction; water quality; chemical disclosure and trade secrets; and exploration and development preparations.
The formation underlies a substantial portion of the southern part of the state. Johnson County sits on the fringe of the New Albany, which many people are hoping will revitalize this once fossil fuel-dominated area. Proponents of fracking argued that the industry would challenge in court any locally enacted ban, while opponents raised fears of environmental and water contamination problems.
Richards said the initiative is the only one in the southern part of the state, and no oil or gas ever has been produced in Johnson County using conventional drilling. With the advent of shale, one exploration and production company leased about 200 parcels in the county for potential unconventional drilling, he said.
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