For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Montgomery County Councilmember
Marc Elrich’s statement on resolution
urging Maryland to ban fracking
ROCKVILLE, Md., February 14, 2017—Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved a resolution, introduced by Councilmember Marc Elrich, urging the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Hogan to enact a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing and other types of “Unconventional Gas Development and Production.” The resolution was co-sponsored by Council President Roger Berliner, Vice President Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Tom Hucker, George Leventhal, Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice.
Following approval of the resolution, Councilmember Elrich said, “We have banned fracking in Montgomery County. But that is not enough. We have an obligation to work with our state leaders and convince them that fracking is a disaster for the environment and bad news for the economy, both locally and globally.”
The complete text of a statement from Councilmember Elrich on approval of the resolution:
“We have banned fracking in Montgomery County. But that is not enough. We have an obligation to work with our state leaders and convince them that fracking is a disaster for the environment and bad news for the economy, both locally and globally.
“It has become increasingly clear that Unconventional Gas Development and Production, done through hydraulic fracturing known as ‘fracking’ poses grave public health and environmental hazards. In 2015, the General Assembly passed a two-year moratorium on fracking, which will expire this year. Without further action, fracking could begin in Maryland as soon as this fall.
“Many of the disastrous effects of fracking are irreversible. Methane, a primary component of natural gas and a potent contributor to climate change, leaks from fracking industry sites. Additionally, studies have shown a clear association between fracking and premature births, high-risk pregnancies, migraine headaches, asthma exacerbations and more. Fracking also uses toxic chemicals which can contaminate water, and worsen air quality.
“There are no safeguards (or regulations) that can be enacted to allow fracking while also adequately protect human health and the environment. Our focus needs to be on alternative energy sources to generate green jobs, which are good for the environment and good for the Maryland economy. We need to resolve this issue once and for all and ban fracking in Maryland.”
The resolution can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/hcl8h75
For information from the Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, including The Health Effects of Fracking, go to: http://tinyurl.com/jlvwfwy
To view the Food and Water Watch information on The Urgent Case for a Ban on Fracking, go to: http://tinyurl.com/zyyq92u
# # # # Release ID: 17-046