From SAFE’s historical archive
November 9, 2013
For Release: immediate 11/8/13
Contacts:
Bill Rau, IPA Spokesperson. Phone: (309) 662-1605
Annette McMichael, IPA and SAFE Spokesperson. Phone: (217) 273-1000
Dawn Dannenbring, IPA Staff Organizer on Fracking. (309) 827-9627 (office);
(309) 531-4433 (mobile)
PRESS RELEASE
Illinois People’s Action is calling out the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources for shutting the public and scientific community out of the
Statewide Hydraulic Fracturing task force. The Hydraulic Fracturing
Regulatory Act, which was signed into law by Governor Quinn on June 17 calls
for a task force with representatives from environmental groups, the oil and
gas industry and labor. IPA has obtained the names of the appointees, all
of whom represent groups supporting fracking. The “environmental”
appointees include:
* Ann Alexander: Senior Attorney NRDC
* Jenny Cassel: Staff Attorney, Environmental Law and Policy Center
* Terry Treacy: Conservation Field Representative, Sierra Club
* Brian Sauder: Policy Director, Faith in Place
“The ‘environmentalists’ are all lawyers and policy people. Not one
represents the scientific community.” said Annette McMichael, a member of
both Illinois People’s Action and its member group SAFE, Southern
Illinoisans Against Fracturing our Environment. “We’re extremely
disappointed that we haven’t been consulted anywhere along the line. The
individuals and groups they chose are the very ones who gave us a weak
regulatory bill in the first place. Shouldn’t the task force include
credible scientists and members of the public who might have a different
opinion? How good can the task force be if it’s all ‘Yes’ men.”
In three meetings with IDNR, the group encouraged the agency to involve
grassroots people, groups that were critical of fracking, and the scientific
community in its process. IPA is on the steering committee of Americans
Against Fracking and has access to nationally renowned scientists, including
Sandra Steingraber, Biologist and Illinois native, who testified before an
Illinois House subcommittee about the dangers of fracking and the problems
with the Illinois law. IDNR said that it would use IPA as a resource but
IPA has learned that the rule-making process is coming to an end without
IDNR ever reaching out to the group.
IPA has challenged IDNR to take the side of the people and the environment
on the issue of fracking. “Our leaders are only looking out for what is
in the best interest of Illinois residents and the environment,” said Dawn
Dannenbring, IPA Organizer. ” Section I-75(2) of the Hydraulic Fracturing
Regulatory Act states that, ‘All phases of high volume horizontal hydraulic
fracturing operations shall be conducted in a manner that shall not pose a
significant risk to public health, life, property, aquatic life, or
wildlife.’ But if the rules mirror much of the legislation, public health,
life, property, aquatic life and wildlife will all be at risk.”
IPA demands more transparency and public participation in the rule-making
process, including public hearings throughout the state in centralized
locations on days and at times that the public is able to participate.
The IDNR has worked overtime to prevent public participation in drafting the
administrative rules that will enforce the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing
Act,” said Bill Rau, IPA leader and spokesperson. “It has, for example,
refused almost all requests that IPA has made to open up the rule-making
process. Now rumor has it that IDNR intends to locate a public meeting on
these rules in Champaign, IL at the far eastern end of Central Illinois,
rather than in a centrally located city, like Bloomington. Its next move
may well be to schedule the “public” meeting at the most inconvenient
time–during the holidays. The IDNR is making a mockery out of the General
Assembly’s efforts to create a publically transparent process for the
Hydraulic Fracturing Law. What is happening is disgraceful.”
Illinois People’s Action is a faith and community based organization with
chapters in Bloomington/Normal, Springfield, Decatur, Peoria and Southern
Illinois. Its mission is to work on the causes of social, economic, and
environmental justice issues. It is a member of National People’s Action.