EDF Statement on North Carolina Shale Gas Drilling

(Raleigh, NC – May 29, 2014) The North Carolina House today passed Senate Bill 786, a bill that lifts the prohibition on issuing permits for oil and gas development in the state. The following statement may be attributed to David Kelly, senior analyst in the Raleigh regional office of Environmental Defense Fund:

“Lawmakers jumped the gun by voting to allow permitting. Legislators assured North Carolinians that the state would establish safeguards that would be among the best in the country.

Some of the rules are strong, like those on well construction. Others miss the mark. The proposed wastewater rules mistakenly allow treated wastewater from oil and gas operations to be discharged into rivers and streams. What’s troubling is that the state has no water quality standards for many of the contaminants in the wastewater.

“If drilling comes to our state, we deserve assurance that it will not come at the expense of our health or environment. We can learn from the experiences of other states, and we can do better.”