| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
Petition Tag - natural gas
1. Support Green Energy in New Jersey 
New Jersey produces 48% of its electricity from coal, natural gas, and petroleum, but only 1% from renewable sources of energy.
By switching from environmentally harmful sources to more environmentally friendly sources, the state can help reduce dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollution, and stimulate the economy by creating jobs and stimulate outside investment into the state.
2. Stop Fracking the Blackfeet
(**IMPORTANT NOTE** This petition is for NON-Blackfeet people who wish to support tribal members opposed to fracking within the Blackfeet Nation. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BLACKFEET TRIBE, GO HERE.)
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with members of Blackfeet Nation who are opposed to hydro-fracturing on the Blackfeet Reservation until a referendum is held. We are testifying that we hold in common the following two positions:
3. Ban Hydraulic Fracturing for natural gas in Ireland
We are calling on the Irish Government to immediately ban the process known as Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) in Ireland.
Hydraulic fracturing is the method used for the extraction of natural gas (shale gas) from the ground.
This horizontal drilling process involves the pumping of millions of gallons of water, mixed with hundreds of highly toxic chemicals, thousands of feet deep into the ground.
Already in the U.S.A and Australia, pollution caused by this process to land, to air, to surface water and to groundwater has resulted in a terrible health toll and catastrophic environmental damage. Countless cases of death have been reported among wildlife and livestock.
A litany of serious ‘fracking’ related health problems for people in communities in areas where this technology has been used have also come to light.
Because of this damning body of evidence, which includes academic reports (1), moratoria on ‘fracking’ have been put in place in the state of New York, in the state of New Jersey, in the North Rhine Westphalia (Germany), in South Africa. The French Government has recently banned hydraulic fracturing in France.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has only recently begun an investigation into the safety of the process. Their final report is not expected until 2014. At present in Ireland there is no regulation in existence that covers this extraction method, and there has been no research published into the potential consequences of such activity here.
Presently, a number of oil and gas companies who have already been granted exploratory licences, are preparing to use this process to profit from shale gas in the Lough Allen and Clare Basin Regions – an area which includes twelve counties (2).
If hydraulic fracturing is allowed the aftermath may be an irreversible disaster for us and our environment. It may result in the contamination of our water table and of Ireland’s most extensive and important river and lake network.
We will not allow the safety of our water and the health of our children to be put at risk.
1. See http://nofrackingireland.wordpress.com/reports/
2. Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry & Fermanagh (N.I.)
For more information on hydraulic fracturing in Ireland see:
http://what-the-frack.org/
There are also a number of Facebook pages and groups on fracking in Ireland.
Please see also:
http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/fracking/fracking.html
http://frackingfreeireland.org/
http://nofrackingireland.wordpress.com/
4. Keep Marcellus Shale gas drilling out of Pocahontas County WV
It seems that the gas extraction companies have their sites set on Pocahontas County WV. Many people are already aware of the environmental damge caused by the horizontal drilling for natural gas.
It can take as much as 5 million gallons of fresh water to fracture each well, and the process of drilling itself often poisons or depletes usuable groundwater from neighboring surface owner's drinking wells. Due to the "trade secrets" exemption, companies do not have to reveal the actual "fracking" chemicals used in the process of drilling, but common ones include liquid carbon dioxide, liquid nitrogen, crude oil, and kerosene amongst others. Who will answer for allowing "Nature's Mountain Playground" to become Natural Gas Industry's profit fueled wasteland?
With many people in Pocahontas County not owning the mineral rights to the land they live on and farm, and the ones who do sell recieving measly compensation for the future destruction of their land and water, any profit lies solely in the pocketbooks of the gas companies. Noise pollution, polluted streams, poisoned and depleted wells, ruined pastures and carelessly built roads do not have to be our future.
We can use the services of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund to keep natural gas drilling out of Pocahontas county.
5. Alaskan Workers Need Their Legislature's Support for Pt. Thomson Project
The Point Thomson Project has reached a major developmental target by safely completing two natural gas production wells. Final testing confirmed that the unique nature of these high pressured, highly productive wells will be essential to the successful development of an Alaskan gas pipeline.
While the Alaska gas pipeline itself may be still on the horizon, the facilities to produce the gas need to be developed now in preparation. There are years of work that will support hundreds of Alaskan families in construction of roads, airstrip, production pads, gas gathering, treatment facilities, site infrastructure and the drilling of additional production wells. The developers continue to move forward on the project with the construction of a 2010-2011 ice road, to remove drilling-phase material and components, in order to create the foundation for the future production site.
While the Project is advancing, the developer is working to settle with the State on the terms of a lease agreement for the Point Thomson Unit reserves. The developer is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and is awaiting approval from government agencies. The years of work to continue construction on this pad cannot begin until the lease agreement has been settled and the EIS has been approved.
Because of the short season in which construction can be responsibly carried out on the North Slope, a rigid timeline has been established. This makes the lease settlement and approval of the environmental impact study important to the project. Delays will cost many Alaskans good jobs in an already uncertain oil and gas industry.
As individuals we have seen the developer’s determined commitment to the safety of the workers and protecting the environment. We have witnessed their resolute intent and financial commitment towards the development of the Point Thomson project. Many of us feel we are finally seeing tangible progress for the future Alaska Gas Pipeline construction.
6. Stop Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling
Marcellus Shale, which harbors large amounts of natural gas, is found mostly in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio. Citizens of these states, and all across the country who may have friends or relatives in affected areas, please help combat the destruction of our safe drinking water, clean air and pristine land.
Leases to gas companies to drill for natural gas in Pennsylvania tripled in 2009. Leasing is a source of revenue for the state (for drilling in state forest areas) and also provides income for land owners who sign leases. The almighty dollar is usually the only thing people need to see to go ahead and sign a lease; however there are many potential and likely severe environmental impacts that come along with “Hydraulic Fracturing” (fracking) for natural gas in Marcellus Shale. A New York Times editorial says it best: “The safety of the nation’s water supply should not have to rely on luck or the public relations talents of the oil and gas industry”.
What exactly is fracking?
Hydraulic Fracturing was invented by Halliburton in the 1940’s. The method injects a mixture of sand, water, and chemicals (a large amount of them toxic) into deep underground rock formations to rupture them and release natural gas.
In 2005, a new Energy Bill was passed. That bill exempted gas companies and the Hydraulic Fracturing method from the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and the Superfund Law, among others. This is considered to be the “Halliburton loophole”, because the method of fracking was developed by Halliburton. Drilling activities now go on unregulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Problems related to fracking:
Toxic chemicals: about 250 of them are used in fracking fluids (which are injected into the ground along with millions of gallons of water). There is no definitive list, but they are known to include carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, corrosion inhibitors, gellants, glycol ethers, breaker aids, and petroleum distillates to name a few. According to The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), 16 of the known chemicals used have health effects in at least 10 categories.
Wastewater: the millions of gallons of water infused with toxic chemicals create hazardous wastewater. In West Virginia, the wastewater is allowed to be injected deep underground. In Pennsylvania, wastewater is trucked to wastewater treatment plants, and after being processed is dumped back into our waterways. Wastewater contains a large amount of salts, which is difficult to treat. This results in processed water that has a high level of total dissolved solids (TDS). High TDS water reacts with Chlorine when processed at drinking water plants, creating Trihalomethanes in our water, which is considered carcinogenic.
Methane Gas and water wells: the Pennsylvania DEP has linked drilling operations in Dimock, Pa to a well explosion there and Methane being in the drinking water in the area. Other instances of Methane in drinking water have occurred across the county, including an entire house exploding near Cleveland, Ohio and residents in Colorado who could light their tap water on fire.
Air pollution/smog: not only a product of the many diesel trucks used to transport materials in drilling operations, but vapor emissions escaping from a natural gas well have been caught videotape with an infrared camera in Texas (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiU4ehXV-LI). These emissions are invisible to the naked eye, and contain a number of toxins.
Concrete well barriers: in most gas drilling operations, the well’s steel pipe is encased in layers of concrete to protect groundwater, and it’s extremely important in protecting water supplies. Pennsylvania currently has no regulations that require inspection or testing of concrete casings.
Fish kills: chemical spills and wastewater dumping in streams and creeks have already produced a few fish kills in Pennsylvania. In one case, Dunkard Creek (which is located along the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in the western part of the state) had an entire ecosystem of 161 species of fish, mussels, salamanders, crayfish and aquatic insects wiped out suddenly (see article below*). Chemical analysis of creek water showed extremely high levels of TDS and chlorides in the water, which are properties of gas drilling wastewater.
Wastewater impoundments: between being used in drilling a well and moving to treatment plants, wastewater is stored in lined earthen impoundments. If seams of the liner material aren’t sealed properly, the water can seep into groundwater. People living near impoundments have also complained about bad smells emitted from the water pits.
We could continue to sacrifice the safety of our water supply and naively believe what the industry is telling us, that fracking is basically safe. After all, they do stand to make millions off the gas extracted from Marcellus Shale. But the most important question to ask is, how important will all that lease money be when we have no safe water to drink, to shower in, to cook with etc. What good will that money do if you drink contaminated water and develop cancer from it years from now? Money should not be more important than health and public welfare.
Please take the time to watch the videos below.
Videos by Josh Fox (http://www.gaslandthemovie.com):
http://www.vimeo.com/4731913
http://www.vimeo.com/4680635
To read more about the impacts of drilling visit:
http://www.marcellus-shale.us/
Gas Drilling - What We Don't Know
*www.post-gazette.com/pg/09263/999458-113.stm
7. Bring Natural Gas Service to the Residents of Country Club Village and the Canadian Golf Course
Country Club Village is an upscale residential community located about 15 minutes west of Ottawa near the town of Ashton Ontario. The community currently has approximately 150 residential homes on 2 acre lots.
The community is also surrounded by the Canadian Golf and Country Club, and many of the homes back onto some of the 27 holes that encompass the golf course and neighborhood.
Our neighborhood is not currently served by any Natural Gas suppliers, and as a result all of the homes have to rely on Propane Gas for heating. Enbridge is currently expanding their Natural Gas distribution to an area that is approximately 1.5 KM from the Country Club Village neighborhood.
8. Tell Congress to Support Domestic Energy Production (1)
Dear Representative,
As landowners, mineral owners, oil & gas professionals, and concerned citizens, we have much at stake in this nation's domestic energy policy. Our region and its people are working hard to fuel our nation's energy independence. However, with our energy sector suffering through a financially challenging period, we ask that you not "kick" our industry while it is down.
As you consider the budget for the fiscal year 2010, we ask that you reject any policy or legislation that would hamper the well being of our domestic energy industry. Collectively, we are concerned with the following proposals in President Obama’s 2010 budget proposal;
- The elimination of tax mechanisms crucial to capital formation for drilling;
- The repeal of the manufacturers' tax deduction for the percentage depletion allowance;
- The repeal of the enhanced oil recovery credit;
- An imposed excise tax on Gulf of Mexico production;
- An increase in the geological and geophysical amortization period;
- Charges to oil and gas producers for user fees and processing permits to allow drilling on federal lands; and
- The reinstatement of the Superfund tax on refiners and petrochemical manufacturers that would bring into government coffers, a total $17.2 billion from 2011-19.
As Congress debates the 2010 budget, please know that the legislation you pass will affect the millions of citizens working to make our nation’s energy independence a reality. Thank you for your consideration.
9. Tell Congress to Support Domestic Energy Production
Dear Representative,
As landowners, mineral owners, oil & gas professionals, and concerned citizens, we have much at stake in this nation's domestic energy policy. Our region and its people are working hard to fuel our nation's energy independence. However, with our energy sector suffering through a financially challenging period, we ask that you not "kick" our industry while it is down.
As you consider the budget for the fiscal year 2010, we ask that you reject any policy or legislation that would hamper the well being of our domestic energy industry. Collectively, we are concerned with the following proposals in President Obama’s 2010 budget proposal;
- The elimination of tax mechanisms crucial to capital formation for drilling;
- The repeal of the manufacturers' tax deduction for the percentage depletion allowance;
- The repeal of the enhanced oil recovery credit;
- An imposed excise tax on Gulf of Mexico production;
- An increase in the geological and geophysical amortization period;
- Charges to oil and gas producers for user fees and processing permits to allow drilling on federal lands; and
- The reinstatement of the Superfund tax on refiners and petrochemical manufacturers that would bring into government coffers, a total $17.2 billion from 2011-19.
As Congress debates the 2010 budget, please know that the legislation you pass will affect the millions of citizens working to make our nation’s energy independence a reality. Thank you for your consideration.
10. Natural Gas Supply to ALL Gisborne residents
A large number of Gisborne residents will receive natural gas to their homes by February 2008.
However, there is another section of Gisborne which is located over the Calder Freeway, Emmeline Drive, Panorama Drive, and McGregor Road which is home to a large number of residents. These residents are not listed to receive the much needed natural gas to their homes.
11. Stop The Mackenzie Pipeline
The Mackenzie Pipeline is a multibillion-dollar pipeline construction project which the federal government and gas companies have planned to transport the billions of cubic metres of oil and gas that have been found in Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay and in Canada’s Mackenzie Delta.
The reasons that this petition opposes the Mackenzie Pipeline are outlined below:
1) The pipeline, which is planned to be built 6 feet above ground, will ruin the migration patterns of elk and caribou meaning they will not be able to get to the right food at the right time causing their population to slowly decline.
2) Building it in the proposed location will destroy one of the worlds last great pristine wildernesses.
3) The Mackenzie Pipeline’s proposed use is to acquire natural gas for vast quantities of natural gas are required in the Alberta oil sands operations. The gas is burned to create steam which is then injected underground to loosen the oil therefore allowing it to be pumped to the surface. The oil sands presently burn around 600 million cubic feet of natural gas a day. In a decade, as oil production doubles, it could rise to 1.2 billion cubic feet, which is about the planned capacity of the Mackenzie pipeline. In other words, the clean gas delivered by the pipeline would be used to create a dirty fuel, oil, which is intended to be burned in cars and SUVs.
12. Petition To Rescind ONG's Franchise Agreement
Oklahoma Natural Gas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ONEOK and has violated the public trust by manipulating natural gas prices and over charging consumers. ONG has franchise agreements with a number of cities in Oklahoma and we the voters should be given the opportunity to rescind these agreements. No one should be forced to do business with crooks!