Petition Tag - water pollution

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/

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INTRODUCTORY NOTES (Details to Follow):

1. If the county so deems this site to be "appropriately placed" right next to a residential development, your neighborhood will be next. The next developer will say, they did it, why can't we, and this will mark the beginning of the onslaught of industrial development coming to our county, showing up in an undirectd fashion if the county doesn't better mark areas which actually are appropriate. We'll soon be an industrial empire. Let me also add that Port Wentworth planners are finished with industrial development, so the next best place is in our back yards. Mark my words, if this county doesn't start organizing themselves and setting proper restrictions to protect its citizens, you can kiss this nice, family oriented community good-bye.

2. We need your attendance to the hearing on March 18th, and I cannot express this enough. they need to see that we really do care with the largest numbers possible, and how else can we show them that this is a community issue if the entire community does not go?

LOCATION:
Proposed development extends from properties on the north side of Goshen Rd to Chatham-Effingham County line & from Hwy 21 to CSX Railroad. MASSIVE AREA COMPARED TO NEARBY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS

PROPOSED PLAN
New Property Zoning: PLANNED DEVELOPMENT-INDUSTRIAL
• Proposed rezoning: Allows for owner to section out industrial lots with warehouses in place if plan is approved by county who has no knowledge of who will buy. NO PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS on what may/may not be housed in the warehouses (hazardous chemicals included).
• Conceptual Plan: Railroad yard for freight deliveries to/from port plus over 7 million square feet of warehouses for unknown industrial use.

ISSUES
 County Commissioners DO NOT see this as an issue affecting the entire county, and thus you were not appropriately notified!

 Projecting 1500 TRUCKS in/out of site producing 10,700 trips for deliveries PER DAY on Hwy 21 - the main corridor connecting Effingham and Chatham County, a road that is at capacity and probably has been for several years according to local officials.

 No restrictions on what may/may not be housed in the warehouses (hazardous chemicals included).

 No disclosure of what type of manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes that may be done on site.

 No stipulations that current proposal must be built if rezoning approved to PD-I. Any acceptable use under that zoning code could be built on this property (which include several operations, but are not limited to...)

 Development could create unacceptable levels of AIR, WATER, and NOISE POLLUTION for most of SOUTH EFFINGHAM COUNTY. Light pollution is also an issue.

o Numerous sources of highly concentrated DIESEL ENGINE EMISSIONS (locomotives, semi tractor trailers, forklifts, other diesel-powered operating equipment).

o WATER POLLUTION (diesel and other unknown chemical and/or biological toxins) CAN AFFECT PRIVATE WELLS which do not have water treatment capabilities.

 DEVOLOPMENT ADJOINS ALREADY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND ELDERLY: Propose the minimum 100-foot buffer with 50-foot set-back with a berm not necessarily tall enough to block view of warehouses. Residents exposed to above mentioned industrial activity, adverse effects of industrial activity, pollutants, etc. Issues including but are not limited to:

• Exposure to hazardous air pollutants from industrial plants/factories

• Additional air pollution from diesel exhaust, truck traffic, increased railroad traffic – idling times

• Research shows lung cancer rates and respiratory disorders are increased in and around industrial areas with potential for many other health problems some of which include: cancers-skin, brain, leukemia, birth defects, cardiac dysfunction, kidney disease, impaired lung development in small children, pre-term births, neurological disorders

• Noise pollution - Potential for hearing loss and hypertension due to long-term exposure to constant noise

• Sleep deprivation - which impacts all areas of health

• More cargo truck and car traffic means an increased risk of accidents

• Potential for water contamination in local private wells with no water treatment capabilities

• Vehicle Exhaust, Oil, Freon, Aerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) and other air borne pollutants cause odors throughout the area - which can trigger respiratory distress in people with breathing disorders or cause headaches/migraines

• Decreased air quality and driving visibility due to smoke/fog around production plants

• Industrial Accidents, spills, leaks, code violations, catastrophe

• Overall decrease in quality of life due to fundamental differences in residential and industrial areas

Noise, Lights, Traffic Impacts:

• Industrial area noise includes alarm systems, loudspeaker system, truck & car traffic, radios, reverse indicators (beeps), trailer droppings, heavy machinery, generators, air compressors, etc.

• Lighting bright enough to run operations all through the night, potential for insect attraction/infestation

• Light and noise 24-hours a day, 365 days a year

• Projected 1500-1700 semi trucks per day in/out of already very congested Hwy 21.

Impacts on existing Property:

• Decreases value of adjoining residential property in existing neighborhoods
• Limits market for potential buyers for resale on existing homes
• Destroys habitat for local wildlife including deer, rabbits, birds, reptiles, insects
• Local schools, daycare/preschool - The Learning Treehouse ( 0.4 miles), Effingham Christian School (0.6 miles), Blandford Elementary(2.2 miles), Rincon Elementary(3.8 miles) SEES (5.1 miles) - increases health risks for children/staff from other areas in county, not just local residents

 CLOSE TO NEIGHBORHOODS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, & DAYCARE

o Preschool/daycare (~0.4 miles)
o Effingham Christian School (~0.6 miles away/enrollment >100 students)
o Blandford Elementary (~2.2 miles/enrollment 733 students)
o Rincon Elementary (~3.8 miles/enrollment 883 students)
o South Effingham Elementary (~5.1 miles/enrollment 637 students)
These distances are approximate driving distances, not air travel - they really are closer in aerial distance (as the crow flies).

Contact your local county commissioner and let them know developing this property for Industrial use is unacceptable. These are the people that we elect to act as our agents and if they are making decisions that adversely impact our health and safety then they should not remain in their position.

Contact Information:

District 1:
Hubert C. Sapp
748-4066
1443 Old River Rd
Bloomingdale, GA 31302

District 2:
Myra W. Lewis
728-3164
2430 Sand Hill Rd
Guyton, GA 31312

District 3:
Jeffrey A. Utley
754-9031
1220 Clyo-Shawnee Rd
Clyo, GA 31303

District 4:
Reginald "Reggie" Loper
754-6286
P.O. Box 31
Springfield, GA 31329

District 5:
Verna H. Phillips
826-4931
110 Ridgecrest Dr Rincon, GA 31326

Contact your state representatives:

Buddy Carter
912-748-6470 (home)
912-748-1414 (office)

John Barrow
202-225-2823 www.house.gov/barrow

Jack Kinsgston
202-225-5831 www.house.gov/kingston
(not our rep, but he may be helpful)

Johnny Isakson
202-224-3643 isakson.senate.gov

Saxby Chambliss
202-224-3521 chambliss.senate.gov

Or visit this website: http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobs/Company/C8B8CC6WSGPKCBSXWFV/National-Write-Your-Congressman/?sc_cmp1=JS_JobDetails_CoLogoLink

Your voice, signatures, presence would certainly make a difference.

Please plan to attend the meeting before the board to approve or deny the proposal for this development on April 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

Effingham County Administrative Complex
601 North Laurel Street
Springfield, GA 31329

For any further information you would like on this matter, you may contact:
Wendy Gillespie via e-mail at mgille7662@windstream.net
Robin Moutray via e-mail at r_moutray@hotmail.com

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