Detroit city council passes resolution to ban fracking

Citing concerns about the potential for water contamination and associated economic problems for Michigan communities, the Detroit City Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution calling for a ban on hydraulic fracturing.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of natural gas production that uses water, chemicals and sand to force gas out of shale formations.

Most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula sits atop the Collingwood-Utica shale formation which is being explored by gas companies.

A coalition of Michigan environmental groups has warned that state regulations do not provide adequate protection against water contamination and depletion.

“… [P]rotection of Detroit’s water supplies and resources is better accomplished by prevention of contamination and environmental degradation, rather than (by) attempting to cleaning up contamination and restoring degraded environments after the fact,” the council said in its resolution.

The resolution also asked Michigan’s Congressional delegation to support the FRAC Act — a bill to require fracking companies to disclose the chemicals that they use.

“Detroit sent a strong message indicating that a ban on fracking is necessary to protect public health and preserve Michigan’s natural resources,” said Lynna Kaucheck of Food & Water Watch. “Michigan sits in the middle of 20 percent of the world’s available fresh water, that means we have a distinct responsibility to protect this vital natural resource. The time to ban fracking in Michigan is now.”