Demand the Strongest Possible Fracking Regulation in North Carolina

When Governor McCrory lifted the ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in 2014 for North Carolina, he and others in the NC General Assembly promised that our state would have the strongest possible rules governing fracking in the country.

Not a surprise: they broke their promise. By doing so, they have put the public’s health and safety in serious jeopardy. Just recently, NC lawmakers passed a bill that weakened the fracking rules around air quality.

Fracking produces large amounts of methane, smog, and airborne carcinogens like benzene. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat into our atmosphere. North Carolina is already facing consequences of climate change — rising sea levels, deadlier storms — more methane can only mean more bad news for state.

People who breathe in benzene can develop dizziness, headaches, tremors, and can even die if levels are high enough. Long-term exposure to benzene in the air can cause leukemia and other types of cancer.

Increased smog levels could lead to increase rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments in our state. Already, one of out every 10 North Carolina children has asthma. How many more will have to experience wheezing, breathlessness, or a life-threatening attack?

This is unacceptable. Who would put their families and friends at risk for asthma, cancer, and even death? Tell North Carolina's leaders to require more strict rules on air pollution from fracking!