© 2024 WEMU
Serving Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, MI
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Michigan Democrats Take On Fracking Regulation Issues

protectmiwater.com
Jake Neher
/
MPRN

A group of state House Democrats hopes the crisis in Flint will help bring attention to other issues they say threaten clean water in Michigan.  They announced bills on Thursday that would increase regulations on fracking.

Democrats say there’s an opportunity to have a serious conversation about fracking and other water quality issues.  “Now that there’s a little more attention, this gives us an opportunity to go to our colleagues and say, hey look, here’s another threat, here’s another problem,” said state Representative Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor).

Representative Julie Plawecki (D-Dearborn Heights) says the state should not go through another water contamination crisis.  “We know what happens when we aren’t careful about something as important as our water.”

Among other things, the bills would require companies to disclose the chemicals used in the fracking process.  They would also place a moratorium on new fracking permits until stricter regulations are in place.  State environmental officials say the practice has never cause environmental damage in Michigan, and that current regulations are adequate.

A group is collecting signatures to put a fracking ban on the November ballot.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

— Jake Neher is the State Capitol Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network.  Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org

Related Content