Here is a sampling of the more than 30,000 public comments made on proposed fracking legislation:
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“Use of new and safe fracturing technology will create good jobs, generate tax revenue for local and state governments, and reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy while protecting the air, water and land in the New Albany Shale basin.” — Mark Denzler, Vice President and COO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
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“It is absolutely imperative that the proposed rules mirror the carefully crafted legislation that earned support from all sides after months of debate.” — GROW-IL Coalition
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“The proposed process for application for and obtaining a permit to drill a horizontal well and perform a high-volume hydraulic fracturing stimulation is an unreasonably complex and cumbersome process, particularly when the requirement that it be done in 60 days is considered.” — Jim Watson, Executive Director, IL Petroleum Council
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“The law requires IDNR to give health workers information about chemicals when that information is necessary to treat a patient… But the way IDNR wrote the rules really hurts the flow of this essential and potentially life-saving information.” — Robert Crain, Illinois resident
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“Do not let industry lobbyists have the authority to be the main writers of the legislation. We need the government’s power to overpower the corporation’s interests to protect the people.” — Alexandra Mistak, student
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“How do we regulate a process that inherently disrupts (forever?) millennial-old structures that have evolved to support the health of our soil, water, air, flora and fauna – the basic stuff we and our children can’t live without?” — Hugh Muldoon, Carbondale
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“Southern Illinois is known for its family farms and every acre counts to the farmer. However, excessive drilling is now consuming farm fields with pumping units, lease roads and tank batteries.” — Kurt Sutton
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“Our state is in enough trouble, don’t make it worse by allowing fracking to run wild.” — Wayne Sirek, Ottawa
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“The potential contamination of our groundwater supply with fracking chemicals is too big of a risk, not to mention the increased ‘earthquakes’ fracking with the drilling and destruction of shale rock beds. The risk is too high.” — Terry Nolan, Rockford
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“The law requires that dangerous wastewater to be stored in closed tanks, allowing the use of open pits only when absolutely necessary due to unexpected overflow. But IDNR’s draft rules would leave room for industry to use tanks that are too small, potentially leading to more frequent overflows and more frequently used open pits.” — Jim Parks, Elmhurst
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“Please strengthen the rules, they are too lax when it comes to suspending or revoking a permit when a company fails to follow guidelines when building or construction a well or testing its integrity.” — Tabitha Tripp
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“In the interest of full disclosure, the IDNR rules should require that all chemicals used by fracking companies be publicly listed… The citizens of Illinois deserve to know what chemicals they may be exposed to in the event of a spill, contamination of surface or ground water, or direct exposure to workers in the industry.” — Mel Weinstein
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“Stop fracking on your land, stop fracking on my land
From California, to the New York islands,
From the redwood forests to the Gulfstream waters,
Take back this land for you and me!
Take back this land for you and me!” — Jeanne Fehe (to the tune of “This Land is Your Land”)
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— compiled by Tribune reporter Richard Webner