ORD 2013-115 2012-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(13) Hydraulic fracturing has contributed to releases of toxic gases to the atmosphere, contamination of potable water, and health problems in plants, animals, and humans in mainland locations; and (14) The risks of hydraulic fracturing are both great and unknown so that it is banned in some countries and many states or municipalities in the U.S. Countries that have stopped hydraulic fracturing include: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland,Netherlands, New South Wales, New Zealand, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; and (15) Hydraulic fracturing requires between four and 10 million gallons of fresh water to achieve permeability and porosity in an underground geologic formation. The Island of Hawai`i and its people, businesses, animals, plants, rivers, shoreline marine life, and ocean cannot afford to lose these millions of gallons of fresh water. Even using partially treated waste water for hydraulic fracturing may pollute our aquifers, rivers, and ocean. Salt water may not be a viable solution for hydraulic fracturing due to corrosion which might require additional anti-corrosives to be placed in the well to protect the drilling equipment, the well itself, or its various parts. Such anti-corrosives may contribute even more chemicals and toxins into the environment that could infiltrate the aquifers; and (16) Remediation of water used for hydraulic fracturing is not currently possible in the County of Hawai`i because there is no waste water treatment plant on the island able to handle the chemicals and toxins introduced or produced by hydraulic fracturing. Evaporation is not a viable option as it degrades air quality. Therefore, the water must be removed to another location within the United States for safety and is irreversibly lost to the island's hydrologic cycle; and (17) Large areas of the Island of Hawai`i need potable water for the people and fresh water for plants and animals. The ocean and shoreline areas need the fresh water to move from mauka to makai to sustain a healthy environment. Wasting millions of gallons of water to achieve hydraulic fracturing is not conducive to supporting the people, the environment, or natural resources of which the County has an affirmative duty to protect; and (18) Many chemicals required by hydraulic fracturing are toxic or can create toxic gases and fluids in the air or water that may damage people, animals, plants, the land, and the ocean, however full disclosure of those chemicals is prevented through claims of proprietary rights; and (19) A company's net worth may be insufficient to cover the costs associated with managing a hydraulic fracturing disaster. In that case, those costs may be forced on those who have suffered property damage or injuries, and the County might be liable for the cost of repairing public infrastructure and the relocation of families. Loss of property taxes may also create unnecessary financial distress to the County; and 3