Frackers need to disclose

John Murawski’s article, “State imports advice on fracking” (N&O, Dec. 21) raises a problem important for North Carolina’s Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) to address as it writes the regulations for safe operation of shale-gas mining and, in particular, fracking.

Because people’s fears of the unknown are often the worst, it remains rather puzzling why companies engaged in shale-gas mining try to keep the specific contents of their fracking fluids secret.

Hopefully, the MEC can obtain modification of Senate Bill 820 and thereby follow the lead of a state like Colorado, which requires the disclosure of fracking chemicals.

Dennis Welch

Cary