Marjorie Budd: Fed fracking rules better

Regarding the March 21 news article “Fracking rules to cover federal, Indian lands”: Has anyone noticed the stark contrast between the new federal rules on fracking and the North Carolina rules on fracking?

The federal government issued major new fracking rules for public land with requirements for full disclosure of toxic chemicals, for covered storage of waste and for enforcement standards for wells to prevent groundwater contamination.

The state of North Carolina issued fracking rules that allow drilling companies to keep secret the toxic chemicals they inject into the ground, allow toxic fracking fluids to be stored in open pits as close as 1,500 feet from our drinking water and do not provide adequate safety requirements for wells to prevent water table contamination.

Perhaps the federal government understands better than the state of North Carolina that the first priority of government is to protect the people. Millions of North Carolina residents are left exposed and vulnerable to the dangers of fracking.

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Marjorie Budd: Fed fracking rules better."