Resolution of the Pocahontas County Free Libraries
On the Issue of Local Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing Gas Drilling
WHEREAS, natural gas has been discovered in the Marcellus Shale in Pocahontas County; and
WHEREAS, Marcellus Shale gas is being harvested in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the industrial technique to harvest this gas is through a method known as Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing; and
WHEREAS, this method involves a large environmental “footprint” including the consumption of large volumes of fresh water for drilling purposes injected into the Marcellus Shale, the addition of significant surfactant, toxic chemicals into the ground, the disposal of large volumes of toxic waste water; and
WHEREAS, this method involves a large volume of diesel truck traffic over narrow, windy, hilly roads, and operations that could be 24/7/365, and light pollution, and noise, and air pollution; and
WHEREAS, a considerable amount of environmental accidents and community disruption has been noted in regions with large-scale industrial Hydraulic Fracturing; and
WHEREAS, Pocahontas County is well-known and appreciated for its extraordinary natural beauty, pristine water and air, lush farmland, wooded high mountains, and clear running trout streams; and
WHEREAS, a significant portion of people live in Pocahontas County due to its natural characteristics; and
WHEREAS, Pocahontas County has as its primary industry a thriving tourism industry that is derived from its natural and pristine beauty; and
WHEREAS, Pocahontas County receives a significant income from Hotel Motel Tax; and
WHEREAS, the Pocahontas County Free Libraries receives approximately half of its income from the Hotel Motel tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, the presence of large-scale industrial Hydraulic Fracturing Gas Drilling would be a significant negative to tourism-related attractiveness; and
WHEREAS, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is not empowered by law to protect the special natural characteristics and qualities of Pocahontas County:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Pocahontas County Free Libraries Board of Trustees, in exercising its fiduciary and community responsibilities, recommends that the Pocahontas County Commission enact ORDINANCES: Such that would restrict or enact a moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Gas Drilling, as it would disrupt community quality of life as it currently exists, threaten and deplete the natural resources, environment, and ecology as it currently exists, and derivatively, decrease library income and resultant library services to the community.
Approved and adopted the 19th day of September,2011.
Sue Ann Heatherly, President
Mark Clark, Vice-President
Denise McNeel, Secretary
Elizabeth Little, Treasurer
Debbie Goodwin, Member