Environmental activists are ramping up advocacy efforts against hydraulic
fracturing, commonly called “fracking”. Meanwhile, the Illinois House Executive
Committee passed a regulatory compromise bill Tuesday and the full chamber is expected to take up the legislation any day now.
The oil and gas drilling technology, according to the bill’s opponents, is unsafe and damages the environment.
But as the bill makes its way through the Illinois General Assembly,
drilling companies have already leased land in Southern
Illinois — reportedly about half a million acres around the New
Albany Shale rock formation, according to the Star-Telegram.
“Fracking is not safe, it
destroys communities; it endangers our water supply; it is not safe for
the workers; and it is not a bridge fuel,” said Melody Lamar, a
member of Illinois People’s Action. “I’m so sickened by what I’ve seen
from our legislators.”
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As the Illinois General Assembly continues to wrestle with passing concealed carry legislation by their court-imposed deadline, the House bill 