So, what should be done? What can be done?

by Pam Taylor

My thoughts are below, as a descendant of five generations of Lenawee County farmers, and after spending many hours testing water and air around CAFOs with ECCSCM.  This also gave me the opportunity to observe effects of the oil well drilling process here in the area.   Once you start to carefully watch the patterns in water, soil, and air, you start to notice many things.

I'm going to leave the big questions (sustainable energy options, "feed the world", humane animal treatment) out of this, and just focus on a few things.

Obviously, once Big Pollution is here, there are fewer options. But elections are important. And so is protection for citizens.

1. Elect officials who are able to see beyond the short term, and who see beyond $$$$. Balance is important. Yes, jobs are important. Good jobs, with decent pay and benefits, and that don't require selling out life's basic needs like water and air. Once you start allowing extractive industries, you are on a slippery slope that is not going to get any better, ever.
   
2. Here is Michigan's law regarding oil/well drilling:
   
   MICHIGAN ZONING ENABLING ACT (EXCERPT)
   Act 110 of 2006, 125.3205 Ordinance subject to MCL 460.561 to 460.575; regulation or control of oil or gas wells; prohibition.
   Sec. 205. (1) An ordinance adopted under this act is subject to the electric transmission line certification act, 1995 PA 30, MCL 460.561 to 460.575.
   (2) A county or township shall not regulate or control the drilling, completion, or operation of oil or gas wells or other wells drilled for oil or gas exploration purposes and shall not have jurisdiction with reference to the issuance of permits for the location, drilling, completion, operation, or abandonment of such wells.
   History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006.
   
   Vote for people in local and state-level offices who will repeal this, or at the very minimum, who will change it. Oil/gas environmental groups need to challenge this in court - it has been done successfully. It is ridiculous to put such a burden on local governments. At the very least, at the Federal level, overturn the "Halliburton rule", and, locally, the name and every chemical and substance used in well drilling should be easily and quickly available for each individual well.
   Also, this statute says nothing about cities and/or villages. Elect folks with some common sense, who don't have dollar signs in their eyes, and can fairly weigh the positives vs. the negatives.
   
   
3. Require much higher performance bonds (contingency money that has to be put aside in case there are "incidents" or road damage, etc.) for potential polluters like CAFOs and oil/gas drillers. On the local level, require an additional operating fee or tax (to come from the oil/gas well or CAFO owner profits) to cover Nos. 4, 5, and 6 below. I'm not sure, but I think that all government entities (including counties and townships) could do this, so why aren't local governments looking into this? This is something that local people have been requesting for some time.
4. Require polluters such as CAFOs and oil/gas well drillers to set up continuous air quality and water monitoring, including monitoring drinking water wells in key areas. Make them pay for independent labs to do the tests. Results should be available to the public at all times.
5. Eliminate self-reporting of required periodic tests (field tests for nutrient application and soil for CAFOs, and around oil/gas well sites before/after drilling) and make sure that these required tests are done by independent labs, that the results are kept in a State database which is always accessible to all, and there are punitive fines and consequences for those who fail to do this - including closure of the well or CAFO.
6. Set up a local, immediate, emergency response system for spills/accidents/incidents. (Not PEAS!!!)   Make sure all chemicals and substances are known and that lists of these easily available to the public at all times.
7. Elect officials who support "polluter pay" laws. The transferring of costs for damages caused by businesses to taxpayers needs to stop. The harm outweighs the benefits of jobs, jobs, jobs.
8. Michigan's Right to Farm law, the MDEQ, MDARD, MDNR, and the entire EQIP (federal subsidy money available for farm manure management, among other things) program including the makeup of the NRCS in Michigan, needs to be overhauled, and there needs to be honest oversight of how this money is used. Elect officials who have the courage to do this.
9. Support sustainable farmers, and farmers' markets. There are many in Lenawee County, and they do a wonderful job. Use tax money to help these farm businesses by electing officials who will work to change the subsidy process to help them, instead of promoting more pollution. Help them set up food hubs and other new ventures. Here in Lenawee, we have an over-abundance of fantastic, local, good food. We have an abundance of folks who could use this fantastic, local, good food - instead they are forced by income level to buy crappy products at the cheapest possible prices. What can local government and agencies do to bring these two groups together to make sure that this food is available when, where, in the right packaging, and at the right price for all?

 I do realize this would require a major shift in thinking away from 100% $$$$$ now, now, now. And there are lots of larger issues regarding sustainable energy, sustainable food, and the world we live in - those are conversations that need to take place.

But I can dream, can't I?

Pam Taylor

Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. -- Vaclav Havel