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RESOLUTION—2012-039 y C <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> Shale Gas Development in North Carolina <br /> WHEREAS, the organic-rich shale deposits located in the Triassic Basins of North Carolina <br /> appear to contain potentially significant quantities of natural gas; and <br /> WHEREAS, a portion of Orange County is located in the Durham sub-basin of the Deep River <br /> Basin of Triassic age; and <br /> WHEREAS, North Carolina has historically had essentially no history of oil or gas exploration <br /> and development, and neither horizontal drilling or well fracturing are currently allowed in North <br /> Carolina; and <br /> WHEREAS, potential exists for the contamination of scarce surface water and groundwater <br /> resources, given some of the materials and procedures that are utilized to recover natural gas <br /> from deposits that were formerly unrecoverable; and <br /> WHEREAS, millions of gallons of water are routinely used for the hydraulic fracturing of each <br /> natural gas well, and the resulting wastewater, which typically contains elevated concentrations <br /> of salts, metals and other compounds, possibly including naturally occurring radioactive <br /> materials, must be disposed of properly; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County continues to participate in regional efforts to protect surface water <br /> resources, as well as plan for the utilization of these resources, throughout the Triangle region <br /> in a cooperative, safe, and sustainable manner; and <br /> WHEREAS, the lack of experience and regulatory protections in North Carolina means that <br /> several aspects of these practices must be thoroughly studied in order to develop the adequate <br /> and appropriate regulations that must be in effect to safely permit the exploitation of shale gas <br /> resources in North Carolina; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby urge the North Carolina General Assembly to maintain existing laws and <br /> regulations that prevent the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the State and to <br /> take no action that would weaken these laws and regulations before it is fully demonstrated that <br /> North Carolina public health, waters, land, air, economy, and quality of life can be protected <br /> from impacts that may occur by allowing the development of shale gas resources in the state. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, should the State authorize hydraulic fracturing, local <br /> governments should retain some regulatory authority regarding proposed drilling-related <br /> activities as they affect water resources and previously identified significant natural areas, <br /> through land-use and other established regulation. <br /> This the 17th day of April, 2012. <br /> Bernadette Pelissier, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board <br />