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In 2011, the NC General Assembly directed several state agencies to investigate implications of horizontal drilling and fracking for oil and natural gas production in North Carolina. The resulting North Carolina Oil and Gas Study was published in 2012. In addition, the General Assembly overrode then - Governor Perdue's veto, thus legalizing fracking for natural gas extraction once regulations governing these activities were developed. Regulations governing horizontal drilling and fracking were developed and as of March 2015 applications for the permits necessary to drill for natural gas in North Carolina have been available. As of September 2015, no drilling unit applications or complete oil or gas well permit applications have been received by the state. Concerns While direct adverse effects from fracking are unlikely in Orange County, nationwide shale -gas exploration and exploitation demonstrate that the fracking process involves activities that could result in adverse impact, including the following: • Possible contamination of surface water and groundwater; • Negative impacts to water supplies; • Wastewater disposal issues; • Negative air quality impacts; • Negative infrastructure impacts; and • Detrimental social impacts common to boom and bust economies If drilling for natural gas from nearby shale deposits occurs, the likely impacts on Orange County would be indirect, though not insignificant. The water used for fracking that is not recycled would need to be disposed of. This water would likely be trucked to a wastewater treatment plant, possibly in Orange County. Wastewater plants may not be able to test for and remove the contaminants found in return water, leading to the possibility that contaminants could be discharged into local waterways. Increased heavy truck traffic could cause damage to county roadways and bridges. Conclusions The low price and large supply of domestic natural gas, as well as the significant amount of gas known to exist in much larger shale deposits elsewhere in the United States, make extraction activities in North Carolina unlikely in the near term. Fracking within Orange County is even more unlikely since Triassic rocks are limited to the southeastern portion of the county. Were drilling to occur in shale deposits some 30 miles south of Chapel Hill, indirect impacts on water supplies and transportation infrastructure could take place in Orange County. Learn more about fracking and North Carolina geology: • http: / /porta1.ncdenr.org /web /guest /shale -gas • http: / /portal.ncdenr.org /c /document library /get tile?uuid=b6t4712d-746e- 4606 -9d24- 542ab0e40693grou�ld -14 • httoe / /www.newsobserver.com/ news /business /articlel4730470.htmi • htt�e// www2veg�a egoy /hydraulictracturing • http: / /www.ie. nc.edu /issues /trackingectm