Shameful fracking board appointment (from NC Conservation Network)
As part of the controversial law passed this summer to legalize fracking in NC (more on fracking here), legislators established a new state board to create rules and regulations before fracking for natural gas begins. The fracking board is already heavily tilted in favor of the fracking industry which means the rules will be strongly bent towards protecting their profit rather than public health.
Making matters much worse, NC’s Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis, filled the House “conservation” seat with Ray Covington, who leads NC Oil & Gas. Help us spread the word about this outrageous appointment to the already unbalanced fracking board by submitting a letter to the editor to your local paper:
http://action.ncconservationnetwork.org/TillisLTE
The Fayetteville Observer weighs in on this disgraceful appointment: “Covington stands to make money, and the decisions of the Energy and Mining Commission could determine how much he'll eventually make. There is no more basic definition of conflict than for a government appointee to sit on a board whose decisions will directly affect his earnings. And add another wrong: Covington's seat was designated for a conservationist. You screwed up, Mr. Speaker. Fix it.”
Here are just a few of the many news stories and editorials on this issue recently:
Fayetteville Observer: Editorial: Wrong - Fracking panel appointee is a clear conflict
Winston-Salem Journal: Editorial: Tillis appointment to fracking board mocks process
WRAL: Critics: Sanford businessman doesn't belong on fracking board
Help us call out Speaker Tillis for his shameful fracking board appointee. You can submit your letter to the editor by using our handy online form here!
Thanks,
Brittany Iery
NC Conservation Network