The oil and gas industry is supportive of chemical disclosure through voluntary means (such as FracFocus.org) or as required by specific State programs. In Michigan the DEQ requires MSDSs to be submitted to MDEQ which are then posted on the MDEQ website.

Yes. Hydraulic fracturing of deeper and longer horizontal wells uses significantly more water than the more conventional horizontal fracturing of shallower vertical wells. Conventional vertical wells require about 50,000 gallons of fracking fluid while the deeper and longer horizontal wells require about 5 million gallons. Of course, any large water withdrawal of water in Michigan requires a water withdrawal assessment just like any other person or Company – like a soft drink bottling plant or a municipal water supplier.

Fracking done safely cause no significant risk of contamination, according to most experts.The DEQ has stated that hydraulic fracturing in Michigan has caused no environmental damage. Flowback water is managed in steel tanks and disposed of in deep disposal wells regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Any surface spills would require regulatory reporting and cleanup in accordance with DEQ’s strict requirements.

Unconventional shale resources have generated an economic boom in other states such as North Dakota and Pennsylvania. E.g. in Pennsylvania hydraulic fracturing generated over $1 Billion and 150,000 jobs in 2011.

Recent earthquakes in Ohio have shown potential links to deep well injection of the flowback fluids. The connection is due to the well locations in areas of known seismic activity – i.e. The injected fluids may induce an earthquake in an area where the earthquake would naturally occur in time. Michigan does not have the conditions necessary for this to occur.