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Focusing on the Mice

The recent decision to pass a fracking waste ordinance was imprudent and unnecessary. Imprudent because the town now owns the issue, which includes the burden of enforcement and potential legal jeopardy. Unnecessary because there is already a moratorium at the state level that prohibits fracking waste within the state. Proponents of the ordinance argue that Connecticut is geographically close to Pennsylvania where fracking is done, the state is not moving quickly enough, the restrictions do not encompass a broader definition of waste, the town has the power to enact an ordinance and other towns have passed one, so Madison should too. Proponents ignore the reality that fracking waste is not an issue in Madison and not likely in the future. The possibility is the issue, as opposed to the fact that Madison disposes its wastewater by pumping it into the ground or that spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in Haddam at the decommissioned Connecticut Yankee plant on the Connecticut River.

Citizens have the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, but I see no grievance. I believe that it is important to protect the environment, but the threat to our environment is not fracking waste. We have passed an ordinance that was written by an outside advocacy group that shifts an expanded legal enforcement requirement from the state to the town in exchange for virtue signaling, a bad outcome in my opinion.

The town faces many challenges including the Academy School and the school re-alignment issue. There are also significant fiscal challenges at the state level that will negatively impact Madison. Food trucks, digital movie signs, and fracking waste may move the needle for some, but the real risks to the town of Madison lie in focusing on the mice while the elephants run wild.

Peter Loftus

Madison