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10/05/2016 04:41 PMThe national debate on the dangers of chemicals, naturally occuring radioactive materials, and other toxins found in hydraulic fracking waste is hitting home in Branford.
An Oct. 12 RTM vote is set to take place on whether the town will adopt a proactive ordinance prohibiting the storage, disposal or use of fracking waste. Just ahead of that vote, an informational public meeting on the potential risks of allowing fracking waste storage here takes place this Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. at Branford Fire Dept. Headquarters, 45 North Main St. The talk is a cooperative involving Branford Community Forest Commission, Menukatuck Audobon Society and environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
At the Oct. 7 information session, Jen Siskind, Hartford-area representative of Food & Water Watch, will speak on the risk of fracking wastes and why Branford should have this ordinance, said RTM Minority Leader Chris Sullivan (D, District 6), who helped spearhead the ordinance proposal and draft language. Sullivan is also organizing the Oct. 7 public information session.
The proposed ordinance set to be reviewed by the RTM was prepared by the Rules & Ordinances (R&O) Committee, of which Sullivan is a member. R&O has been working on the proposal since early 2016. On Sept. 20, the commitee voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance be adopted by the full RTM. The full RTM will hear R&O's recommendation and review and discuss the final draft of the proposed ordinance, followed by a vote on whether to adopt the ordinance, at the RTM meeting on Wed. Oct. 12, 8 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters.
As described in the proposed ordinance, "hydraulic fracturing is the fracturing of underground rock formations, including shale and non-shale formations, by manmade fluid-driven techniques for the purpose of stimulating oil, natural gas, or other subsurface hydrocarbon production."
The waste, which is a by-product of extraction, can include chemicals, naturally-occuring radioactive materials, heavy metals or other contaminants.
In part, the ordinance seeks to have Branford ban the aquisition, storage, treatment, processing, sale or handling of fracking natural gas waste or oil waste, including prohibiting introducing the waste into waste management facilites.