Microsoft Office Outlook - Memo Style - Montana Board of Oil and Gas

Richmond, Tom
From: Jerry Brekhus [mtcohper@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 9:04 AM
To: DNR FracComments
Subject: Hydraulic Fracturing
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
At the very least, oil and gas companies should be required to report all the chemicals that
they use in the fracking fluids. This information needs to be provided to medical personnel
in the area in advance. Knowing the chemicals to check for, labs can then check water
supplies for those chemicals BEFORE drilling begins, in order to establish existing water
quality.
Advance notification should be required to residents within 3 miles of a proposed oil or gas
well.
In my opinion, rules must hold oil and gas companies responsible for keeping methane and
fracking compounds out of water wells and streams in the areas where they have oil and gas
wells. If these contaminants appear where they were not present before drilling, that ought
to be sufficient evidence to require corrective action, including, but not limited to,
financial compensation, providing clean water and new wells to replace contaminated water
sources, and ceasing fracking in the area.
No financial settlement should be allowed to include a gag order. Landowners should be free
to comment on oil and gas companies, regardless of their settlement status.
Finally, I want you to know that I use natural gas to heat my house, and use gasoline in my
car. Therefore, I recognize the need for oil and gas production. My point is that we need
reasonable safeguards to assure that production is done in a prudent and responsible manner,
and that the public and local authorities are fully informed. In the rush to produce, we
cannot just rely on drillers to police themselves. Enforceable rules are needed.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to express my opinions on this topic.
Sincerely,
Jerry Brekhus
43 E Palisade Basin Dr
Red Lodge, MT 59068
(406) 446‐2307
1