Fracking Hearings Set To Begin In North Carolina

This Wednesday in Raleigh will see the first of four upcoming public hearings in North Carolina over the state's proposed fracking rules. The hearings are part of the final phase of rule making, coming after two years of research, discussion, and compromise. Though the hearings are meant to focus on technical details of the proposed rules, they will more likely serve as an opportunity for fracking supporters and opponents to try to sway state officials and make a broader political point in a large public forum. The other three hearings will take place in Sanford, Reidsville, and Cullowhee.

Speakers at the hearings will have three minutes to make their case on the rules the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission (the "Commission") has proposed. There are more than 100 proposed rules, but the issues most speakers are expected to address are "chemical disclosure, drilling distances from homes and water wells, baseline testing of drinking water, and the risks of storing