This is not a time to sit back and let others take action. The Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC) is about to pass a rule on the advance disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking. This rule trades the rights of landowners for the rights of oil and gas companies. It’s a bad trade, and only your voice can make a difference at this point.

To make a comment, send an email to mtogpub@mt.gov. Reference Hydraulic Fracturing Rulemaking in the subject line. The deadline is 5pm today.

Your comment does not have to be long or elegant. Emphasize that the proposed rule is inadequate because it does not require operators to give landowners 45 days notice, which is required to do baseline testing. You might also say that the cost of baseline testing should be paid by oil and gas operators.

Only a deluge of support for this position will move the board. Please take five minutes to do this today.

Here is background information that will help you.

My original post on this topic
My follow up post
Comments from coalition that sued the BOGC
Billings Gazette: Montana Fracking Fluid Disclosure Rule Draws Critics

Report from last Monday’s hearing
The Board Chair was not present but the rest of the Board was there.  Board member Rob Stutz moderated. In total, fifteen people testified and about thirty people were in the audience.  Most of the commenters supported the position that more notice should be given. Alan Olson, head of the Montana Petroleum Association, predictably said he liked the Board’s current revisions and didn’t think anything else needed to be in the rules. He added that landowners could take operators to Court if they wanted additional information.

This Montana Petroleum’s Association tells you all you need to know.

Please comment today.

Cleaning up an oil spill on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Without adequate advance notification it is impossible to protect our water. Photo: Associated Press