More than 250 people turned out at the SIU Carbondale Student Center for the final public hearing on new rules for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing in Illinois.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources hearing officer Bob Welch told the crowd the agency is gathering public feedback for when it finalizes the administrative rules on the oil and gas extraction method known as "fracking".
The majority of those in attendance oppose fracking. Erin Palmer of Carbondale says she's concerned that the proposed rules don't provide enough safe-guards in the event that an earthquake would occur as a result of the fracking process.
Palmer also told the IDNR panel that she worries about the impact that flooding would have on proposed above ground, open pit storage lagoons for the fracking fluid.
Others raised concerns about the amount of fresh water fracking would require and whether or not southern Illinois has enough to supply the expected demand. Industry officials have said it takes about 10-million gallons of fresh water each time a well is fracked.
While Carbondale was the final public hearing, the department will continue taking on-line comments through its website until January 3rd.
