Fracking On The Discussion Table At W. Bloomfield Township Meeting Wednesday
WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP (WWJ) -Another local community wants to put a cap on residential oil and gas drilling. West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michelle Economou Ureste is concerned about the impact that drilling would have on the community.
"Residential oil drilling is legal on 96 percent of our land area in the state of Michigan and there are 1240 townships in the state - which govern 96 percent of the land area Michigan Zoning and Enabling Act and prohibits townships from being able to ban or even to regulate gas and oil exploration," said Ureste.
"All of our 28 lakes, 150 ponds, wetlands, woodlands are all inter-connected, we have no drains," she continued. "So, if there is drilling or fracking occurring in and around our borders it could destroy the whole system - bring down our property values, which could blow a big hole in my budget and no longer be able to provide the same level of police and fire services."
Ureste is calling on lawmakers to change current Michigan law that does not permit local governments to ban or even regulate gas and oil drilling.
"I am one voice to our legislators and I think this is going to require the masses to speak up - to protect their home values - to protect the environmental assets in their communities and their quality of life," said Ureste.
A town hall meeting will be held Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the West Bloomfield Township Hall to inform the public about residential oil drilling and how it might affect property values and quality of life in the community.
