Don’t frack near Erie schools

Don’t frack near Erie schools by Angie Nordstrum, May 13, 2012, Daily Camera
We have one wish for Mother’s Day. One wish. We are mothers, neighbors, cancer survivors, nurses, pharmacists, business owners, teachers, nutritionists, consultants and advocates living in Erie. We are mothers who don’t care about receiving flowers, breakfast in bed or a night on the town this Mother’s Day. We are mothers who place the ultimate value on the health and well-being of our children. Encana Corp. is scheduled to begin an extensive drilling operation on May 26 less than 600 yards from Red Hawk Elementary, Erie Elementary, Erie Middle School and Exploring Minds Childcare Center, which would pose serious dangers to these and other schools nearby. The only wish we have is that Encana Corporation not drill the well pad next to our children’s schools. We are heavily invested in our community and our schools. We have spent years building relationships in our community and making Erie a wonderful place to raise a family. We are thrilled to have the LEED certified, sustainably built Red Hawk Elementary in our community. On behalf of the Mothers of Erie Rising, we respectfully request that Encana Corporation halt all drilling operations at the Canyon Creek well pad. Please do not set up your drill rigs, hay bales and 24-hour lighting operations next to our children’s schools and playgrounds. Please do not transport your toxic fracking chemicals, millions of gallons of water, lethal flow-back water and sand in front of our schools and by our homes. Please do not make thousands of diesel truck trips on the streets where our children ride their bikes. Please do not violate our homeowners’ quiet neighborhoods with your 24/7 drilling operations and the legacy of potential dangers that will be left behind after the rig is gone. Our wish is that our children attend schools where they are not at risk of toxic chemical exposure, subterranean radioactive substances and toxic metals. Our wish is that our children get to harvest tomatoes and lettuce from their organic school garden; fresh produce that has not been contaminated by chemical-laden air particles. Our wish is for our children play tetherball on the playground without having difficulty breathing. Our wish is that our children will not suffer from fracking chemical related nosebleeds. Our wish is that our children will grow up cancer free. … We realize this “play” is worth billions of dollars to your company. Please realize that a price cannot be placed on our children’s health and future. We ask that you not compromise the safety of our community and it’s most precious inhabitants; it’s children.