Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sierra Club Joins Effort to Ban Fracking in Michigan

WMUK

(WDET-Undated) Members of the Sierra Club are collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to ban the practice of fracking in Michigan. 

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley reports that the ballot language would include a ban on high volume hydraulic fracturing and would call for a halt to the importing of radioactive fracking waste from other states. The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Executive Committee Chair David Holtz says both issues pose risks for Michigan.

"There’s a substantial amount of water that’s lost in the fracking process. In addition to the air quality issues, the contamination issues, and the potential for fracking wells contaminate drinking water sources."

Holtz says it does not make sense for Michigan to be a dumping ground for other states’ radioactive waste. The club needs more than 250 thousand signatures to place the question on the 2016 ballot.

Related Content