| Dear Katy, If you have seen the countless deceptive ads,1 you won't be surprised to learn that oil and gas companies are spending nearly $20 million to convince Coloradans to vote down a citizen-led measure to protect our health, water, air and environment.2 They want us to ignore fracking's devastating health risks and environmental destruction so they can continue making short-term profits. But public health research is clear: Living near fracking wells increases the risk of cancer, asthma, premature births and other serious health problems.3,4 Coloradans put Proposition 112 on the ballot to protect our public health and environment. The measure would create a 2500-foot buffer zone around new oil and gas development, preventing companies from drilling wells near homes, schools, hospitals, rivers, and other vulnerable areas.5,6 Oil and gas companies are pouring millions into stopping this citizen-led initiative, but we can win if every Coloradan who cares about our air, water and climate votes yes on Proposition 112. Pledge to vote yes on Proposition 112 to protect Colorado communities from fracking. Click here to sign the pledge. Being too close to fracking wells leaves our communities vulnerable to explosions, radiant heat, toxic gas clouds, and air pollution.7,8 Researchers have found that people who live within 500 feet of a well in Colorado may experience a lifetime excess cancer risk eight times higher than EPA's upper acceptable levels.8,9 Another study showed that pregnant women who lived within 3275 feet of a fracking site in Pennsylvania were found to have a 25 percent greater chance of delivering underweight babies.10 The risks posed by fracking are not hypothetical. Last year, Colorado's largest oil and gas producer shut down 3,000 wells after a fatal home explosion near a well killed two people in Firestone.11 In the same year, a tank explosion killed a worker and left three seriously injured near Longmont.12 Fracking may be lucrative for the Houston oil companies funding the anti-Proposition 112 campaign, but it's disastrous for the people who live nearby. It's also destructive for our climate at a time when scientists are telling us we must keep fossil fuels in the ground to avoid catastrophic climate change. It may seem like an uphill battle, but we have won before. Just last year, concerned Denver residents organized to get a measure on the ballot requiring green roofs on new construction over 25,000 square feet. Developers outspent the Green Roof Initiative 12-1, but Denver voters saw through their deceptive advertising and passed the measure to make Denver greener.13 That's why it is so crucial that you commit vote yes on Proposition 112, return your ballot, and talk to your friends and family about their plans to vote, too. Pledge to vote for Proposition 112 to protect Colorado communities from fracking. Click the link below to sign the pledge: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/CO-Prop112?t=7&akid=30344%2E12967895%2EGxDT6R Thanks for fighting back, Kaili Lambe, Organizing Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: - Marshall Zelinger, "Truth Test: Prop 112 school claims don't make the grade," Channel 9 News, Oct. 8, 2018.
- Ryan Maye Handy, "Houston oil companies fight anti-fracking measure in Colorado," Houston Chronicle, Oct. 4, 2018.
- L.M. McKenzie et al., "Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources," Science of the Total Environment, 2012.
- Judy Stone, "Fracking Is Dangerous To Your Health – Here's Why," Forbes, Feb. 23 2017.
- Jason Harrison, "The Grassroots Fight to Protect Colorado Communities from Oil and Gas Development Heats Up," Food and Water Watch, Sept. 24, 2018.
- Colorado Rising, "What Proposition 112 Would Do," accessed Oct. 10, 2018.
- Celia Lewis et al., "Setback distances for unconventional oil and gas development: Delphi study results," PLoS ONE, Aug. 16, 2018.
- Marsha Haley et al., "Adequacy of Current State Setbacks for Directional High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus, Barnett, and Niobrara Shale Plays," Environmental Health Perspectives, Sept. 2016.
- Grace Hood, "Study: Coloradans Who Live Close To Oil, Gas Wells Face Higher Cancer Risk," Colorado Public Radio, April 9, 2018.
- Quentin Young, "Editorial: The case for expanded oil and gas setbacks and Proposition 112," The Daily Camera, Sept.29, 2018.
- Aldo Svaldi, "After fatal house explosion, Anadarko Petroleum to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado," Denver Post, April 26, 2017.
- Jesse Paul, "Deadly Mead oil tank explosion was caused by buildup of "combustible products" from oil storage tanks," Denver Post, Aug. 11, 2018.
- Chris Walker, "Green Roof Initiative Organizer on I-300's Big Win," Westword, Nov. 10, 2017.
Photo credit: Marc Guitard/Getty Images |
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