11/13/13 - A local group dedicated to educating itself an the public about fracking in Conway Township held its first meeting last night. The Friends of Conway Township organization was formed after news that a fracking operation was coming to that community. Fracking, short for 'hydraulic fracturing,' is a process where rocks thousands of feet underground are broken apart with high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals. This frees trapped crude oil and natural gas, which can then be collected. The Friends of Conway Township, like many people affected by the process, have many concerns about the safety and impact of the fracking process. A meeting put together by the township last month sought to answer their questions with the help of elected officials and environmental experts, but residents said the open form of the meeting hindered the exchange of ideas. Last night's meeting in the Fowlerville Junior High School drew more than 100 people and got a much more positive response from attendees. It began with presentations about the fracking process, groundwater testing, and the motives of the group, then opened up for the audience to ask questions and make comments. Friends of Conway Co-Chair David Berry tells WHMI that elected officials and organizations were invited to come, but most did not show. Berry read aloud at the meeting their responses to the invitations, and identified those who did not respond at all. He says the next meeting may focus on examining how other communities have dealt with fracking. (TD)
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