An oil exploration company has applied to the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for a permit to drill an exploratory well at the northwest corner of Miller and West Delhi Roads in Scio Township. This area is typified by residences and lies near the Huron River. Approximately 2,000 people live within a one-mile radius of the proposed well and approximately 20,000 people live within a three-mile radius. Under Michigan state law, a township may not prohibit oil drilling within its borders. We’ve created this petition so that you can sign here to tell the MDEQ and other entities that you oppose oil exploration and drilling at this proposed well site and any future proposed sites in this area, or anywhere else there is unreasonable risk to communities and the environment.

The known negative effects of the proposed drilling are clear. For each well drilled, the ground around the site would be cleared and prepared with heavy machinery. Equipment would generate noise for 24 hours a day for several weeks as drilling occurs. Pump jacks would be installed to bring up waste brine and oil from the well, and flares would be installed to burn off gas emissions. After oil is found, additional industrial infrastructure would be put in place on site to store, treat, and move the oil or gas. Our local roads would bear the burden of an increase in traffic and road wear from heavy oil-transporting trucks.

Other potential detrimental effects of drilling are numerous. They include, but aren’t limited to, changes in quality of life for nearby residents as well as the possibility of contamination of soils and/or residents’well water from toxic leaks or spills. Any contamination could also affect the Huron River, which is approximately one mile from the proposed drilling site at the northwest corner of Miller and West Delhi Roads and even closer to other properties where leases have already been obtained. The Huron in Scio is upstream from Ann Arbor and many other communities. It provides Ann Arbor with 85% of its water supply, and provides us all with recreation, beauty, and biological diversity.

Furthermore, public health and safety are potentially threatened. Our residents, our emergency responders, and our hazardous materials crews are placed at risk if there are accidents at well sites or involving trucks transporting toxic or flammable material. Air and water pollution and nuisance odors could be problematic for all.

A large number of signatures on this petition shows how much opposition there is to this and other oil exploration and drilling. Please add your name if you agree with the goals of this petition. If you haven’t already, please also go to our website and subscribe to our mailing list at www.oilfreebackyards.org. And please share this with your friends via social media as well! Thank you so much for your support!

***Citizens for Oil-Free Backyards is hosting this petition at change.org because it offers us all a free yet powerful means of voicing our opposition to oil and gas drilling in Scio Township or anywhere else there is unreasonable risk to communities and the environment. While we are grateful for the resource which change.org offers, we are in no way affiliated with the change.org organization.***