Twists and Turns in the Campaign to Defeat the Dakota Access Pipeline, Two Other Victories Against Pipelines Nationally

Last week, we celebrated three major movement victories in the nation-wide organizing challenging fossil fuel infrastructure. One major pipeline project was canceled, and two were shut-down–including the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) which runs through parts of Illinois. Since then a court has ordered a temporary stay to allow DAPL to continue to operate, until a…

Illinois Fracking Permit Withdrawn Statement of Jack Darin, Director, Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter

Woolsey Operating Company, LLC has withdrawn its fracking permit and associated application for a wastewater injection well in White County Illinois. The permit was the first horizontal fracking permit to be issued since the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act was enacted in 2013, and recently approved over the objections of area residents and thousands of Illinoisans.…

Closed Door JCAR OKs Illinois Fracking Rule

On Thursday, November 6th the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved rules to implement the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act.   Although JCAR’s action was final, the public could not see the final version of the rules considered, and in fact we stillcannot see them until they are filed with the Secretary of State sometime before…

Statement on Draft Fracking Rules Before JCAR

Recently, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued revised rules to regulate high-volume horizontal fracturing for oil and gas, or “fracking.” The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) is now considering IDNR’s proposal, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the health of Illinois residents facing threats to their drinking water, air, and communities.…

IDNR Issues New Draft Fracking Regulations

Today the Illinois DNR released a new draft of proposed regulations on fracking for oil and gas, which the Sierra Club is in the process of reviewing. Fracking is a very dangerous practice that threatens the health, water supply, and air quality of residents, and Sierra Club is opposed to its use in Illinois. The…

Fracking Power Play Falls Short in Springfield

The sponsors of legislation to dictate fracking regulations to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have said that it will not be called for a vote before the end of the General Assembly’s spring session. This is a big victory for opponents of fracking – thank everyone who reacted quickly, especially over the Memorial Day…

Sierra Club sends a strong message–fracking rules must be strengthed

Friday, January 3rd, marked the deadline to submit comments regarding draft rules governing the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act. At 4:00 pm on Friday the Illinois Chapter’s comment letter along with the 3,515 comments you, our membership generated, were hand-delivered to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in Springfield. Sierra Club joined citizens and organizations…

IL House Passes Horizontal High Volume Fracturing Regulatory Act

Sierra Club is opposed to fracking in Illinois, and for a year has been working to build support for a 2-year moratorium on the dangerous practice of injecting large volumes of water containing toxic chemicals deep into the earth to release deposits of oil and gas.   We have seen the damage fracking has done in

Illinois Fracking Update

Illinois Fracking Update Statement of Jack Darin Director Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter Tuesday the Illinois House Executive Committee is expected to consider SB1715, which contains measures to regulate high-volume horizontal fracturing, or “fracking” for gas in Illinois. Sierra Club opposes fracking in Illinois.   Fracking poses grave dangers to our communities, land, air, and water; and…

Renewed Calls For Moratorium on Fracking In Illinois

Today, a coalition of groups supporting a moratorium on fracking in Illinois descended on the state capitol. HB 3086 and SB 1418 would both establish a two-year moratorium on the controversial practice of high-volume hydraulic fracturing. High-volume horizontal fracturing (fracking) is devastating to our communities, land, water and contributes to the continued destabilization of our climate.  …