Dear Member: We are writing to express our support and urge your co-‐sponsorship of Representative Mark Pocan’s Protect our Public Lands Act of 2015 (POPLA), which would prohibit hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public lands. Over the past several years, hundreds of studies have been released demonstrating the significant impact that fracking has on our air, water, health, climate and communities. Unprecedented swarms of earthquakes throughout the Midwest and plains states have resulted from disposing fracking waste in injection wells. Beyond the direct impacts of fracking, there are other indirect harms that result from this process: the local economic fallout from the bust that follows every boom in oil and gas extraction; increases in oil trains derailing and exploding; damage from large mines for silica sand used in fracking fluids, most prevalent in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota; and air pollution from refineries, processing plants and other oil and natural gas infrastructure that endangers many in communities far from drilling and fracking. Perhaps most significantly, fracking for oil and gas is game over for the climate stability on which we depend as a society. Even if we rapidly phase out burning oil and coal, and even if we set aside the industry’s problems with methane leakage which are significant, more than 95 percent of the estimated amount of shale gas is unburnable if we are to have a decent chance at avoiding the most significant impacts of global warming. That is how much shale gas must stay underground, without even considering conventional natural gas, -‐-‐-‐the sort that does not require fracking to get it to flow. For the past few years, the Bureau of Land Management has been considering regulations for fracking on federal lands. These regulations, however, have been repeatedly watered down under intense industry pressure and will merely serve to allow companies to maximize their production of fracked oil and gas. Among the public lands under threat are watersheds vital for the provision of clean drinking water for millions of Americans, such as in the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois, Wayne National Forest in Ohio, and George Washington National Forest in Virginia. Also targeted are federal lands near iconic national parks, such as Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Utah, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Sequoia National Park in California, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and the Everglades of Florida. In New York, following the most exhaustive review to date of the public health risks and harms from fracking, conducted by the Health Commissioner and Department of Environmental Conservation, that state concluded that fracking for shale gas could not be safely regulated and should be banned. Preventing fracking on federal lands is essential to protecting our treasured public lands, our drinking water, and public and environmental health. It is also essential in any serious proposal to address climate change, which we must aggressively address now to have any real hope of stemming its most dire consequences. It is imperative that you take strong action now to safeguard our communities and environment for future generations. We therefore urge you to join in co-‐sponsoring POPLA and to help make this landmark legislation law. Sincerely, Americans Against Fracking Advisory Board Josh Fox – Founder and Artistic Mark Ruffalo – Actor and Activist Director, International WOW Company Sandra Steingraber – Ecologist and Author Natalie Merchant – Musician and Activist National Organizations Jason Kowalski 350.org Michael Langenmayr Daily Kos David Braun Americans Against Fracking Jim Dean Democracy for America David Krantz Aytzim: Ecological Judaism Russell Mendell Earth Guardians Karuna Jaggar Breast Cancer Action John Rumpler Environment America Joseph Bradley Catholic Peace Fellow Tom Kerns Environment and Human Rights William Snape Advisory Center for Biological Diversity Drew Hudson Harriet Shugarman Environmental Action ClimateMama John Rumpler Zack Malitz Environment America CREDO Action John E. Peck Family Farm Defenders Wenonah Hauter Food & Water Watch Lauren Ornelas Food Empowerment Project Kate DeAngelis Friends of the Earth Fran Teplitz Green America Kyle Ash Greenpeace Rev Lennox Yearwood Hip Hop Caucus Pamela Koch Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy Stacy Dieve MOMS Advocating Sustainability Karen Higgins, RN National Nurses United Alexis Baden-‐Mayer Organic Consumers Association Andrea Miller People Demanding Action Conor Boylan Progressive Democrats of America Amanda Starbuck Rainforest Action Network Tim Keating Rainforest Relief Deborah Thomas Shale Test Marianne Comfort Sisters of Mercy of the Americas' Institute Justice Team Rose Mary Sullivan, CND Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, American Province Adam Hasz SustainUS Mark C. Johnson The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice Angela Monti Fox The Mothers Project John Sellers The Other 98% Arthur Waskow The Shalom Center Pete Nichols Waterkeeper Alliance Noreen Springstead WhyHunger Tim Ream WildEarth Guardians Regional, State and Local Organizations Mary Louise Church 20th Century Club Jed Holtzman 350 Bay Area Micah Parkin 350 Colorado Jim Harper 350 South Florida Lyna Hinkel 350NYC Mobi Warren 350SanAntonio Dan Stapleton Adams County Unite NOW! Lynn Ellen Marsh Advocates for Cherry Valley Maureen Dill Advocates for Morris Tara Sumner Advocates for Springfield Tia Lebherz Alameda County Against Fracking Leilani Nonies & Alex Mirabal Albuquerque Environmental Action Coalition Robert Nehman Allamakee County Protectors Nancy Price Alliance for Democracy Margaret S Dabney American Cultural Enterprise Tim Dillingham American Littoral Society Rachel Conn Amigos Bravos Sarah Kellogg Appalachian Voices Heather Cantino Athens County Fracking Action Network John Deegan, O.S.A. Augustinians Jim Lamm Ballona Creek Renaissance Jeanette Vosburg Ballona Network.org Karen Feridun Berks Gas Truth Celia Janosik Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee Dorian Williams Better Future Project Tricia Olson Boulder County Citizens for Community Rights Rebecca Roter Breathe Easy Susquehanna County Ann Fawcett Ambia Brooklyn for Peace Debbie Cowden Buckeye Forest Council Cy Swartz Build Bridges Not Walls Andy Coleman Bus for Progress Carolee Krieger California Water Impact Network Francis Eatherington Cascadia Wildlands Jill Wiener Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Wes Gillingham Catskill Mountainkeeper Glenn Wahl Cattaraugus-‐Chautauqua for Clean Water Sheila Cohen Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies, Environmental Justice Committee, SUNY Cortland Cesar Campos Central California Environmental Justice Network Dottie Ji Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War Douglas M. Mason Centre County Green Party Martha Girolami Chatham Research Group Mike Tidwell Chesapeake Climate Action Network Stephen Shaff Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council Bill Barclay Chicago Democratic Socialists of America Isaac Silberman-‐Gorn Citizen Action of New York Paul Roberts Citizen Shale Adrienne Esposito Citizens Campaign for the Environment Lisa Riggiola Citizens for a Clean Pompton Lakes Jim McWilliams Citizens for Alternative Water Solutions Judy Fisher Citizens for Huerfano County John Brooks Citizens For Responsible Oil & Gas (CFROG) Joyce Grant Citizens for Oceanfront Preservation Laura Olah Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger Helen Conly Citizens for Responsible Oil & Gas (CFROG) Joe Levine Citizens For Water Georgina Shanley Citizens United for Renewable Energy (CURE) Woodrow Clark II, PhD Clark Strategic Partners Barbara VanHanken Clean Energy Future OK Steve Hvozdovich Clean Water Action, Pennsylvania Lois Jacobson Climate Action Committee Denise DerGarabedian Coalition Against Fracking in WNC Kathy Maher Coastal Monmouth Democratic Club Jeanette Geckler Colden Well Being Laurie Caplan Columbia Pacific Common Sense Betsy Dwyer Commission on Justice of the Glenmary Home Missioners Dianne Lindsay & Cordia Sammeth Committee for Clean Water, Air, and Earth Peter Norris Community Rights Organization of Willits Denyse Frischmuth Communities for Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC) Maxine Centala Concerned Citizens for Clean Air Janette Chauncey Concerned Citizens of Covert Donna Muhs Concerned Citizens of Madison County Kathie Jones Concerned Citizens of Medina County Jeremy Samuelson Concerned Citizens of Montauk Carolee Byrnes Concerned Citizens of Otego Gwen B.Fischer Concerned Citizens Ohio/Hiram Ann Bristow Concerned Health Professionals of Maryland Diane Hofner Concerned Residents of Portland, NY Sharon E. Lewis Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice Susan McDonnell Cortlandt WATCH Eddie Kurtz Courage Campaign Janette Chauncey Covert Counts Tom Swan CT Citizen Action Group Judy Lyons Cumberland Chapter Sierra Club B. Arrindell Damascus Citizens for Sustainability Regi Teasley Denizens of the Biosphere Joanne Cromley Don't Frack Michigan Judith Pierpont Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition (DRAC) Sally Malanga Ecco Bella Brien Brennan Elder Creek Center For The Land Mike Kamandulis Elk County C.A.R.E.S. Colleen Boland Elmirans & Friends Against Fracking (EFAF) Nancy Alderman Environment and Human Health Bret Fanshaw Environment Arizona Dan Jacobson Environment California Kim Stevens Environment Colorado Chris Phelps Environment Connecticut Jenifer Rubiello Environment Florida Jennette Gayer Environment Georgia Tayrn Hallweaver Environment Maine Ben Hellerstein Environment Massachusetts Talya Tavor Environment Maryland Doug O'Malley Environment New Jersey Sanders Moore Environment New Mexico Heather Leibowitz Environment New York Luke Metzger Environment Texas Sarah Bucci Environment Virginia Wanda Guthrie Environmental Justice Committee Thomas Merton Center Graciela Isabel Sanchez Esperanza Peace and Justice Center Ron & Maria De Stefano Essex/Passaic Green Party Melissa Madden Finger Lakes Cider House Elsie A Rhodes First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown Patricia Popple Frac Sand Sentinel Marc W. McCord FracDallas Julia Walsh Frack Action Michael McLaughlin Frack Free Butte County Razz Gormley Frack Free Colorado Cynthia Carestio Frack Free Genes Susan Carrillo Frack Free New York Joni C Stellar Frack-‐Free Butte County David Morris Frackthemovie Jackie Schramm Franciscan Response to Fracking Leatra Harper FreshWater Accountability Project Ohio Gary Lasky Fresnans Against Fracking Carol Ralbag Friends of Butternuts Briget Shields Friends of the Harmed Celia Scott Friends of the Pogonip Michael A. Koplinka-‐Loehr Full Potential Consulting Treesong Gaia House Interfaith Center James Weiss Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County Alfonso Rodriguez Gas Drilling Awareness of Luzerne County, PA Yvonne Taylor Gas Free Seneca Susan Norris GAS TRUTH of Central PA Miriam MacGillis Genesis Farm Aspen Luc Get The Frack Out Of Oklahoma Melissa Madden Good Life Farm Ieva Zadina Grail Climate action Circle Patricia McPherson Grassroots Coalition Patricia Wood Grassroots Environmental Education Jack Kupferman Gray Panthers, NYC Network Gloria Rivera IHM Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Shelley Silbert Great Old Broads for Wilderness Kate Linker Greater NYC for Change Richard Fuller Green Party of Monmouth County Seth Hirsh Green Party of Nassau County, NY Jay Sweeney Green Party of Pennsylvania Joseph Edes Green Rockies Emerging Ecology Network Wes Ernsberger Green Sanctuary -‐ UU Congregation of Binghamton Reverend 12th Moon GreenStar Cooperative Markets David Kalb Groton Resource Awareness Coalition Ma Iichty Groundswell Rising Greg Pace Guernsey County Citizens Support on Drilling Issues Eve Gutman Haverfordians for a Livable Future Bill Shewan Hazlet Area Quality of Life Calin Riffle Heirloom Acres Judy Dearden Highland Heights Green Task Force Alison Gannett Holy Terror Farm Elaine LaBella Housatonic Valley Association Ruth White Howard County Climate Change Manna Jo Greene Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. Alma Hasse Idaho Concerned Area Residents for the Environment (ICARE) Dawn Dannenbring Illinois People's Action Lise Van Susteren Interfaith Moral Action on Climate (IMAC) Adam Mason Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement McKenzie Jones Rounds Ithaca Festival Charlie weaver Jackpine Savage Guide Service Donna Dupree Jackson County Coalition Against Fracking Mirele B Goldsmith Jews Against Hydrofracking Marlyn Klee Judson Memorial Church, NYC Laurie Konwinski Justice & Peace Ministry, Catholic Charities of Tompkins County Joe Spease Kansas Sierra Club Elizabeth Rosenbaum KeepTapWaterSafe.org Joseph Hoff Keuka Citizens Against Hydrofracking Catherine Jennings Keys to the Attic Emma Bray Kids Against Fracking Joe Uehlein Labor Network for Sustainability Minda Rae Amiran League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County Julie Ann Edgar Lehigh Valley Gas Truth Patrick Bosold Leopold Group, Southeast Iowa Sierra Club Chapter Carol Apacki Licking County Concerned Citizens Alison Gannett LocalFarmsFirst.org Shirley Frankum Long Island Progressive Coalition Jeff Kuyper Los Padres ForestWatch Lise Van Susteren Lucky Planet Foods Tomas Rebecchi LULAC Ventura County Kathy Callaway Mainstreet Moms Tara Gallagher Mamaki Kate Siskel Manhattan Young Democrats Diane Sipe Marcellus Outreach Butler Terri Supowitz Marcellus Protest Janie Painter Medicine Lake Citizens for Quality Environment Rod Webster Merced Group of the Sierra Club Marilynne Manfredi Mercedians Against Fracking Peggy Case Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation Todd Mossman Michigan Land Air Water Defense Kelly Branigan Middlefield Neighbors Otto Butz Milford Doers/Residents of Crumhorn Mtn Margaret S Dabney Millennial Sunline Design Sherry Lear Miss Revolutionaries Julie Levine MLK Coalition of Greater Los Angeles John Balentine Mohawk Valley Keeper Karen Hanses Monterey County Against Fracking Donna Carver Morrow County POWER Victor Tiffany Move to Amend – Ithaca James Kemmerer MoveOn NYC Grace Feldmann Musicians Against Fracking Bonnie Shapiro National Organization for Women of Northern NJ Pat Moore NC WARN Connie Mather Neighbors United For The Finger Lakes Vanessa Pesec Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection (NEOGAP) Matt Shapiro New Jersey Tenants Organization Nancy Moen New Lisbon Neighbors Joan Brown, osf New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light Vincent Brancato New York Society for Ethical Culture Eric Weltman New Yorkers Against Fracking Susan Chew New Yorkers for Clean Water Inc. Tobias A. Fox Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc. Carol E. Gay NJ State Industrial Union Council Kyle Dalton No Fracking in Stokes Jerry Rivers North American Climate, Conservation and Environment (NACCE) Joyce Bryk North Shore Audubon Society Krystal Henagan Northeast Neighbors for Clean Air Amy Little Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group June Thaden Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC) Diane L. Wexler Northjersey Pipeline Walkers Leslie Harper Northwest Ohio Alliance to Stop Fracking Lani Sanjek NY StateWide Senior Action Council, NYC Chapter Douglass Turner NY Water Sentinels -‐ Allegany Group Edie Kantrowitz NYC Friends of Clearwater Buck Moorhead NYH2O Megan Ahearn NYPIRG Brooke Newell NYS Council of Churches Sally Gellert Occupy Bergen County Alton Paul Burns Ochlocknee River Water Trail Barbara VanHanken Oklahoma Chapter Sierra Club Sara Winsted McMillian Oklahoma Coalition Against Induced Seismicity George Koury Olive Defense Against Fracking Lindsey Gilmour Organic Planet Nicole A. Dillingham Otsego 2000, Inc. Julie Huntsman Otsego Neighbors Laura Fronckiewicz Our Broomfield Kaye Fissinger Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont MerrilleeMalwitz-‐Jipson Our Santa Fe River Mary Pelletier Park Watershed Nancy O'Byrne Pax Christi Florida Eileen Bardel Peace Action of Staten Island Maria Payan Peach Bottom Concerned Citizens Group Jenny Lisak Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Water and Air Rev. Sandra Strauss Pennsylvania Council of Churches Karen Feridun Pennsylvanians Against Fracking Frank Patterson People for a Healthy Environment, Inc. Diane Hofner People Like Us (Crop Plus) Shannon Gearhart Physicians for Social Responsibility/New York Stacey McLaughlin Pipeline Awareness Southern Oregon Peter Hudiburg Plymouth Friends of Clean Water Van Collinsworth Preserve Wild Santee Sandy Theis Progress Ohio Timothy Murphy Progressive Christians Uniting Alex Curtas ProgressNow New Mexico Sharon J. Carlisle Protect Our Loveland Terri Supowitz Protect Our Parks Iris Marie Bloom Protecting Our Waters Barbara H Warren PSR Arizona Clarke Gocker PUSH Buffalo Diane Burke QUENCHNJ Carolyn Harding RadioactiveWasteAlert.org Gerri Wiley RAFT Dorinda Hampton Really Fresh Vegan John Wackman Repair Cafe-‐Hudson Valley Bill Podulka Residents Opposing Unsafe Shale-‐Gas Extraction Brooke Williams ReThink Energy Florida Alison Gannett Rippin Chix Kate McNeely Rising Tide NYC George Matthis River Guardian Foundation Kate Hudson Riverkeeper Inc. Margaret Miner Rivers Alliance of Connecticut Allegra Schecter ROAR Against Fracking Nedra Harvey and Anna Sears Rochesterians Concerned About Unsafe Shalegas Extraction (R-‐CAUSE) Toby Stover Rochester Defense Against Fracking Nancy Kasper Rochester Pachamama Alliance Frank J. Regan RochesterEnvironment.com Hannah Sohl Rogue Climate Forrest English Rogue Riverkeeper Mary Kushner Roseland Against Compressor Station (RACS) Elisa Evett ROUSE Alan Levin Sacred River Healing Larry Glass Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment (S.A.F.E.) Nicola Peill-‐Moelter SanDiego350 Grace Feldmann Santa Barbara Frack Back to Save the Central Coast Raphael Weisman Santa Fe Global Water Festival Michael Chojnicki SASD Connie Fleeger Save Lake Arthur Watershed Christian Francisco Gerlach Save Nevada's Water: Ban Fracking In Nevada Joe McDonald Save Our Sandhills Alison Gannett Save Our Snow Foundation Matt Pakucko Save Porter Ranch Leif Dautch Save the Sespe Eric Robison Save Western Maryland Damien Luzzo SaveWithSunlight Sean R Carter Sean R Carter PE, PLLC Russell S. Donnelly SECAP Jack Ramsden ShaleshockCNY Lisa Zaccaglini Sharon Springs Against Hydrofracking Stephanie Low Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Ann I. Aurelio Sierra Club Long Island Group Lynda Schneekloth Sierra Club Niagara Group Stephanie Low Sierra Club NYC Group Jim Wylie Sierra Club Southeastern PA Group Gary Lasky Sierra Club Tehipite Chapter Carol De Angelo Sisters of Charity of New York Nora Nash Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia Scott Bochner Sludge Stoppers Task Force Warren Taylor Snowville Creamery Alison Gannett SOS Foundation Joe Galliani South Bay 350 Climate Action Group Joe Galliani South Bay Clean Power Glenn Kotz South Jersey 350.org Judith Buckman South Jersey NOW-‐-‐Alice Paul chapter Betty Borowsky South Shore Audubon Society Rosemarie A Mangano Cavanagh South Shore Democratic Club Michael Gorr Southern Cayuga anti-‐Fracking Alliance Annette McMichael Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing our Environment Kevin Bixby Southwest Environmental Center Kim Gabriele SouthWest Michigan Group Sierra Club Joanne Gerson Southwest Ohio No Frack Forum Debra Johnson SpectraBusters, Inc Sarah Craig Stencils Against Fracking Lupe Anguiano Stewards of the Earth Robin Webb Stewards of the Land Sandra Kissam Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition Nancy Norton Stone Quarry House Kelley McDonald Stop Fracking Oklahoma Angela Spotts Stop Fracking Payne County Susan Van Dolsen Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion Laurie Seeman Strawtown Studio Karen London Sullivan Area Citizens for Responsible Energy Shoshana Wechsler Sunflower Alliance Luana Conley Sustainable Carmel Valley Adrian Kuzminski Sustainable Otsego Gay Nicholson Sustainable Tompkins Debra Johnson Suwannee Alliance For Sustainable Growth Jack Eidt Tar Sands Action SoCal Anna Van Der Hurd The A Team Foundation Jim and Diane Schrack The Question Alliance Danica Arizola, Alexandra DiFilippo and Stephanie Palmer The Reiki School + Clinic Melanie Winter The River Project Joan P Mencher The Second Chance Foundation Tabitha Tripp The Shawnee Sentinels Rose Mary Sullivan The Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame in the United States Dennis Rittenhouse The Small Bee Steward Mark Waltermire Thistle Whistle Farm Daniele Gerard Three Parks Independent Democrats Julie Levine Topanga Peace Alliance Theo Talcott Transition Town Manchester Robert Van Fleet Trinity County Progressives Ling Tsou United for Action Quanah Parker Brightman United Native Americans Darree Sicher United Sludge Free Alliance Ron SLABE Upper Burrell CAMP Denylo Branch Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition Tomas Rebecchi Ventura 350 Tomas Rebecchi Ventura County Climate Hub Carin Kuoni Vera List Center for Art and Politics Patty Gillis Voices for Earth Justice Nazarius Cavan Voters Occupy Cynthia Pierson Watchdogs of the Watersheds John Burger Water Way T'ai Chi Suzanne Golas, csjp WATERSPIRIT Susan Mead We Are Seneca Lake Nada Khader WESPAC Foundation Melissa Elstein West 80s Neighborhood Association Miriam Reichenbach West Deptford Environmental Commission Dorothy Faller West Shore FACT Rita Yelda Western NY Drilling Defense Sonia Skakich-‐Scrima What the Frack?! 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