5.5 Energy Production and Mining
subbasins of the Deep River Basin and in the Dan River Basin within portions of Stokes and Rockingham counties. Ofshore oil and gas exploration continues to be debated, but no ofshore extraction is currently allowed because it is generally controlled by federal regula- tions and processes. Two technological advances now make these oil and gas resources more accessible: hori- zontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Horizontal drilling allows access to a larger sub- terranean area with a single surface drilling location. Tis technique provides access to large subterranean areas that may be inaccessible otherwise, thereby increasing potential profts. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a well-stimulation technique in which pressurized water, chemicals, and sand are pumped into a well to fracture rock. Tis allows oil and gas to fow more freely and increases production. In recent years, the State of North Carolina has assessed existing rules and regulations to determine what changes are necessary to allow horizontal drilling and hydraulic fractur- ing in our state. Rules and regulations from other states where oil and gas extraction involv- ing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has been occurring were also assessed. Potential impacts to wildlife from oil and gas extraction are numerous; they include water quality and water quantity impacts, terrestrial wildlife habitat fragmentation and conver- sion, increased sand mining, and increased road and utility corridors. Impacts can occur as a result of preparing land for oil and gas extraction, establishing travel and utility corri- dors, use of natural resources (primarily water and sand) for hydraulic fracturing, and han- dling and disposing of waste and byproducts. Additional impacts are possible from spills and unintentional discharges. Hydraulic fracturing typically requires 4–5 million gallons of water per well, spread out over several days. Te oil and gas industry typically reuses the water-based fracking fuids to fracture additional wells until the fuid is no longer efective. Even so, there is a poten- tial to impact streamfows, especially if water is withdrawn from small streams during low fow periods. Water withdrawn from impoundments or large rivers will have less impact to streamfows, particularly if the water is withdrawn during high fow periods and the instantaneous withdrawal rate is low. Surface water quality could be impacted by accidental spills of fracking fuid and sur- face runof from well pad sites. Fracking fuids typically contain a large mix of chemicals. Increased use and transport of fracking fuids increases the probability of an acciden- tal spill or discharge that will impact surface waters. Once fracking fuids are no longer usable, they must be treated and disposed of properly. Water treatment plants are often not equipped to treat the chemicals found in fracking fuids. Underground disposal of fracking fuids can be problematic, and inadequate treatment of fracking fuids can impact receiv- ing surface waters. Surface runof from well pads can contain a mix of chemicals associated
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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