DETROIT (AP) — Michigan officials are planning new rules related to advance notification and precautions for oil and gas companies seeking to put new wells in the Detroit area, The Detroit News recently reported.
State Department of Environmental Quality officials plan to send the new instructions for companies that intend to drill wells in counties with populations exceeding 750,000 — Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
A summary memorandum of the rules obtained by the newspaper says changes would require more residents and government officials to be told about prospective drilling.
The rules require that companies study locations other than the proposed site, adopt ways to reduce noise and light caused by drilling, and install at least one groundwater well in the area to monitor for possible contamination of the water supply in residential areas.
However, opponents have said they want drilling stopped.
“Anything of substance, such as setbacks or residential zoning, the group did not address or discuss,” said Denise Demak, referring to a state work group formed to address conflicts between residents and gas and oil companies.
“The stuff that would really help homeowners around the state ... was never put into the recommendations,” added Demak, who is a member of Citizens Against Residential Drilling and lives north of Detroit in Macomb County’s Shelby Township.
Shelby is one of the communities where residents have opposed drilling or where local laws have been passed to stop it. Others include Rochester Hills in Oakland County and Scio Township near Ann Arbor.
Some in Rochester Hills and Shelby Township have leased their land for oil and gas exploration.
“Drilling is specifically protected by law from local bans,” said Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Brad Wurfel. “In that context, we’ve done a lot of good work toward addressing the issues and trying to make sure everyone’s interest is addressed.
“To the folks that simply want to see no oil and gas exploration in Michigan, we know that won’t be enough.”
The rules eventually will prove more costly for oil and gas companies, according to Erin McDonough, Michigan Oil and Gas Association president and chief executive.
“It’s expensive but it’s a compromise,” McDonough said.
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