DALTON, Ga. — Members of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Monday night expressed concern that natural gas companies could come into the county, contaminate the water supply and declare bankruptcy, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill for a cleanup.

“Any time you are talking about contamination of our water supply you have to be concerned,” said board Chairman Lynn Laughter. 

At their Monday work session, members heard from representatives of the League of Women Voters of the Dalton Area who asked them to, as part of the update to the county’s comprehensive plan that must be delivered to the state in October, include a policy that “Natural gas exploration and extraction, including hydraulic fracturing, should not occur at the expense of the county’s important natural resources and the health of our communities.”

“This is an issue that the League has been researching for a year, and it’s something that we are worried about,” said League member Mary Thelma Norris of hydraulic fracturing, also know as fracking.

The League has held several programs on the issue, including a forum last November at Dalton State College.

Fracking is a process in which high-pressure water is injected into shale to release natural gas and petroleum. The use of fracking has grown tremendously in the United States since the late 1980s and it has helped spur large development in natural gas. But some environmentalists say fracking has been associated with contamination of groundwater.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Legislature passed a law that allows for fracking to be regulated. Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, was the author of that bill. The Conasauga Shale Field in northwest Georgia isn’t currently being drilled but it has attracted the attention of developers, and at least two test wells have been drilled.

The new law sets up a state board to issue licenses for fracking and to develop regulations for the process. 

“But that board hasn’t actually issued any regulations yet,” said Norris.

The law does allow local governments to set up limitations on fracking.

League member Debby Peppers said county zoning might need to be updated to address fracking.

“I think there’s a 25-foot setback required for building near navigable waters or streams that flow into navigable waters,” she said. “Is that adequate for injecting something into the ground? I think that’s much more likely to contaminate the water.”

Norris said she doesn’t just want fracking regulated, she’d like to see it banned by the county.

Commissioners asked County Attorney Robert Smalley to look into what powers they have to control fracking and to talk to an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which helped draft Georgia’s new law.

“I want to know who would be liable if fracking did cause any problems,” said Commissioner Greg Jones. “And if we have the power, I would be in favor of requiring a non-revocable bond.”

Commissioner Harold Brooker said he isn’t sure if the county needs to do more to restrict fracking.

“I want to find out what state law requires, what regulations are in place or are coming, and if they are sufficient,” he said. “I do think there should be a bond in place to cover any cleanups.”