Title
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PROPOSED I-MAC PETROLEUM SERVICES' CLASS II SALT WATER INJECTION WELL AT VIAN, OKLAHOMA
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, I-MAC Petroleum Services Inc. of Muskogee has filed an application with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for a permit to open a well near the southeast city limits of Vian;
WHEREAS, the permit requests permission to dispose of 40,000 barrels (1,680,000 gallons) of salt water a day under 1,000 pounds per square inch of pressure, measured at the surface;
WHERAS, the salt water will be injected into a zone in the Arbuckle formation at a depth of 1,600 feet at the top and 3,100 feet at the bottom;
WHEREAS, geologic faults in the vicinity of the proposed injection well, coupled with the history of waste water injection in the well at Sequoyah Fuels, show that there is considerable risk that injection of salt water into the Arbuckle Formation will contaminate drinking water aquifers and drinking water wells in the area;
WHEREAS, operation of the proposed injection well is likely to have negative impacts on human health and the environment, including such sensitive environments as the Sequoyah Wildlife Refuge;
WHEREAS, operation of the proposed injection well is likely to have negative impacts on natural resources of the Cherokee Nation, including the Arkansas riverbed, and on the health of tribal members who depend on such resources for food, recreation, and cultural purposes;
WHEREAS, I-MAC Petroleum Services has not demonstrated that it has a proven track record of safe and environmentally sound operation of Class II injection wells, nor has it demonstrated that it has the experience, human resources, and financial re...
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