'Fracking' in New York

A large number of gas exploration and energy companies are pushing to extract natural gas using hydraulic fracturing--"fracking"--from southern New York State. This involves drilling vertically from 6,000 to 8,000 feet into the earth and then horizontally for up to one mile.

Millions of gallons of water and over 247 chemicals, 90% of which are toxic, are pumped deep into the ground to force natural gas to the surface under pressure. Depending on conditions, 20% to 40% of the toxic mix remains in the ground where it can contaminate the water table, and 60% to 80% is pumped to the surface into pools of toxic sludge that can leach back into the soil and groundwater, common occurrences where fracking is practiced.

Because of a Bush-era exemption in the law, gas exploration companies are not required to disclose the list of chemicals nor their amounts or concentrations. 

The affected area includes most of southern New York State, and has already been taking place in much of Pennsylvania, almost all of West Virginia, and most of eastern Ohio, with widespread damage. The Catskill/Delaware watershed is also threatened, which could affect the water supply for New York City. 

Most of the plans were made quietly. Now that the state Department of  Environmental Conservation has released its Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, opponents are allowed only 60 days for objections. It is being railroaded through.

There is a growing movement of community groups, citizens, local governments and civic leaders to stop this. Despite the argument by proponents that gas extraction will bring prosperity, damage to the water table can ruin agriculture, seriously contaminate drinking water, and threaten the wine and tourism industries, with the resulting loss of jobs--on top of general environmental destruction and destruction of quality of life. 

We are determined and need all the help we can get. To learn more and become involved, here are four websites: www.shaleshock.org; www.ogap.org; www.nyh2o.org; and www.propublica.org. Fracking needs to be stopped NOW or it could lay waste to one of the most beautiful regions of the country. Real people live here and we don't want to be driven from the land and the life we love.

--New York Environmental Activists

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