No Frack Ohio

The New York Public Interest Research Group last week joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to withdraw the Department of Environmental Conservation's revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on hydraulic fracturing, or "hydrofracking."

Hydrofracking, the blasting of a mixture of water, chemicals and sand into the ground to break up rock formations and release natural gas deposits, emerged a contentious issue last summer upon the governor's proposal to lift a state moratorium on the process. Proponents have argued the drilling process would be a job creator, with opponents pointing to the potential for negative environmental impacts from hydrofracking.

The DEC is in the midst of reviewing the more than 60,000 public comments received in regard to the revised draft, which was released last September.

"Not only is this a dangerous and dirty industrial activity, but the state's review is completely inadequate and fatally flawed," said Brendan Woodruff, NYPIRG hydrofracking campaign organizer. "The state did not conduct an assessment of the potential impact that fracking could have on public health, they have no plan to dispose of the millions of gallons of toxic wastewater and they have failed to address the financial impact this will have on local governments, including damage to roads and increased costs for emergency services."

Woodruff said it would be "irresponsible" for Cuomo to "give the green light" to hydrofracking.

"Despite incredible public response, the governor continues to move forward with hydrofracking once the DEC's review has completed," said Woodruff. "New Yorkers should call on the governor to live up to his promise to protect New York's environment."

Assemblyman Mark Johns, R-Webster, supports a moratorium to delay hydrofracking in the state.

"Once you drill, you drill and we should wait until it can be proven environmentally safe," said Johns. "We don't know what chemicals are in the fracking fluids or how they will be disposed of."

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D-Ithaca, called hydrofracking the "environmental issue of the century" for New York state.

"While we are moving in a greener direction in many areas, in the crucial area of energy production we are heading backwards," said Lifton. "I hear from people every day who are very concerned about and opposed to this process at this point."

Assemblyman Steven Englebright, D-Setauket, said that too often, when there are reports of hydrofracking damage, "the industry will come in and silence" those reporting the incidents.

"Tourism is our number one industry on Long Island and, quite frankly, people don't want to bathe in industrial waste," said Englebright. "We need to look before we leap on policy that has such potential environmental outcomes."

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2012-05-07-81652.113122-NYPIRG-joins-bipartisan-lawmakers-asking-Cuomo-to-scrap-fracking-regs.html