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ImageTompkins County concerns about risks associated with natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale were once again communicated, at a session in New York City earlier today.  Legislature Chair Martha Robertson was one of 15 invited speakers at the event, cosponsored by the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Speakers urged immediate passage of pending state legislation which would ban hydraulic fracturing until after findings are issued on its effects on water quality and public health.

"We are on the verge of getting the Legislature to require New York State to wait for the EPA study of high volume hydrofracking to be completed, before allowing exploitation of the Marcellus Shale," Chair Robertson stated. "The fact that we've gotten this far, considering the millions of dollars the gas companies have spent on lobbying and advertising, is nothing short of amazing.  But we have a long way to go. There are a lot of myths being touted as truth, that we have to de-bunk."

Myths that Robertson cited:

  • That the drilling is nothing new--when in fact the technique has only been employed within the past five years;
  • That, as nearly all water and sand, frac fluid is nothing to worry about--when the high volume actually means 50,000 gallons of chemicals per fracking;
  • That there has never been a documented case of water contamination--which doesnt include other related accidents or contamination that occurs thats not documented;
  • That recycling will take care of wastewater disposal and water withdrawals--when recycling only comes at the end of the process;
  • That drilling will bring economic prosperity to Upstate New York--when in Pennsylvania nearly all jobs go to out-of-state workers, with associated social effects;
  • That New Yorks regulations are better than those of other states;
  • That natural gas is a cleaner fuel that will be a bridge to a future of renewable energy--although not when its whole life cycle is tabulated.

Shale gas, Robertson maintained, could actually create more of a problem instead of being a solution.

The event urged immediate passage of the Englebright/Addabbo bill, which would establish the moratorium until 120 days after the EPA issues a report on the effects of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health.  Last month, the Tompkins County Legislature, by a nearly unanimous vote, urged support of that legislation, its fourth resolution of concern regarding gas drilling.
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