Occupy Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in White Plains, NY

Environmental groups call for ban on fracking waste

By Jared Kaltwasser

With New Jersey's one-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing expiring Thursday, a group of environmental organizations is calling on the state Legislature to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto of a ban on fracking waste.

Hydraulic fracturing, known as “fracking,” refers to the highly controversial practice of using chemically treated water to free shale natural gas reserves deep underground. The advent of fracking technology has led to vast new drilling opportunities and an economic boom in Western Pennsylvania, but environmentalists say the chemicals used in the process often end up in water supplies. Industry groups deny that charge.

G. Benjamin Bingham

CEO and Founder, 3Sisters Sustainable Management

The word "Impact" standing alone could be good or bad -- or both. Crashing into something is not the same as transforming it, and in a media rich world there is a constant flood of conflicting data and confusing innuendo. This seems to be particularly true around the issue of fracking (the fracturing of deep layers of rock to unleash cheap natural gas). Ironically, it seems Matt Damon kind of lied when interviewed on NPR about his latest movie built around the issue of fracking: Promised Land. Asked why he would make a movie about fracking, he implied that he just happened to pick the topic because it seemed to be the best way to highlight current polarized American characters. Can we believe the discarnate voice of the smart Harvard guy-next-door on our car radio when he says it is not a personal passion of his? No fracking way! He is the co-founder of www.water.org after all. So what was going on? By the way, it gets even more complex when considering his description of the anti-hero he plays, the everyman, Steve, a super salesman for natural gas, who, Damon says, develops a feeling both for and against fracking and ends up promoting democracy: i.e. let the farm towns of America vote pro or con on the opportunity to sell their souls to the devil. But this is not how it goes in the movie at all... so what gives? Is he cleverly pretending to be evenhanded just like the powerful money interests who are pushing natural gas in the movie and for real? It is hard to trust the facts of anyone who clearly is not being straightforward.

Over a dozen groups join NRDC in calling on NYS to open fracking health review to public input

Kate Sinding’s Blog

NRDC, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on behalf of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and a dozen other national and statewide groups sent a letter to the Cuomo Administration calling on it to open the on-going review of the potential health risks of proposed new fracking to public review and comment.

A brief bit of history may help put things in perspective.

In September – following months of advocacy by NRDC and other members of the environmental and medical communities – the Cuomo Administration agreed to conduct an evaluation of the health risks posed by fracking. Although agreeing to do less than the formal, independent, comprehensive health impact assessment that we requested, we remained hopeful the state would nonetheless commit to evaluating the health impacts in a robust, unbiased and transparent manner.

Village of Owego, NY Votes to Ban Fracking for 1 Year

Last night the Village of Owego (Tioga County, NY) became the second municipality in the Marcellus gas-rich Southern Tier area of New York state to vote for a temporary ban on fracking. The village board voted to ban fracking for one year to give the village a “time out to look at the documentation,” referring to the village’s master plan for not only drilling but flooding.

On Saturday, July 28th, more than 5,000 people rallied on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, DC, and then marched through the streets of DC as part of the Stop the Frack Attack Rally.

Anti-Fracking Bail Fund

This is a fund to be used for bail when people fighting the use of hydraulic fracturing are arrested during a direct action at well sites, government officials' offices, corporate offices, and to block natural gas industry infrastructure. When arrestees attend their court dates, bail money is recycled back into the fund, so your donation helps more than once over time. Donations are not tax deductible. The fund will be deposited into a club account monthly at a small community bank. For more information, contact Alex Lotorto, (570) 269-9589

NATURAL GAS EXPOSED - If we don't end America's growing addiction to natural gas, the gas industry will ruin our communities, our health and our climate.

http://www.waterdefense.org/content/natural-gas-exxposed-3

Woodstock NY Bans Activities tied to Marcellus Fracking

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. — The Town Board has voted to prohibit in Woodstock any activity associated with the exploration or extraction of natural gas or petroleum.

The unanimous approval Tuesday night followed a public hearing that drew six speakers, all of whom said the zoning amendment was needed to discourage the process known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracking or fracking.