Why Fallsburg Should Ban FRACKING...Uhhhh....No Insurance!

The Price Anderson Act makes it impossible for any American homeowner to get insurance to cover losses from a nuclear accident at places like Entergy's trouble plagued Indian Point nuclear reactors that sit atop an earthquake fault.  Well, seems that the insurance industry is not going to wait for Congress (as in do nothing but squabble) to pass similar legislation denying property/home owners from getting insurance for harm done from the process of Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing.  Nationwide out of Ohio has announced that they WILL NOT COVER DAMAGES caused by this dangerous extraction method:

The Columbus, Ohio-based company's personal and commercial policies "were not designed to cover" risk from the drilling process, called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Nationwide spokeswoman Nancy Smeltzer said Thursday. 

The process injects chemically treated water into wells to fracture shale thousands of feet underground and release trapped gas or oil. There are rich shale deposits in parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and elsewhere. 

Health and environmental groups claim fracking can contaminate drinking water. The gas industry says it's safe if done properly. Nationwide said risks involved in fracking operations "are too great to ignore" and apply to policies of commercial contractors and landowners who lease property to gas companies.

Do we the citizens want to believe an industry KNOWN TO LIE when they say it is doubtful they will be drilling in our community (at least right away), and do we really want a drilling/mining process allowed in our community when we CANNOT GET INSURANCE to cover damages...like the natural gas accident that blew a house off of its foundation earlier this week?

Contact your elected officials in Fallsburg supporting a ban on Hydraulic Fracturing withing the geographical footprint of Fallsburg.

Chesapeake Energy's Aubrey McClendon Modern Day Whimpy

There are a lot of terms one could use to describe Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy...flamboyant, egotistical, eccentric, brash, self-absorbed, shyster depending on your opinion of him, and the company he co-founded...but perhaps the simplest and most appropriate description of the man is to state he is the modern day Whimpy of Popeye fame, telling his investor's and those he seems to make deals with, "I'll gladly deliver you Natural Gas next Tuesday for a few billion today."

From Wiki

Hamburgers are Wimpy's all-time favorite dish, and he is usually seen carrying or eating one or more at a time – e.g. in Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor he is seen grinding meat or eating burgers almost the entire time – however, he is usually too cheap to pay for them himself. A recurring joke involves Wimpy's attempts to con other patrons of the diner into buying his meal for him. His best-known catchphrase started in 1931 as "Cook me up a hamburger. I'll pay you Thursday." In 1932, this then became the famous "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today". This phrase is now commonly used to illustrate fiscal irresponsibility and still appears in modern comedies such as The Drew Carey Show and The Office

In Aubrey McClendon's quest to corner the (un)Natural Gas shale plays, to push himself upward into a higher ranking of his billionaire status, he has basically conned investors, the general public and America.  Chesapeake for far too long now has been selling Whimpy's promise, telling investors "We'll gladly sell you a share of this play or that play, will gladly promise you a percentage of the whole when at some future date when it is drilled, if you give us X Billions of dollars today."  McClendon's plan it seems....double down, sell off promises (IE...the company wants to raise $2 Billion by selling a percentage of advanced sales of output in Texas and Oklahoma) of future deliverable s, or better yet, run out the company's cash reserves, deliberate push it into bankruptcy and come out the other end whole while all those who invested in the company take a blood bath.

Sadly, Aubrey McClendon seems to be the poster child for the (un)Natural Gas industry, the whole bloody lot of them prepared to say anything that gets them what they want...the right to FRACK at all costs anywhere and everywhere that shale can be found.  They have bought off politicians, spied (illegally) on those who oppose them, and spent tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars on a propaganda campaign worthy of comparisons to Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich.  How many of us have seen the commercial where Eric Oswald of Exxon tells us, "...we recognize the challenges, and how important it is to do this right".  Exxon and Chesapeake are the two biggest players in the (un)Natural Gas speculation game, the two biggest hucksters trying to sell America and the world on Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing...can they, and the information they have provided to those who are supposed to be regulating them be trusted?

Chesapeake Energy's financial woes and questionable business practices should lead everyone to one logical conclusion...no, the industry cannot be trusted, and they will NOT GET IT RIGHT.  States like Maryland, Ohio and New York should simply pass a BAN  ALL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FOR (un)NATURAL GAS...BAN FRACKING.  Problem is, we all know most politicians in positions of authority are as inherently dishonest as the Aubrey McClendon's of the world, each doing their own version of Whimpy as they tell campaign donors, "I will gladly pass laws that favor you when elected if you open up your wallets today." 

 Take our own governor here in New York...he's already bought into the Natural Gas scam, has already decided that extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale is far more important than the health of New York's citizens, far more important than our fresh water supplies, far more important than preserving our state parks and natural resources.

Wake up citizens...Whimpy was a CON MAN, and pretty much everyone involved in the (un)Natural Gas industry is no different than this hamburger guzzling character of Popeye fame.

PS...in breaking news of the too little too late variety....Aubrey McClendon is partially being pushed out at Chesapeake, being stripped of his role as Chairman.

Governor (Frack Me Now) Cuomo Trying To Fast Track Allowing Fracking in New York...Sign Petition to Ban Fracking

Make no bones about it...Governor Cuomo has fracked gas on his hands, frack money in his pockets, and rosy red lips from kissing to much gas ass...he is trying to force through fracking regulations that fall far short of protecting our communities, and we in the Anti-Fracking Camp are trying to stop him and the (un)Natural Gas industry that has spent tens of millions of dollars here in New York on FALSE ADVERTISING...propaganda that is.

Ban Fracking-Protect Our Water and Resources

You can help in the fight by reading the latest press release from "Food and Water Watch" clicking on the link and signing the petition, then taking the link to this article and emailing it to your friends...BETTER YET, put the link to this article up on your Facebook Page....we need to reach 150,000 signatures and have just 6 more days to reach our goal.

PRESS RELEASE

Sign the petition to Ban Fracking Now! We are just shy of our goal to deliver 150,000 signatures to our legislators on May 3rd.

After attending the Senate Fracking Forum in Albany yesterday, I thought it essential to reach out to you at this critical time. Despite the proliferation of questions regarding health and safety, Governor Cuomo's administration is poised to finalize regulations that would allow fracking in New York, and we must stop it! Will you add your name to the letters urging our elected officials to support a ban on fracking?

My colleague, Eric, sent the below email to you back in February asking for you to take action. Since then, many legislators have stepped forward in support of legislation to ban fracking; yet others are still under the impression that we would be able to regulate this mess. How can we regulate a process that still poses more questions than answers?

Regulations aren't free. They cost the public money and they tie up government personnel. Wouldn't it be better to invest in a clean energy future and Ban Fracking Now?

We are organizing several events around the state where we will be delivering petition signatures to our elected officials on May 3rd. Please take moment to sign the letters to our elected officials urging them to support a ban on fracking in New York:
http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8617

Thanks for taking action,

Corinne Rosen
New York Organizer
Food & Water Watch

FRACKING Ban on Agenda for Town of Fallsburg Board Work Session Tomorrow Night, April 16th

Why Fallsburg MUST Ban Fracking...would you want this for your children?

 Stuff Happens...too often with fracking.

Just a heads up for all those within the "Town of Fallburg" geographical footprint...Fracking is on the agenda, and I will be asking the town to consider passing a complete ban on the industry practice known as Hydraulic Fracturing. I would encourage all those opposed to fracking to find the time to be there...Fracking is on the agenda at exactly 6 PM.

Below is text of the presentation:

Members of the board for the town of Fallsburg, attending members of the public, I am here tonight asking you to amend our zoning rules and regulations to ban Hydraulic Fracturing and its various and assorted related activities within the geographical footprint of the town of Fallsburg.   Some folks, including members of this board, in my opinion would see such a ban as un-necessary, their belief based upon natural industry studies that claim our area of Sullivan County is not likely to see fracking due to the shallow nature of the Marcellus Shale in our immediate area.

Simply stated, not likely is a very ambiguous phrase with enough room to drive a fleet of trucks filled with contaminated fracking fluids through, and at some point, the Natural Gas industry will do exactly that in some way, shape or form if we as a community do not take the steps necessary now to protect ourselves, our community, our environment, and our fresh drinking water supplies.  

The industry is spending tens of millions of dollars in what amounts to a propaganda campaign.  They promise hundreds of thousands of jobs, they promise us cheap energy, and most importantly, they promise us that the job will be done right.  

First, there will not be hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the jobs created will not see hundreds, let alone thousands of Sullivan County citizens hired...the industry has a funny way of counting, used what could be called fuzzy math in calculating how many jobs will be created…if a local diner starts using say natural gas, the industry would want to claim that the job of dishwasher was a job created as a result of their industry.  If there is a major explosion at a well pad that causes serious injuries to someone, and that someone going forward required home health care, the Natural Gas industry will say even that accident CREATED JOBS.

Cheap energy?  We all know the basic rule of supply and demand.  The natural gas industry is getting government at all levels to hand out our tax dollars in the name of Natural Gas and cheap energy, the state of Pennsylvania as example doling out almost $50 million to communities to change over their fleets to Natural Gas…well, as the demand begins to rise, so will the price, and it will not be too far down this path before we are paying $4.00 a gallon for Natural Gas, just as we pay $4.00 a gallon now for gasoline.  In the not so long haul, cheap fuel/energy promised by those wanting to frack our communities is a myth.

They promise the job will be done right.  Fact is, much like the waste from the nuclear industry, the Natural Gas industry does not know what to do with their own wastes, literally billions upon billions of gallons of chemically contaminated and radioactive water.  Right now, they want to either A) inject it into the ground…problematic from several standpoints including a belief by some including the Ohio EPA that said injection is causing earthquakes, or B) they want to haul the water off too local sewage treatment plants for treatment, then have said water dumped into our rivers and streams.

A simple Google search will show all of us numerous examples of problems with fracking…what you will find is three things that stand out.

1.        There are a lot of accidents, from well blow outs, faulty valves, too busted lagoons that were meant to hold the contaminated water.  There are numerous examples of contaminated wells, and for  every accident, every contaminated water supply, the industry in every case claims it is not responsible, is not the guilty party.

2.       Lots of excuses as everyone in the industry wants to blame it on someone or something else.  It was human error, it was an equipment malfunction, it was MOTHER NATURE!

3.       Lots of attorneys, who acting as Natural Gas industry hired guns look at ruined communities and say, “PROVE IT WAS US”.

The big question seems to be, can the natural gas industry extract all the gas that is supposed to be in the Marcellus Shale, and do it safely.  Their own industry experts admit that Hydraulic Fracturing is not without risk…which brings us to the central point of why I am asking this board to ban fracking.  We as a community cannot afford those risks, nor can we afford the costs should fracking come to our community.  Furthermore, our own laws as written make it apparent that Natural Gas drilling and its associated industrial acts and process does not fall into the town of Fallsburg land use plans, and not passing a ban on fracking should raise the question, “Are those elected officials sworn to uphold our town laws and to protect our citizens derelict in their duties”?

The Town of Fallsburg Zoning Code as adopted in Article 1, Section 310-1.2 specifically instructs the town in sections A-E, charges the towns elected officials and employees with the following duties and responsibilities:

To preserve the character and rural scenic beauty of the landscape and protect this gateway to the Catskill Forests from inharmonious and destructive uses of land; (emphasis added)

Create an orderly pattern of growth by encouraging concentration of new residential development (emphasis added) in areas that can conveniently be serviced with public facilities and discouraging intensive residential development in areas of difficult accessibility that would involve excessive costs for road improvements, road maintenance, school bus transportation and utility installation;

Regulate population density to reflect the desired character of the Town;

Prevent intrusion of incompatible uses into residential areas, by establishing proper standards for improvements in new residential developments and preserving, protecting and enhancing natural beauty wherever possible; (emphasis added)

Provide for open spaces and to preserve the natural and scenic qualities of lands; (emphasis added)

Furthermore, the town of Fallsburg Zoning Code in Chapter 141 Fresh Water Wetlands in Section 141-1 specifically instructs the town, charges the town’s elected officials and employees with the following duties and responsibilities: 

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the protection, preservation and conservation of the freshwater wetlands within the boundaries of the “Town of Fallsburg”, pursuant to and in accordance with all of the proceedings, concepts and definitions set forth in Article 24 of the Environmental Conservation Law and Title 23 of Article 71 of such law relating to the enforcement of Article 24, as such law may from time to time be amended.

Everything about hydraulic fracturing runs contrary to these charges you as a board have been given, and changing our zoning rules and regulations to ban FRACKING would in fact fit harmoniously into the towns stated goals as relates to land use in our geographical footprint.  Furthermore, though it is freely admitted that our town does not have the right to regulate the industry, two recent court decisions have shown that we and every community in the state of New York do have the right to REGULATE LAND USE, and a ban on fracking in Fallsburg would be exactly that…regulating land use.  Moreover, for various reasons, now is the time to pass such a zoning ordinance into law.

1.        My own investigations lead me to believe that right now there are no lands in our community with Natural Gas leases (using horizontal hydraulic fracturing) on them.  This means passing a bill now banning fracking rather than later when and if there would be leases eliminates the towns worry that they could be subject to a takings act…this point was discussed with an attorney with the “Natural Resources Defense Counsel”

2.       When and if it is proven by the Natural Gas industry that they can extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale safely, and without contaminating our air, water and land, the town could consider changing the ordinance that bans fracking, but it is prudent right now for us to take steps to protect ourselves…it would be too late down the road if we found out fracking was coming to our community to take such protective measures.

3.       Passing such a ban would send a clear signal to the world that Fallsburg cares more about clean water, a pristine environment, breathable air and people’s health than it cars about the profits of companies like Cabot Oil, Exxon and Chesapeake Energy, and that in turn has the very real chance of seeing truly green businesses and industry giving us a closer look when they are looking for a new community in which to locate their business.

Fallsburg has nothing to lose in passing such a ban on fracking, but everything to lose if this board fails to pass such a ban, and months or a couple years later Hydraulic Fracturing finds its way into our community.  Therefore, I am asking you to pass the ban on fracking I am requesting on behalf of all those citizens opposed to Hydraulic Fracturing in our community, and am asking you to use the frame work included in this document.  

If anyone has questions, will do my best to answer them.

Proposed Amendments to Town of Fallsburg Zoning Ordinance

The Town of Fallsburg Zoning Ordinance is herby amended as follows:

1.       Section (insert proper section) Definitions is amended by adding new definitions to read as follows:

“Natural Gas” shall mean any gaseous substance, either combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarified state at standard temperature and pressure condition, and/or gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or other hydrocarbons.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration” shall mean geologic or geophysical activities related to the search for natural gas, petroleum or other subsurface hydrocarbons including prospecting, geophysical and geologic seismic surveying and sampling techniques, which include but are not limited to core or rotary drilling or making an excavation in the search and evaluation or natural gas, petroleum, or other subsurface hydrocarbon deposits.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Materials” shall mean any solid, semi-solid, liquid, semi-liquid or gaseous material used in the exploration or extraction of natural gas.

“Natural Gas Exploration and/or Petroleum Production Wastes” shall mean any garbage, refuse, cuttings, sludge, flow-back fluids, produced waters or other discarded materials, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material that results from or is associated with the exploration, drilling or extraction of natural gas and/or petroleum.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Extraction” shall mean the digging or drilling of a well for the purposes of exploring for, developing or producing natural gas, petroleum or other subsurface hydrocarbons.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Support Activities” shall mean the construction, use, or maintenance of a storage or staging yard, a water or fluid injection station, a water or fluid gathering station, a natural gas or petroleum gathering line, venting station, or compressor with the exploration or extraction of natural gas or petroleum.

2.       Section (insert proper section) is amended by adding a new section (insert proper section) to read as follows:

            Section (insert new section code here) Prohibited Uses

A)      Prohibition against the Exploration for or Extraction of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum.

No land in the Town of Fallsburg (and it geographical/governmental outlaying footprint) shall be used: to conduct any exploration for natural gas and/or petroleum; to drill any well for natural gas; to transfer, store, process or treat natural gas; or to dispose of natural gas exploration or production wastes; or to erect any derrick, building or other structure; or to place any machinery or equipment for any such purposes.

B)     Prohibition against the Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Materials.

No land in the Town (and it geographical/governmental outlaying footprint) shall be used for:  the storage, transfer, treatment and/or disposal of natural gas and/or petroleum exploration and production materials.

C)     Prohibition against the Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Wastes.

No land in the Town shall be used for: the storage transfer, treatment and/or disposal of natural gas and/or petroleum exploration and production wastes.

D)      Prohibition against Natural Gas and/or Support Activities.

No land in the Town shall be used for natural gas and/or petroleum support activities.

3.      These amendments shall take effect upon adoption and publication as provided by law.

500th Post...Help NRDC Keep FRACKING Out of Catskill Park!

Companies Like Chesapeake Energy Want to Destroy This

Seems somehow appropriate that our 500th post deals with the dangerous practice of Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing, and keeping it out of our state parks.  Visit NRDC's page on this important topic and take the time to tell Governor Cuomo and the NYDEC that you do not want them allowing the (un)Natural Gas industry to begin drilling inside the Catskill Park, which is one of the oldest parks in America.

FROM NRDC

Help Keep Fracking Out of the Catskill Park!

Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are poised to let energy giants drill for natural gas on private lands inside the Catskill Park using the environmentally destructive practice of "fracking." Opening up this spectacular BioGem to drilling could despoil one of our nation’s first parks and threaten the drinking water of millions throughout the state.

Tell Governor Cuomo and the DEC to block oil and gas companies from fracking inside the Catskill Park and to protect this wilderness treasure that belongs to all New Yorkers.

Catskill Campaign Page

"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

This is an oft quoted phrase, supposedly spoken by Jesus, representative of the line between Church and state...what then do we say to define that line between government and personal rights and property? More importantly, just what is Caesar's? Just what is God's, and what is ours as individuals?  In these troubling times we live in, these are not intellectual questions to be discussed over martinis by those fortunate enough to be in that one percent who seem to rule over the rest of us...Modern day Caesar's bent on accumulating their wealth at the expense of the proverbial uncleansed masses.

Down through the ages of Industrialized America there is example after example of individuals, groups, and communities being forced to pay the ultimate price in the name of progress, or in the name of National Security. The latest example being the current war over Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing, though moving backward from that point, the examples are numerous with perhaps the most notable one being poorly regulated nuclear energy, another the extraction of coal in states such as West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.  

Energy...At what cost?

There is a term in environmental enforcement that is defined on the NRC website called ALARA.  This acronym is short for, "as low as (is) reasonably achievable."  The verse goes on to say, "which means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to ionizing radiation as far below the dose limits as practical, consistent with the purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed materials in the public interest.

Who decides what is reasonably achievable...can we say big business, can we say government?  Just who and what is being protected in this ALARA...too often it is not the public, it is not the host community, but instead it is company profits, and a government agenda.  Here is a fact...the United States Federal Government knows that a certain number of people in a host community will contract a cancer living within close proximity to a nuclear reactor, but they A) do not care, and B) will not admit that some people will die in the name of nuclear energy as long as their licensee is within whatever current exposure limits are established under this concept of as low as reasonably (read affordable for the company) achievable standard.

Should rendering to Caesar that which is Caesar's include giving up our lives in the name of the "Greater Societal Good", in the name of a "National Energy Policy"?  At what point are individuals, or small communities allowed to say no, at what point are we as oppressed communities allowed to use force to stop what is the systematic rape of our communities and our resources...in the case of Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing for example, we are being asked to risk our health, our environment, our pristine rural way of life, and our drinking water supplies in the name of Natural Gas Industry profits, in the name of the United States of America's Energy Policy.

Let us be clear...there are health risks that will come with Natural Gas wells being drilled in our communities. Some of those risks will contribute too, or cause the early death of some at risks citizens.  Let us be clear, there will be accidents, and there will be examples where communities or private citizens water supplies will be negatively impacted.  Should any government be allowed the right to force us to accept these risks, should they be allowed to expect us to render unto Caesar that which Caesar feels is a right of entitlement because such sacrifices being asked of us are good for the "Greater Society".  Or instead, if the desires of government place our health, safety and community in danger, should we be allowed to "Just say no"?  If the needs wants and hungers of a greedy capitalist company depend upon the rape of our lands, or in some cases the taking of them, should we not be allowed to use force to stop such wrongful actions?

Perhaps as I approach those proverbial end times, more of my life over than life left to live, I have not the patience for the lies being perpetrated by both government and industry.  Perhaps I have seen too many people have their lives shortened, their quality of life stolen away by industrial processes which are poorly regulated by government.  Perhaps I realize in being silent, we are losing our collective voice and with that lost voice we are losing not just our freedoms, but all that which is ours.  Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, but the time has come to redefine just what it is that Caesar should be allowed to claim as his own.

Fracking Foes Yesterday Marched In Albany

Average Law Abiding Citizens Seek Ban on Fracking

The fracking war continues as well funded Industry Lobbyist try buying off government officials at every level of our government, from the local politician to the halls of Congress in Washington, DC.  Meanwhile, average every day citizens are continuing the good fight, trying to save our water, our health, and our pristine environment here in New York state, many of those average citizens taking yesterday off from work to get in buses to head to Albany to march down the halls of our Legislative Building seeking articulate, intelligent elected officials who willing to listen to their call for an "Out Right Ban" on hydraulic fracturing here in New York state, and there are ever mounting numbers of reason to pass a bill that would create such a ban.

The old adage says, "where there is smoke there is fire" and with each passing day, week, there is mounting evidence that "Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing" causes lots of problems, and does contaminate both our water, and our environment, that there is FIRE that the industry is trying to sweep under the carpet.  

There is also ever mounting proof that the Natural Gas industry is playing a con game on both America, and the world in the name of PROFITS and shale gas drilling.  No better example of this can be found than the industry's claim that Hydraulic Fracturing has been done safely now for 60 years...NOT EXACTLY.  They are comparing apples to oranges.  Vertical Horizontal fracking has been used for 60 years, and on average uses maybe 60,000 gallons of water to frack a well, and is done at much shallower depths.  

Horizontal Fracking in many cases drills down into Mother Earth over a mile deep, then horizontally drills just as far sideways...so, a mile deep, and a mile in any direction is much different than singular bore hole vertical fracking.  No greater example of the difference can be found in these two diametrically opposing techniques than looking at the huge amount of water needed to frack just one Horizontal well....these horizontal wells use on average more than 2.5 MILLION GALLONS of our precious water supplies.  Do the math folks....60,000 gallons verse 2.5 million gallons per well...and don't forget the CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS mixed in with that 2.5 million gallons of water.

Want another con...Cabot was excused from delivering water to the citizens of Dimock Pennsylvania even though they CONTAMINATED THE WATER SUPPLIES, and now in Dimock and other communities where fracking is taking place, the US EPA is delivering citizens drinkable water AT THE TAXPAYER's EXPENSE!  That's right...the (un)Natural Gas industry comes in, drills for gas, contaminates wells and underground water aquifers, then leaves out of town leaving the burden and expenses of repairing the damage they did on WE THE PEOPLE.

Norma Fiorentino’s drink­ing water well was a time bomb. For weeks, work­ers in her small north­east­ern Penn­syl­va­nia town had been plumb­ing nat­ural gas deposits from a drilling rig a few hun­dred yards away. They cracked the earth and pumped in flu­ids to force the gas out. Some­how, stray gas worked into tiny crevasses in the rock, leak­ing upward into the aquifer and slip­ping qui­etly into Fiorentino’s well. Then, accord­ing to the state’s work­ing the­ory, a motor­ized pump turned on in her well house, flicked a spark and caused a New Year’s morn­ing blast that tossed aside a con­crete slab weigh­ing sev­eral thou­sand pounds.

Fiorentino wasn’t home at the time, so it’s dif­fi­cult to know exactly what hap­pened. But after­ward, state offi­cials found methane, the largest com­po­nent of nat­ural gas, in her drink­ing water. If the fumes that built up in her well house had col­lected in her base­ment, the explo­sion could have killed her.

As yourselves Sullivan County residents..."can our rural community afford the costs that come with Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing?"  All those heavy trucks will take a heavy toll on our rural roads, but the Natural Gas industry is not going to pick up the tab to repair them.  Some of us, perhaps a large number of us will see our fresh water supplies negatively impacted, perhaps even forever RUINED, but the (un)Natural Gas industry has already shown their true colors, will not be there picking up the tab when we have no choice but to BUY WATER to drink, cook, and clean with.  Some of us will suffer very serious, even deadly negative health impacts...the (un)Natural Gas industry is not going to be there to pay our medical bills, is not going to give us a pay check when we are too sick to work.

The time has come for every small hamlet, village, town and city in our county to demand local legislation BANNING FRACKING.  It is time for our state officials in Albany to do the right thing and pass a law that BANS FRACKING, and it is time for Governor Cuomo to SIGN THAT BILL INTO LAW.