January 12, 2012
Water Rangers Echo U.S. EPA Criticisms Of NYS Fracking Proposals
ALBANY, NY (01/12/2012)–In response to the release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s comments on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s proposals to guide industrial gas drilling called ‘fracking,’ the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:
“Like Congressman Maurice Hinchey and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the US Environmental Protection Agency has identified significant flaws in the state’s fracking proposals, particularly inadequate plans to treat hazardous wastewater, questions about unsafe levels of radiation in fracking waste, and the absence of any consideration of the environmental impacts of the infrastructure associated with fracking, such as pipelines and compressor stations. The EPA went so far as to recommended again that the Public Service Commission be made a party to the proceedings to assess and mitigate potential negative impacts.
The Water Rangers, a partnership of environmental and community groups working to protect New York’s waters and communities from the dangers of fracking, identified the ‘Top 10’ Flaws in the state’s fracking proposals last year, including the state’s failure to analyze health impacts or assess the costs related to fracking. The groups contend that without a hard, unbiased look at such omissions, as well as those referenced by Congressman Hinchey, the DEP and the EPA, Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature cannot responsibly allow industrial gas drilling in New York.”