Learn From Pennsylvania, Don’t Frack With New York

Have you ever experienced water so toxic coming out of a faucet that you could set it alight? As a result of hydraulic fracturing, homeowners in Pennsylvania have experienced just that. These are risks to which, until recently, New York has turned a blind eye.

New York municipalities, such as Buffalo, have now taken it upon themselves to ban the practice within their borders. While this is largely symbolic move, it sends a powerful message to Albany – that the state must heed the hazards of “hydrofracking” and take aggressive steps to protect the state’s most precious resource – drinking water.

Governor Cuomo must make a bold departure from the tepid regulatory efforts of the previous administration. Recently, outgoing-Governor Paterson imposed a 7-month moratorium on the practice, vetoing a broader bill passed by the state legislature, however, this so-called anti-fracking win largely rung hollow.

While Paterson’s executive order acknowledges the environmental and health threats posed by “fracking,” it fails to truly mitigate them. In fact, the moratorium leaves open a major loophole for the powerful oil and gas industry to continue prepping for future fracking – and with a new Governor at the helm, prep they will.

The current moratorium only applies to horizontal wells – not vertical shale wells – which means companies can continue drilling deep into the mile-deep rock formations without interference. Come summer, when the ban expires, they will be poised to pump an undisclosed cocktail of chemicals into the ground in pursuit of natural gas below the surface.

Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 2005, hydraulic fracturing is exempt from federal regulation that requires drillers to disclose what substances they inject into the ground. A recent study identified at least 65 probable chemicals in the fluids used by shale gas drillers; they include benzene, glycol-ethers, toluene, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol, and nonylphenols, all of which are toxic to humans at high levels.

Residents of New York’s southern tier have experienced the dangers of toxic drinking water first hand and have reported foul smells in their tap water. In some instances, gas well pipes have broken, resulting in leakage of contaminants into the surrounding ground and allegedly poisoning the water supply.

The small town of Dimock, Pennsylvania was ecologically devastated after Cabot Oil and Gas drilled dozens of wells in the area. Faulty cement casing was the suspected cause of the contaminated local water wells, which, in turn, drove down property prices and caused residents to get sick from exposure to methane and other chemicals. State environmental regulators eventually fined the company and ordered the permanent shutdown of three wells, but the damage cannot be undone.

Unfortunately, there are towns similar to Dimock who have found themselves in the same situation. The Pennsylvania Land and Trust Association reports 1,435 violations by 43 Marcellus Shale drilling companies over the past two years. Of those, 952 were identified as having a likely impact on the environment.

These problems are preventable. Our government must take notice of the serious effects fracking can have on both our health, and our environment. Every precaution must be taken in order to insure that these issues will not be issues we, and or families, have to contend with.

New leadership in Albany has the opportunity take note of these issues and to make the necessary changes to ensure our safety, which could result in a total hydraulic fracturing ban. If you have been affected by fracking or water contamination, you may be eligible for compensation. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are here to help; simply fill in the free case evaluation form today.