Hydrofracking Hearing Draws Over 1000 In Dansville
Dansville, N.Y. - Hundreds of people shared their thoughts on hydrofracking at the state's first public hearing on the controversial issue.
More than 1,000 took in the hearing sessions held at Dansville Middle School auditorium, while others rallied outside.
"And it's an insult to the people that they're going to let these multi-national corporations come and walk all over us and poison our water and our children and our children's children," said Jamie Carestio.
During the first session, sixty-four people including residents and elected leaders spoke a few minutes about why they are for or against hydrofracking.
The process involves using millions of gallons of chemically treated water that is flushed through a horizontal well deep beneath
ground level in order to extract natural gas.
"Hydrofracking is not new, we've been doing it in this state for sixty years without environmental impact," said
Cathy Kenny, Associate Director of the New York State Petroleum Council.
An industry spokesperson said that process refers to vertical wells as opposed to the horizontal ones, which have yet to be approved.
One Steuben County town supervisor expressed concern over how hydrofracking could negatively impact local wineries.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency is in the midst of a study on hydraulic fracturing, with initial results expected in 2012, and the final report in 2014.
New York State's Department of Environmental Conversation is grappling with whether it is safe and how to regulate it.
Several other meetings are scheduled this month in other cities statewide.
DEC officials say the public comment period ends December 12th with a final decision expected in 2012.
The Center for Local State, and Urban Policy of the University of Michigan recently polled 525 Pennsylvania residents
about the pros and cons of hydrofracking. Its survey found that 41% saw more benefits than problems, while 33%
felt there were more problems than pluses. Finally, 26% said the problems and benefits were about equal.
