Governor Cuomo, NYS Senate Block Assembly Efforts to Study Fracking's Health Impacts

ALBANY, NY (03/26/2012)(readMedia)-- In response to the release of relevant sections of the state budget for 2012-13, the New York Water Rangers, Frack Action, and Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter released the following statement:

"Based on what we've seen of the state budget, New York's leaders should drop their false rhetoric of studying the science of fracking. By refusing to budget for an independent health impacts assessment, Governor Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Skelos are ignoring the Medical Society of New York, the Academy of Family Physicians, the Nurses Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics District II, more than 250 physicians, scientists, and other healthcare experts and professional associations, tens of thousands of New Yorkers, and dozens of environmental groups who recognize the lack of such a study as a fatal flaw in the state's fracking plans.

The Governor insists that science will determine if New York State allows industrial gas drilling by means of fracking. But failing to study gas drilling's health impacts is another an example of science being ignored as negative heath effects among people and animals living near gas facilities have been documented nationwide, including as close as Pennsylvania.

The Assembly, particularly Speaker Silver, Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Sweeney, and Health Committee Chair Gottfried, deserve praise for calling for an independent study of fracking's health impacts.

It's not too late for our leaders to support an independent study of fracking's health impacts, which must be completed before a science-driven decision can be made about whether gas drilling is permitted in New York."

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The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources-water-from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environment New York, Fleased, Natural Resources Defense Council, Otsego 2000, and Riverkeeper. Visit www.CleanWaterNotDirtyDrilling.org to learn more.