NY Water Rangers Applaud Assembly on Passage of Fracking Health Study Measure

Groups Praise NYS Assembly for Acting to Protect New Yorkers from Fracking

ALBANY, NY (06/20/2012)(readMedia)-- In response to the New York State Assembly's passage of A.10234 today, legislation that would direct a school of public health within the State University of New York system to conduct a comprehensive health impact assessment of industrial gas drilling by means of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

"The New York State Assembly showed true leadership today by insisting that science, not politics, guide the state's decision regarding whether industrial gas drilling by means of fracking should be permitted in New York. To date, the state has failed to conduct an independent, comprehensive evaluation of fracking's health impacts--a serious omission in the state's environmental review.

Following the recommendation of more than 250 physicians and health professionals, thousands of New Yorkers, and dozens of environmental and community groups, legislators in the Assembly, particularly Speaker Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Sweeney, deserve praise for passing legislation that would require an independent study of fracking's health impacts. The Assembly is leading the charge to provide state leaders with the science necessary to make an informed decision about gas drilling. A full assessment of fracking's health impacts must be completed before a decision can be made about whether or not gas drilling is permitted in New York.

Today's demonstration in Albany, with more than 100 people and dozens of organizations criticizing the Governor's proposal to frack in select counties, reinforces the need to make decisions based on science, which a health impacts assessment would help provide.

The New York Water Rangers now call on the State Senate and Governor Cuomo to do what it takes to fully understand fracking's health impacts and protect New Yorkers for generations to come."

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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.