ALBANY, NY (02/28/2011)(readMedia)-- Briefing for New York State leaders and lawmakers about what the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and State Legislature should do to better protect New York from the dangers of fracking for natural gas in the state's shale deposits. Hear from the experts on the potential negative environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing, known as "fracking," the careful considerations the state must make prior to allowing such drilling to proceed, and the potential economic impacts for New York's communities.
WHO: | Panelists will include Katherine Nadeau, Water & Natural Resources Program Director at Environmental Advocates of New York, Susan Christopherson, the J. Thomas Clark Professor of City & Regional Planning at Cornell University, and Roger Downs, Conservation Associate with Sierra Club - Atlantic Chapter. |
WHAT: | The gas industry is eager to drill in New York State. Companies propose to use a dangerous technique, called hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” to extract natural gas. Fracking endangers our drinking water and will turn parts of New York into industrial drilling zones. Each time a new well is drilled, 2 to 8 million gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals are required. With thousands of wells proposed, that means billions of gallons of water will be used annually. Withdrawing this volume of water from local waterways and aquifers could devastate sensitive habitats and drinking water. Recent events in Pennsylvania show how dangerous fracking can be when it’s not properly regulated. |
WHEN: | Monday February 28, 2011 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) |
WHERE: | Empire State Plaza Convention Center Meeting Room 5 Albany, New York 12204 |
NOTES: | The briefing will begin at noon and end at 1:30 p.m.. Panelists will take questions from the audience after 1 p.m. |