New York Water Rangers See Omissions in Fracking Boosters' Report

ALBANY, NY (05/15/2012)(readMedia)-- In response to the release today of a report by the University at Buffalo's Shale Resources and Society Institute, "Environmental Impacts During Shale Gas Drilling: Causes, Impacts and Remedies," the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

"The report's emphasis on fracking's purported economic benefits indicates that it may not be an objective assessment of the efficacy of government oversight of fracking. The report attempts to deflect concerns about the documented dangers associated with fracking by focusing on only one indicator of fracking-related pollution – violations – and drawing rosy conclusions based on that limited information.

The report fails to consider other complex problems, such as those related to wastewater treatment and disposal, public health impacts, degraded air quality, and industrialization of communities, among others, all of which cannot be captured by a review of known violations. While the report reviewed violations that are documented by state regulators in Pennsylvania, a large number of violations are never found, reported, or resolved. It is premature for the authors to presume that problems are declining or would not occur in New York, as scientific understanding of the impacts of fracking is just beginning to emerge and regulations have not been updated to address the current and planned scope of industrial activity."

The New York Water Rangers continue to call on Governor Cuomo and his Department of Environmental Conservation to let science and strong protection of public health and the environment, and not industry propaganda, determine if fracking should be permitted in the Empire State.

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 CleanWaterNotDirtyDrilling.org to learn more.