Press Briefing on Local, State, and Nat'l Efforts to Protect Public From Gas Drilling Threats

Federal officials wrap up multi-city public hearing, advocates outline course of action

ALBANY, NY (09/13/2010)(readMedia)-- Officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are hearing testimony this week on the controversial method of extracting gas -- known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." Fracking is when drillers blast millions of gallons of chemically-treated water into the earth to force the gas from tightly packed shale deposits.

As the last of these federal hearings gets underway in New York, experts, advocates, and affected residents will report on their initial impressions of the hearings, and outline the course ahead for securing adequate protections on industrial gas drilling at the local, state and national level – from New York and Pennsylvania to Wyoming.

WHO:

Kate Sinding, Natural Resources Defense Council

Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper

Roger Downs, Sierra Club, Atlantic Chapter

Deborah Goldberg, Earthjustice

Tracy Carluccio, Delaware Riverkeeper

Gwen Lachelt, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project
WHAT:

Environmental groups are hosting a phone-in press briefing on local, state, and national efforts to protect the public from gas drilling threats.
WHEN: Tuesday September 14, 2010 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: CALL INFORMATION: 866-790-1863 (no PIN required)
Outside the U.S. & Canada: 904-520-5759 (no PIN required)
New York
NOTES:

CALL INFORMATION: 866-790-1863 (no PIN required)

Outside the U.S. & Canada: 904-520-5759 (no PIN required)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kathleen Sutcliffe at (202) 667-4500 ext. 235, (202) 384-7157 or ksutcliffe@earthjustice.org

Erica Ringewald, (518) 462-5526 ext. 238, (518) 210-9903 or eringewald@eany.org

The call is for credentialed media only. A recorded playback of the press call will be available on request.