Real Questions That Have No Reasonable Answers

Here are some questions still unanswered in an article about a study of gas drilling in New York:

Fracking in Floodplains – The recent and tragic flooding in the Catskills and other parts of upstate New York following Tropical Storm Irene is further proof, if any is needed, that floodplains are no place for industrial activities, including gas drilling. While the state is correctly proposing to prohibit well-pad development in floodplains, it would apparently allow other fracking-related activities (infrastructure, holding ponds, etc) in and under such areas.

Impacts on Local Communities from Rapid Industrialization – The state’s draft study does not provide an effective mechanism to insure that local communities will be protected from the overwhelming industrial onslaught that comes with fracking (from heavy drilling and excavating equipment, to traffic, air and water pollution, and the like) should drilling proceed in a particular area.

Disposal of Hazardous Fracking Wastewaters – There are currently no wastewater treatment plants in New York State equipped to treat wastewaters from high-volume fracking operations. And the draft study is unacceptably vague on what will become of the tens of millions of gallons of toxic wastewaters produced in NYS if fracking operations move forward here.

Continuing Threats to NYC and Syracuse Water Supply Infrastructure – While wisely proposing to place the unfiltered New York City and Syracuse watersheds off limits to fracking, the draft study provides very limited protection, if any, to the critical aqueducts and tunnels that carry water from our reservoirs. From a public health and emergency preparedness standpoint, allowing risky drilling activities to occur near aging and vulnerable water supply infrastructure is an unreasonable risk.