Hydrofracking Update
by Cynthia Owen Philip

As readers of my article on hydrofracking in the fall issue of AboutTown may have expected, the debate over the pros and cons of hydrofracturing for natural gas has heated up. Environmentalists are raising a hue and cry about the loose monitoring of the process as well as the process itself, which involves miles of boring with explosive chemical mixes and millions of gallons of water, at least half of which is returned to the surface polluted. It also relies on thousands of miles of necessarily vulnerable, subterranean pipeline to carry it to its destination, at home or abroad.

The gas companies repeat that their methods are safe, that fracking will not only produce a safer, cleaner, more secure source of energy that is domestically produced. They are proud of the technology that makes this feasible, and tout the jobs and effortless income the drilling brings to areas that sorely need it. Rather than needless worry, it should be cause for jubilation.

Both sides are reaching out to the public, the frackers with an expensive and subtly slick media campaign, while the environmentalist are fomenting citizen protests. Both sides are threatening lawsuits and pressuring local, state and national governments. There seems to be no middle ground. Like our Congress, each side is wedded to its own virtues.

New York State is now in the last stages of seeking public comment on hydrofracking. By the time this issue is on the streets, you will have only about a week to make your views known, which you can do by following the directions for filing comments at the NY Department of Environment website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/76838.html). If you don’t use a computer, go to a friend or to your public library to help you out. Make the effort, remembering that democracy only works when the people pitch in!