Talking Points
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Get more information in our report: The Case for a Ban on Gas Fracking |
The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) and proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing do not adequately protect residents of New York from the inherent risks of fracking. To fully protect New York’s public health, environment and economy, Governor Cuomo should ban fracking statewide.
The oil and gas industry have a terrible track record with fracking in other states. Accidents, leaks and spills have caused contamination of drinking water supplies and waterways, as well as farmland and livestock. Drinking water wells close to active drilling sites have high methane levels, some high enough to qualify as an explosion risk. The air emissions from fracking operations pollute the air and cause respiratory problems for neighboring residents.
Fracking operations industrialize rural communities. It takes thousands of truck trips to transport the water, chemicals and sand needed for each frack job. This heavy truck traffic increases traffic accidents in rural communities and stresses the local infrastructure, costing local municipalities for the road repairs. Fracking industrializes rural communities, affecting other vital industries like agriculture and tourism.
Furthermore, fracking wells decrease property values for properties with leases as well as neighboring properties. This could have widespread repercussions for the real estate market in New York. Property value declines undercut the tax base in rural communities.
Fracking is inherently unsafe and no amount of regulation can prevent the risks to New Yorkers. Governor Cuomo and the DEC should ban shale gas development in all of New York state.