FRACKING BATTLEGROUND
New York State is becoming a major battleground in the struggle against fracking, and as activists, we must make our voices heard. A significant point has now been reached with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). New York State seemingly is in a showdown with the federal government's pro-fracking position.
Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting water, sand, and a multi-chemical cocktail (including carcinogens) at high pressure into rock formations thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. The chemicals that make up the fracking fluid are cause for concern. They may include, among other things, barium, strontium, benzene, glycol-ethers, toluene, 2-methoxyethoxy ethanol, arsenic, radon and nonylphenols. All have been linked to health disorders when human exposure is too high. Fracking has been linked to water contamination in a number of states, including Pennsylvania, where within the past two months there was an explosion pouring thousands of gallons of gas into the water supply.