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Permalink Reply by Neal on February 9, 2012 at 2:04pm

Anti-fracking protest outside Governor Cuomo's address

By: Kat De Maria

As Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his Executive Budget address in Syracuse Wednesday, protesters were outside with their own message, speaking out against hydrofracking in New York State. Our Kat De Maria has the details.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.--"Hey hey, Cuomo, hydrofracking's got to go!" chanted the protesters. Their message is loud and clear.

"We're just demonstrating today and also speaking our minds, sending Governor Cuomo a message that we don't want fracking in New York State," said Renee Vogelsang, an organizer with Frack Action.

The message is also well-rehearsed. The people spreading it are a small group representing organizations from Central New York and the Southern Tier who essentially follow the governor.

"We really need to get the ear of Governor Cuomo, wherever he is. He's obviously talking about the budget today. We certainly want to make sure there's no money, there's nothing in the budget that has anything to do with hydraulic fracturing," Vogelsang said.

YNN

Permalink Reply by Neal on February 9, 2012 at 2:08pm

College trustees facing fracking decision

Meanwhile activists announce local town meeting
By Staff

Published: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Updated: Thursday, February 9, 2012 13:02

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Westminster College has some 300 acres of land in Lawrence County that energy companies want access to when it comes to Marcellus Shale gas well drilling. College officials confirm that companies are making offers to access the mineral rights beneath the campus.

While they will not say how much is being offered, the Westminster board of trustees must now address the issue. President Rick Dorman says the drilling will go on all around the campus and the board must now determine a policy on how the campus community manages it.

Dorman stresses the board does not have a position of supporting or opposing the hydraulic fracturing practice, known as fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is a process for extracting gas by injecting high volumes of water and chemicals into deep wells. It is a controversial process heralded by energy companies praising the production of new energy resources and jobs. Activists have decried it as untested and dangerous to the environment and health of local residents.

WCN

Permalink Reply by Neal on February 9, 2012 at 2:12pm

Erratic U.S. Oversight of Gas Fracking Cited by House Democrats

By Katarzyna Klimasinska - Feb 8, 2012 3:20 PM CT

Oversight of drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on federal land is “erratic and inconsistent” and in a decade led to about $300,000 in fines, according to report released by U.S. House Democrats.

The Interior Department avoids imposing fines for violations such as deficient casing and cementing, which may lead to tainting of drinking water, and lets some companies break rules while imposing penalties for identical breaches by competitors, according to the report on the House Natural Resources Committee Democrats’ website. The analysis covered cases from 1998 to 2011.

Bloomberg

Permalink Reply by Chris on February 10, 2012 at 1:19am

The $22K was probably donated by the drillers and gas companies. 

It would be in ones interest to have his well water thoroughly tested before fracking begins on adjoining land to prove contamination caused by fracking. It appears that evidence seems to be a problem in winning law suits for contaminated water.

Incidents where hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause of drinki... Lists a few cases of water contamination. There must be a lot of them.