NYS PTA President Joins Call for Robust Assessment of Hydrofracking Health Impacts

NYS PTA President Maria Fletcher comments on hydrofracking, a national issue being played out in New York; advocates call for NYS to conduct robust health impact assessment, including on children and on public and private educational facilities in hydrofracking zones. Direct link to the media release: healthyschools.org/nys_hf_PressRelease-12-20-11.pdf

Hydrofracking Guidelines are being Developed

The Marcellus Shale is a deposit of natural gas located under much of the southern half of NYS. There is great interest in exploiting this resource through hydrofracking.

The main public health concern with this process is contamination and depletion of the clean water supply. Forty two schools in New York have private wells that would be directly threatened by hydrofracking. Public health impacts from this process are not being adequately addressed.

Guidelines for hydrofracking are currently being developed by New York State. The Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, which is the basis of developing the guidelines, is available for public comment until December 12, 2011, and we urge you to view and comment on it. www.dec.ny.gov

Comments can be e-mailed directly to Governor Cuomo at the addresses below.
www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

Facebook: Write your comments on Governor Cuomo’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/GovernorAndrewCuomo

In addition to commenting in writing, there will be opportunities to speak at public hearings. Each hearing will have a session from 1 to 4 p.m. and a session from 6 to 9 p.m.

The first hearing was held on Wednesday, November 16, at the Dansville Middle School auditorium at 31 Clara Barton St. in Dansville. The second one was held on Thursday, November 17, at the Forum Theatre at 236 Washington St. in Binghamton.

A third hearing will take place on Tuesday, November 29, at the Sullivan County Community College Seelig Theatre at 112 College Road in Loch Sheldrake. The final one will be on Wednesday, November 30, at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at 199 Chambers Street in New York City.

NYS PTA has adopted resolutions on Protection of Ground Water Supplies, etc. that support advocacy on this concern. (see page 7 of Where We Stand) We urge NYSPTA members to educate themselves on the risks of hydrofracking, and to advocate for protections for the air, land and water of NYS.