Extensive New NY Times Investigative Series on Gas Drilling Threats in PA.

[JPZenger]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/27/us/natural-gas-map.html?ref=naturalgas

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=pennsylvania%20gas%20environmental&st=cse

NY Times is printing an investigative series about threats from natural gas wells. The emphasis of at least the first articles is about Pennsylvania.

One aspect is that the wastewater has high levels of radioactivity, which the water is not treated to address and which no testing is required.

[Divernan]

1. Check out the interactive map accompanying this powerful investigative piece.

It will send chills down your spine to see the interactive map feature showing toxic contamination, drinking water intake plants drawing in contaminated waters, and public sewage treatment plants accepting industry wastewater, plus wells in the Pgh area with over 250 times the federal limit on radium - yes, radioactive water; well it's all beyond outrageous.
Our water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants are not equipped to either measure or screen all the toxic crap out of the water. Granted local communities could spend a fortune upgrading testing and treatment facilities to make our water safe again, but why should rate payers foot the bill for this pollution caused by Big Oil?

There are a lot of excellent comments following the Times article, especially those from medical doctors on the health impacts they've already observed. (My comment is #36.)


The article refers to Pennsylvania as being an extreme example of the costly problems of fracking. In other words, Pennsylvania should have the highest extraction tax of any state in the country, instead of giving Big Oil a free ride.

Philadelphia's City Council has taken unanimous action condemning the situation; I'd like to see Pittsburgh's Council and Allegheny County follow suit.

http://protectingourwaters.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/philadelphia-city-council-unanimously-passed-pro-moratorium-resolution-today-pressing-drbc-to-extend-deadline-hold-hearing-in-philadelphia/

The NYT article focuses on toxic environmental and health hazards. If you live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, or Delaware or have children or grandchildren living here, you need to be speaking out to your local, state and federal governments, including the EPA and the Delaware River Basin Commission.

The highly respected Medical Society of the State of New York has adopted a resolution on December 9, 2010 stating the following:
“RESOLVED, That the Medical Society of the State of New York supports a
moratorium on natural gas extraction using high volume hydraulic fracturing in New York State until valid information is available to evaluate the process for its potential effects on human health and the environment.”

I think this article in the New York Times starts the important process of informed consent that must proceed before further drilling is allowed not only in New York State, but in other states and other countries.