ALBANY – The State Department of Environmental Conservation Monday officially banned hydro-fracking in New York by issuing its formal findings statement.
That document concludes that there are no feasible or prudent alternatives that adequately avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts and address risks to public health from this activity.
Catskill Mountainkeeper was one of the many organizations opposed to fracking. “This gives new meaning to the bumper sticker ‘I Love New York,” said the group’s program director, Wesley Gillingham.
“It’s really encouraging to see a government agency look at the science and look the information the people across New York supplied with them to show that this is not safe to our health and environment and said no,” Gillingham said.
Not everyone supported a ban on fracking. The oil industry and others said a ban will cost the state hundreds, if not, thousands of jobs and a needed fuel source.
Environmental Advocates of New York associate Liz Moran called the ban “a very big step forward,” but she said another obstacle remains, that being the need to ban out-of-state fracking waste from being dumped in New York.
“When it comes to the proposed industrialization of New York State’s rural landscape, we’ve taken a strong stand for the protection of New York’s historic and cultural assets,” said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of New York State.
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