Fracking absent from State of State Opponents debate meaning of omission from governor’s speech by Michael Gannon
air and groundwater that supplies New York City are crossing their fingers. “I’m actually pleased,” said state Sen. ov. Cuomo received almost universal praise for his State of the State Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), a virAddress on Jan. 4, speaking boldly of ulent opponent of the practice. “I think Gov. Cuomo came into office where he wants the state to go in terms of the open to the idea of issuing permits for economy, energy, infrastructure and jobs. But some in New York City were hopeful drilling while we studied the effects on the this week because of something he did not air and water,” Addabbo said. “I say we shouldn’t even do say at all. that. We have a A printed transcript moratorium in of the governor’s 33page speech devoted place until the he fracking protesters six nondescript senDEC and [Environtences to the subject were some of the loudest mental Protection of hydraulic fracturAgency] repor ts protesters here. ing or fracking — the are out. Why issue controversial means permits yet?” And in my opinion, of extracting natural Cuomo’s off ice gas from shale rock did not comment they were heard.” by the high-pressure as to why the — State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. application of water deleted sentences and chemicals underwere removed. ground — in New Addabbo feels it York’s Southern Tier. Some of the chemi- just might have to do with the resistance cals are known carcinogens. from environmentalists primed for The sentences said the state’s Depart- Cuomo’s address. ment of Environmental Conservation con“The fracking protesters were some of tinues to study fracking’s potential impacts the loudest protesters here,” the senator on air and water, and continues to review said. “And in my opinion, they were heard.” more than 15,000 comments made at public If there is a more antifracking official than hearings around the state. Addabbo at the city level, it would be CounThe sentences were deleted from the cilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows). speech delivered in Albany, and those with Gennaro, a trained geologist and chairman concerns over how fracking could affect the of the council’s Environmental Protection Associate Editor
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Committee, also thinks the omission could be very significant. “As much as the governor and his people want to pursue fracking — and they do want to — I think they are running up against their own inconvenient truth,” Gennaro said, a reference to the title of a global warming documentary by former Vice President Al Gore. Gennaro said research is being conducted around the country to examine just how the chemicals can affect underground rock; whether they can migrate through the cracks and fissures created; and whether or not they might make the ground unstable should they migrate into fault areas. He supports a seven-mile buffer around drill sites, while the state right now is considering 1,000 feet. “There still is so much science on this we don’t know about,” Gennaro said. “Should we rush this given what we know regarding the risks?” The New York League of Conservation Voters gave Cuomo high marks for the energy portion of his speech, saying he made a welcome and serious commitment to initiatives like solar and wind power and green technology. “Environmentally, this is the best State of the State speech we’ve heard in at least five years,” said NYLCV spokesman Dan Hendrick. Nevertheless, he is every bit as convinced as Gennaro that hydrofracking is another way the governor wants to go. And
Gov. Andrew Cuomo
FILE PHOTO
he is far less optimistic about Cuomo’s omission than Addabbo. That said, Hendrick added that residents and elected officials must consider all public input, avail themselves of the best scientific studies, and demand and put in place the best protections possible. “It’s clear that this is one of the most controversial things New York State is facing,” Hendrick said. “And clearly the DEC is proceeding with its plans. Simply because he took it out of his speech does not mean he is Q not going to go ahead full steam.”
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