Here's an e-mail we received from Maria Passannante-Derr , candidate for New York City Council:
Last month, as a member of Community Board #2 and the Environmental Committee, I voted to demand a ban of natural gas drilling in New York State.
In passing the resolution, we joined the calls of Councilman James Gennaro and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in requiring that the NYS Legislature, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Governor Paterson prohibit drilling for natural gas within the Catskill/Delaware watershed's boundaries in Ulster, Delaware, Greene and Sullivan Counties in Upstate New York.
Without swift action by Gov. Paterson, this dangerous, untested "hydraulic fracturing" drilling could begin as early as this summer - leading to contamination of our drinking water.
You can join the campaign against drilling by signing the petition at:
http://www.mariaforcouncil09.com/petition/
Hydraulic fracturing drilling requires that huge amounts of water infused with toxic chemicals be infused into the rock formations at high pressure to cause fractures that create a natural gas well. In one study, thirty percent of four toxic components of diesel fuel used in the drilling process was left behind, possibly leading to its migration into ground-water aquifers or leakage into the earth.
At least nine states using hydraulic fracturing drilling, including Wyoming, Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania have documented cases of leaks, spills and explosions, leading to irreversible consequences.
New Yorkers are supplied with ninety percent of its water through the largest unfiltered surface water system in the world, and contamination of the water supply could potentially be devastating to the environment and lead to a myriad of potential health risks to residents, from respiratory and neurological illnesses to cancer.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has not conducted adequate testing to determine if the controversial technique used to drill for natural gas is polluting the drinking water of reservoirs that provide water to 14 million people living in or near New York City.
Sign the petition to protect our drinking water:http://www.mariaforcouncil09.com/petition/
We have too much at stake to ignore the possible consequences of drilling near our primary supply with too few safeguards in place to protect New York City residents if the worst should happen.
Please visit my site to sign the petition and learn more about hydraulic fracturing drilling.
MPD