By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-881978.mp3
Albany, NY – Groups for and against drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus rallied in Albany today ... Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas attended both gatherings and files this report.
The pro-side of hydrofracking, a variation of natural gas drilling where sand and gas is pumped deep into the ground, is dominated by farmers and landowners, many of them from economically depressed areas of New York State. They believe they should be able to sell drilling rights in the economically depressed western Catskills and Southern Tier, and that lease terms along with proposed Department of Environmental Conservation rules will protect the, their water AND the landscape, while generating millions of dollars.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation is currently reviewing applications for hydrofracking, and still looking at whether the process should be legal in New York. Opponents to hydrofracking argue that the DEC fails to account for massive treatment of chemical-laced water after it is pumped into the ground to release the gas. Governor Paterson has already proposed taxing the process to generate revenue.