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Albany, NY – One of the most controversial issues of modern times - Hydraulic Fracturing - the natural gas extraction process, was the subject of a New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Hearing in Albany. WAMC's Dave Lucas reports...
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens' testimony and subsequent question-and-answer session with the panel lasted more than two hours.
Martens fielded a battery of questions including fracking's impact on human health, the environment, the New York City watershed, tourism and farming. He vouched for the DEC's integrity and the DSGEIS process.
When asked about Pennsylvania's fracking problems, Commissioner Martens said New York's approach to dealing with and regulating the activity would be totally different. He said his department is working with the department of health when it comes to health issues...
"There's risk involved in every activity we permit at the agency, and this is another one," said Martens. "There are risks involved. But we think we have minimized the risks, and minimized the potential of public exposure."
Official from New York City testified in the interest of protecting the city's watershed: their concerns about the infrastructure included the possibility of fracking triggering seismic activity, and the placement of well pads near conduits carrying water from upstate.
Dave Lucas, WAMC News.