New York State Assembly votes to block fracking until 2015

[Earth_First]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The New York State Assembly passed legislation on Wednesday that extends the moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the state until May 2015 and requires further studies on the environmental impact of the practice known as fracking.

A moratorium on fracking has been in place in the Empire State since 2008 because of concerns that the practice, which involves pumping chemical-laced water and sand deep below the surface to extract natural gas from shale, can contaminate water supplies.

The current legislation applies to the Utica and Marcellus shale gas deposits, some of the most significant in the country. It requires a full review process, including a new study to look at the potential public health impact of fracking.

"We will not sit idly by and endanger the health and safety of our communities by rushing necessary health and safety reviews," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a statement before the vote.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/06/energy-fracking-newyork-idUSL1N0BYFK320130306

[Cha]

1. Good! thanks Earth First

[freshwest]

2. Congratulations to H2O Man, RFK, Jr. and Riverkeepers who kept working in the system.

That was the result of a hunger strike, community meetings, going door to door, building coalitions and doing it from the ground up to stop the frackers. I know you will not forget this as a one-time victory for none of them are. Thanks for giving your time and your strong determination.

[Samantha]

7. Yes, they deserve a ton of credit for all their effort

Maybe in the next two or so years, a way will be found to persuade them to ban this procedure PERMANENTLY.

Sam

[bananas]

9. A couple of threads about H2O Man's hunger strike

for those who missed them:

DU's H20 Man will begin a hunger strike on Monday to protest fracking. This is his story.
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 07:20 AM by WilliamPitt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=163385

H20 Man and his Anti-Fracking Friends Deserve Support and Thanks
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 09:49 AM by Octafish
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1446043

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Good!

[dorkzilla]

4. I'm SO glad to hear this!

This gives me hope that SOME lawmakers are listening to our concerns. I don't understand how anyone could be motivated by anything other than greed in support of this, or what the big fucking deal is to wait until we have more information. Hell, I don't even have children, but I have concerns about what kind of planet we're leaving YOUR kids!

[valerief]

5. Woo hoo! nt

[Iliyah]

6. YAY!

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Cuomo won't like this, methinks.

[malthaussen]

10. Living in the state just to the south, I am impressed.

Congratulations to all in NY who helped make this happen.

-- Mal

[Grateful for Hope]

11. This is such excellent news!