Two reports on fracking on today's Democracy Now! - link to audio/video/transcripts

[Bozita]

http://www.democracynow.org/

Leaked EPA Documents Expose Decades-Old Effort to Hide Dangers of Natural Gas Extraction


Efforts by lawmakers and regulators to force the federal government to better police the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," have been thwarted for the past 25 years, according to an exposé in the New York Times. Studies by scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on fracking have been repeatedly narrowed in scope by superiors, and important findings have been removed under pressure from the industry. The news comes as the EPA is conducting a broad study of the risks of natural gas drilling with preliminary results scheduled to be delivered next year. Joining us is Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, a firm that tracks environmental spills and releases across the country, based in Ithaca, New York, where fracking is currently taking place.



Natural Gas Industry Attacks Oscar-Nominated Film “Gasland” for Chronicling Devastating Impact of Hydraulic Fracking


The environmental contamination and human health risk associated with the extraction of natural gas using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” was little known across the United States for years, until a documentary film brought the issue to the national stage. Josh Fox directed the film Gasland, which chronicles the devastation affecting communities where fracking is taking place and the influence of the natural gas industry over regulation of the techniques and chemicals used in the process. The industry aggressively attacked the film, especially when it was nominated for an Academy Award this year.

[CRH]

1. The New York Times is raising awareness, ...

prior to adoption of industry regulation. What has gone on in Pennsylvania is eye opening not just from the potential drinking water pollution problem but from the restriction of information on both federal and state levels.

Article linked below is worth the time to read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?pagewanted=5&_r=1&ref=homepage&src=me

[txlibdem]

2. This is a very important topic, thanks for posting

Go to youtube and look up "burning tap water"