What's making Pennsylvania's floodwaters toxic? New York's DEC is concerned.

[Divernan]

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/news/
What’s Making Pennsylvania’s Floodwaters Toxic?
(Blog) Friday, September 9, 2011

People in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states are sick of rain. Between Hurricane Irene and this week’s seemingly biblical inundation of rain, cities and towns in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland have been dealing with the wrath of raging rivers and overflowing sewers. I’ve heard more than a few people say, “I don’t want to think about what’s in that puddle I just stepped in.” But, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett declared the floodwater in the Commonwealth to be “toxic” at a press conference he held last night: “A total of ten water and sewage treatment plants have failed, which means the water in the streets is toxic. Unless you are being rescued, please keep out of the water.”

His use of the word toxic is intriguing. Is the pro-fracking governor concerned about what, other than sewage-related contamination, could be in the water? The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) may now reconsider which areas in the Marcellus shale are classified as flood plains. Is that because the DEC is watching what’s happening in Pennsylvania and is also a little concerned?

[Altoid_Cyclist]

1. This very thing has been on my mind a lot lately.

Gasman Corbett is a little hypocritical to be so concerned about toxins in the water after all of the gifts from and to the frackers. Hopefully he will turn over a new leaf and really care about the environment in the future. Yeah!!! Like that will ever happen.

Since some industries have been known to dispose of toxic waste using the cover of high water during heavy storm run off and floods, do we really expect the frackers to adhere to their ethical responsibility?

It is a little worrisome to see pictures of people walking in water which has to contain contaminates of unknown origin.

[Divernan]

2. Not only the origins are unknown, but the contaminants themselves are unknown

Since the frackers have not had to fully disclose all the toxic materials they put in their fracking liquids.

[kestrel91316]

3. Well if it's sewage overflow in the water, why doesn't he understand

"what's making it toxic"? Is he so stupid that he doesn't comprehend that human fecal waste is potentially dangerous and that's why we have WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS FUNDED BY WE THE PEOPLE?

[Eddie Haskell]

4. I've seen how the contaminants are stored.

In central PA, a pit is dug in a field near the well fracking. The dirt that's removed from the pit, serves as a containment berm. The fluids are then pumped into the pit until they can be trucked ... to a nearby STP. With the rains we've had, many of those plants were under water. The ponds have probably been breached too.

When the fish start to die, we'll know.

[Wilms]

5. ^