GLEN ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
GLEN ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Municipal Building, Harding Plaza, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 For information, contact: Cindy Mehallow, 201-445-2792 Andy Curshen, 201-444-5498 Glen Rock Environmental Commission
Public Invited to Learn Risks of “Fracking” on Drinking Water
Glen Rock, October 17, 2011 – Residents are invited to attend the Oct. 27 screening of “Gasland,” a film about “fracking,” or horizontal hydraulic facturing, a controversial practice of natural gas extraction which is now being considered throughout the Delaware Watershed, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. The film will be shown at 7:00 PM at the Glen Rock Public Library, 315 Rock Road. A special guest speaker, Rachel Dawn Fudim Davis of the organization Food & Water Watch, will speak after the film to answer questions, discuss the potential impact of fracking on Glen Rock residents, and share information on a critical November 21 vote that would allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Food & Water Watch is working to ban fracking in New Jersey. “Like many other communities in Northern New Jersey, we are showing the film “Gasland” to educate our residents about hydraulic fracturing as well as the fast approaching legislative agenda which could permanently affect New Jersey's drinking water, land and air,” noted Andy Curshen, member of the Glen Rock Environmental Commission, which is sponsoring the event. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will vote on fracking in the Delaware Watershed during the week of November 21. If passed, these regulations would open up thousands of acres of land to over 20,000 fracking wells, threatening the drinking water of over 15 million people in the region. An intra-state commission, the DRBC includes the four governors of New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania, plus a commander from the North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “President Obama, New Jersey Governor Christie, New York Governor Cuomo, Pennsylvania Governor Corbett and Delware Governor Markell hold the fate of this critical watershed in their hands,” said Curshen. In July, the New Jersey Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation banning the use of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas exploration in New Jersey. Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, "represents the greatest threat to New Jersey’s water supply than anything else we face today. We need to send a clear signal to the rest of the nation that New Jersey values its water resources." However, in August, Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a permanent ban of fracking in New Jersey and instead proposed that the N.J. Legislature consider a one-year moratorium.
“Glen Rock residents need to understand this process and the risks it poses before it is too late,” said Curshen. “Now is the time to learn about this and contact your elected representatives.”
“Gasland” is the second event in the Green Film Festival. The final film, “Bag it: Is Your Life Too Plastic?,” will be shown on Nov. 10. This movie exposes the impact of plastics and plastic bags on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies. A discussion period will follow each film screening, with an opportunity for personal involvement to address these issues.
Facts about Fracking: “Fracking” is the hydraulic fracturing technology that the energy industry hopes to use to expand natural gas production in the United States. Many environmentalists believe that fracking poses a great threat to our drinking water. The process of fracking means injecting millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand into shale rock formations at high pressures to break open the rock and release the gas. There are numerous cases of water contamination near fracking sites. Fracking also produces a toxic wastewater that cannot be treated by standard treatment plants. It is especially dangerous because drillers are rushing to use the technique in new areas of the country without fully evaluating the effects on human health and the environment, and without adequate government oversight.
Fracking uses toxic chemicals such as known carcinogens like benzene, which is toxic in as little as one part per million. Since 2005, gas drillers have been exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974). Oil and gas companies are not required to disclose the chemicals used in fracking. Fracking produces hazardous wastewater, which can contain radioactive substances as well as toxic chemicals, making disposal difficult and dangerous. Fracking requires millions of gallons of water, which can deplete local water supplies. Fracking can cause natural gas to migrate into drinking water sources, which can cause houses and wells to explode. There have been more than 1,000 documented cases of water contamination near drilling sites around the country.
Source: Food and Water Watch.org
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Public Invited to Learn Risks of “Fracking” on Drinking Water
Glen Rock, October 17, 2011 – Residents are invited to attend the Oct. 27 screening of “Gasland,” a film about “fracking,” or horizontal hydraulic facturing, a controversial practice of natural gas extraction which is now being considered throughout the Delaware Watershed, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. The film will be shown at 7:00 PM at the Glen Rock Public Library, 315 Rock Road. A special guest speaker, Rachel Dawn Fudim Davis of the organization Food & Water Watch, will speak after the film to answer questions, discuss the potential impact of fracking on Glen Rock residents, and share information on a critical November 21 vote that would allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Food & Water Watch is working to ban fracking in New Jersey. “Like many other communities in Northern New Jersey, we are showing the film “Gasland” to educate our residents about hydraulic fracturing as well as the fast approaching legislative agenda which could permanently affect New Jersey's drinking water, land and air,” noted Andy Curshen, member of the Glen Rock Environmental Commission, which is sponsoring the event. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will vote on fracking in the Delaware Watershed during the week of November 21. If passed, these regulations would open up thousands of acres of land to over 20,000 fracking wells, threatening the drinking water of over 15 million people in the region. An intra-state commission, the DRBC includes the four governors of New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania, plus a commander from the North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “President Obama, New Jersey Governor Christie, New York Governor Cuomo, Pennsylvania Governor Corbett and Delware Governor Markell hold the fate of this critical watershed in their hands,” said Curshen. In July, the New Jersey Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation banning the use of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas exploration in New Jersey. Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, "represents the greatest threat to New Jersey’s water supply than anything else we face today. We need to send a clear signal to the rest of the nation that New Jersey values its water resources." However, in August, Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a permanent ban of fracking in New Jersey and instead proposed that the N.J. Legislature consider a one-year moratorium.
“Glen Rock residents need to understand this process and the risks it poses before it is too late,” said Curshen. “Now is the time to learn about this and contact your elected representatives.”
“Gasland” is the second event in the Green Film Festival. The final film, “Bag it: Is Your Life Too Plastic?,” will be shown on Nov. 10. This movie exposes the impact of plastics and plastic bags on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies. A discussion period will follow each film screening, with an opportunity for personal involvement to address these issues.
Facts about Fracking: “Fracking” is the hydraulic fracturing technology that the energy industry hopes to use to expand natural gas production in the United States. Many environmentalists believe that fracking poses a great threat to our drinking water. The process of fracking means injecting millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand into shale rock formations at high pressures to break open the rock and release the gas. There are numerous cases of water contamination near fracking sites. Fracking also produces a toxic wastewater that cannot be treated by standard treatment plants. It is especially dangerous because drillers are rushing to use the technique in new areas of the country without fully evaluating the effects on human health and the environment, and without adequate government oversight.
Fracking uses toxic chemicals such as known carcinogens like benzene, which is toxic in as little as one part per million. Since 2005, gas drillers have been exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974). Oil and gas companies are not required to disclose the chemicals used in fracking. Fracking produces hazardous wastewater, which can contain radioactive substances as well as toxic chemicals, making disposal difficult and dangerous. Fracking requires millions of gallons of water, which can deplete local water supplies. Fracking can cause natural gas to migrate into drinking water sources, which can cause houses and wells to explode. There have been more than 1,000 documented cases of water contamination near drilling sites around the country.
Source: Food and Water Watch.org
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