Marcellus Shale - Gas Wells

October 28, 2010

EPA hearing on fracking winding down

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Andrew M. Seder on Facebook   |   @TLAndrewSeder on Twitter

UPDATED AT 3:30 p.m.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The moderator for today's Environmental Protection Agency hearing on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water supplies has announced that because of time issues, only 100 of the 123 people who had signed up to speak on the topic would be given the chance.

Adam Saslow told the 23 people that they can sign up to speak at one of the three remaining hearings scheduled at The Forum theater in downtown Binghamton. The second four-hour hearing will start at 6 tonight and then two more hearings will be held on Wednesday.

Saslow said that the first session, planned to end at 4 p.m., will run slightly over because those who preregistered were promised the chance to speak. The other 23 signed up on Monday but were told that they may not be able to speak if time doesn't permit. Even with only two minutes allocated for each speaker, the math just wouldn't add up.

The majority of those speaking at this afternoon's session identified themselves as residents of New York state, with less than 10 saying they live in Pennsylvania, either in Bradford, Susquehanna or Wayne counties.

More than two-thirds of the speakers spoke out against natural gas drilling being done by hydraulic fracturing. But those who spoke in favor ardently supported the practice, saying it would lead to a decreased dependency on foreign fuels, job creation for the region and the potential windfall for state budgets if taxes are implemented that strike the right ballance.

Factoring in the number of speakers remaining along with the two-minute time limit, the first hearing should wrap up at about 4:20 p.m.

See the complete story in Tuesday's edition of The Times Leader and on www.timesleader.com.

FIRST POSTED AT 1:26 p.m.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- An Environmental Protection Agency panel that's collecting information to help shape its $1.9 million study on the effects of hydraulic fracturing has on drinking water supplies is in the midst of the first of four four-hour hearings it's holding in Binghamton this week.

More than 120 people will get a chance to be heard during today's noon to 4 p.m. session and an additional 95 are signed up to address the panel tonight. An additional 200 are expected to take the podium during Wednesday's two sessions.
Though concerns over hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, are many, the EPA study will focus on the impacts, if any, the process has on water supplies.

Fracking is a natural-gas drilling technique in which millions of gallons of a mixture of water, chemicals and sand is blasted deep underground to break up shale and release the gas.

While the afternoon session held in the downtown theater called "The Forum" has been mostly tame through its first 90 minutes, there were some instances where the crowd of nearly 1,000 got loud when people spoke in excess of their two minute allocation.

Outside the facility, as law enforcement officers kept a close watch, those on both sides of the issue made it clear where they stand with shirts, signs and chants.

Opponents of fracking carried signs including those stating “Kids can't drink gas” and “Protect our water. Stop fracking America.”
There was an ample number of those in support of the process as well, including potential workers chomping at the bit for the thousands of jobs the Marcellus Shale could provide at a time when the economy and jobs are a front and center issue. A steady chant of “Pass gas now” that would raise a chuckle if it was made elsewhere, drew fist pumps from some who walked by and boos from others.

See the complete story in Tuesday's edition of The Times Leader and check back to www.timesleader.com for updates from the hearing.

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