EDITORIAL
Gov. Cuomo Makes Sense on Fracking
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced a statewide ban on the extraction of natural gas using
a controversial drilling process called hydraulic fracturing. This was not an
easy decision, but it was the right one. Many geologists and industry leaders
believe that the deep shale formations underneath the state’s southern tier,
known as the Marcellus Shale, contain bountiful supplies of natural gas. But
extracting the gas, the governor concluded, carried — at least for now —
unacceptable risks to the environment and human health.
In making
what amounted to his first major decision since his re-election last month, Mr.
Cuomo embraced the conclusion of state health officials that important health
issues remain unresolved and that it was impossible to declare that hydraulic
fracturing is safe for the environment or human health.
Acting health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, told a meeting of
the governor’s cabinet that “the science isn’t there” to say definitively
whether hydraulic fracturing is safe or not. But judging from the overall
weight of evidence, Dr. Zucker advised against going forward. “Would I live in
a community with (hydraulic fracturing) based on the facts that I have now?” he
said at one point. “Would I let my child play in a school field nearby?” After
looking at the questions raised in numerous reports, he said, “my answer is
no.” Mr. Cuomo found Mr. Zucker’s personal response particularly impressive.
Hydraulic
fracturing involves blasting water, sand and chemicals into underground rock
formations to unlock the gas. The technique has been around for many years and
has been used, mostly without incident, in hundreds of thousands of natural gas
wells. But the risks of water and air pollution have multiplied as the wells
are drilled deeper and stretched vertically and horizontally to get at remote
deposits….
Mr. Cuomo said that
this was “probably the most emotionally charged issue that I have ever
experienced” as governor and added that he made this decision as a layman
bowing to the experts on his staff. His choice is a measured one that protects
New Yorkers until the science of hydraulic fracturing can catch up.
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