Yes!


Judge Affirms NY Town's Right to Ban Fracking

Published on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 by Common Dreams


In a victory for opponents of natural gas fracture drilling, or fracking, a New York judge has upheld that the town of Dryden, NY has the right to ban the practice within its borders.

Reuters reports:

In a ruling released late Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Phillip Rumsey held that the Ithaca suburb of Dryden's recent ban on gas drilling falls within the authority of local governments to regulate local land use.

Anschutz Exploration Corporation, which owns leases on more than 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares) in the town and has invested $5.1 million in drilling operations there, argued the ban violated a state law designed to create uniform regulations for oil and gas drilling and encourage the extraction of those resources.

"Communities targeted for drilling need the power to determine for themselves when, where, and if fracking is permitted." -Katherine Nadeau

Rumsey disagreed, holding the law was not written to favor the industry, but to regulate it in such a way that "prevents waste ... and protects the rights of all persons."

"Nowhere in the legislative history (of the state oil and gas law) is there any suggestion that the legislature intended — as argued by Anschutz — to encourage the maximum ultimate recovery of oil and gas ... or to preempt local zoning authority," Rumsey wrote.

Fracking is a process in which chemical-laced water and sand are blasted deep below ground to release oil and natural gas trapped within rock formations. It has allowed companies to tap a wealth of new natural gas reserves but critics say the procedure has polluted water and air.

"By upholding Dryden's fracking ban, Judge Rumsey has brought a renewed sense of hope to the many cities and towns concerned with fracking," said Katherine Nadeau, of Environmental Advocates of New York. "Regardless of fracking's documented dangers--particularly New York's failure to study industrial gas drilling's health impacts or responsibly plan for the treatment, transport, or disposal of hazardous fracking waste--the communities targeted for drilling need the power to determine for themselves when, where, and if fracking is permitted." And added, "Courts across New York State should recognize the need to safeguard the rights of our communities."

“This is an important vindication of local democracy—with national ramifications—at a time when it is being trampled in our country by powerful interests like the gas and oil industry,” said Adrian Kuzminski, a moderator for Sustainable Otsego, in a report at EcoWatch.

That would please your corporate- shilling arse greatly o' hater of clean environment.

NEVER underestimate the power of the people.

Looking for scapegoats?

Try blaming the Mexican workers again, that got your racist arse
BANNED last time around.

Not a racist at all. If you are legal and paying your way fine. If your not get out of my country. People who harbor illegals are not true Americans. So we know how you stand don't we?

Your racist terminology of Latinos got you busted last time.

It's obvious where you're coming from.

Best to keep your bigotry in check.

If you're calling me a bigot because I love my country then I'm a bigot. This country is a great country to live in and I'll do what I have to do to defend it. I see how when you can't refute the facts you try and attack the presenter. Nice try but not going to take the bait.

I'm calling you out for the racist characterizations of Latinos that resulted in ONE of your bannings, not for any supposed love of country.

And please, refrain from confusing "facts" with your own jaded opinions, it's the height of arrogance.

Want a fact? Here IS one to chew on bigman - you've opted to throw down with the filthy bastards willing to exploit OUR Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions for temporary gain, rather than unite with the many citizens who desire and work for a SUSTAINABLE future.

Go Frack in Hell.

If you don't think our country has declined from the over flow of illegal aliens then you have your head in the sand. I'm for jobs and boosting our economy. You wouldn't know what a fact is. Your side has no facts. They only rely on what ifs and scare tactics. Hoping people like you will fall into the gang mentality not realizing the truth.

His head isn't in the sand!!

His head isn't in the sand!!

I'm confused as to how using the term Mexican is racist. The overwhelming majority if illegals are Mexican. They are from Latin America but of Mexican nationality. It's just what it is and no reason to be banned. You refer to rj1 as rotund, etc? Isn't that discriminatory?

I appreciate the debate on fracking though!