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With lawmakers in the surrounding towns of Manheim, Oppenheim and Salisbury, as well as the city of Little Falls, considering enacting a one-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, the village of Dolgeville may soon institute a moratorium of its own.
“It’s time to do what’s right and protect our village,” Dolgeville resident Karin Yomboro said as she called upon the village board of trustees to enact a moratorium Monday night.
“Fracking” forces millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals underground to open gas-bearing fissures in shale. Opponents say the chemicals used can cause cancer and other serious illnesses, and cite numerous reports of sickness among people living near wells. Fracking opponents also argue the process should be stopped until scientific study determines whether it is safe.
The industry, however, insists there have been no proven cases of water contamination from fracking, and says the chemicals are released thousands of feet below drinking-water sources.
“The real issue in this region of New York is not the fracking itself, but the threat of having our ground water contaminated by toxic chemicals hauled in from another part of the state,” said St. Johnsville resident Lia Marrero. “Illegal dumping of toxic fracking fluids is a real threat to our communities and is something we should be working to prevent. We need to stop it.”
The board of trustees agreed a moratorium, which could lead to an outright ban of fracking in a year’s time, might be worth considering, especially in light of the actions of the nearby communities.
“We support what the towns and city are doing, and to show that support maybe the village should pass a moratorium of its own,” said Mayor Bruce Lyon. “It would be a good way to show that we are in favor of their efforts and that we, too, do not approve of fracking or want the pollution from it.”
“It would send a message that we are all in favor of making it illegal and that we do not want it in our towns or villages,” said Trustee Donna Loucks. “It would show we are all in agreement.”
Marrero and Yomboro invited the board members and mayor to attend a public information session sponsored by the Little Falls Common Council on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Little Falls Senior and Community Center at 524 E. Main St., Little Falls. They said David Slottje, senior attorney with the Ithaca-based Community Environmental Defense Council, has been invited to present information on the controversial practice and how to ban it through the use of amended zoning laws.
“Fracking is bad news and we don’t want it in our village” said Dolgeville resident Anne Wavra. “I ask that the village get a moratorium in place as soon as possible. We need to keep it out.”
With lawmakers in the surrounding towns of Manheim, Oppenheim and Salisbury, as well as the city of Little Falls, considering enacting a one-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, the village of Dolgeville may soon institute a moratorium of its own.
“It’s time to do what’s right and protect our village,” Dolgeville resident Karin Yomboro said as she called upon the village board of trustees to enact a moratorium Monday night.
“Fracking” forces millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals underground to open gas-bearing fissures in shale. Opponents say the chemicals used can cause cancer and other serious illnesses, and cite numerous reports of sickness among people living near wells. Fracking opponents also argue the process should be stopped until scientific study determines whether it is safe.
The industry, however, insists there have been no proven cases of water contamination from fracking, and says the chemicals are released thousands of feet below drinking-water sources.
“The real issue in this region of New York is not the fracking itself, but the threat of having our ground water contaminated by toxic chemicals hauled in from another part of the state,” said St. Johnsville resident Lia Marrero. “Illegal dumping of toxic fracking fluids is a real threat to our communities and is something we should be working to prevent. We need to stop it.”
The board of trustees agreed a moratorium, which could lead to an outright ban of fracking in a year’s time, might be worth considering, especially in light of the actions of the nearby communities.
“We support what the towns and city are doing, and to show that support maybe the village should pass a moratorium of its own,” said Mayor Bruce Lyon. “It would be a good way to show that we are in favor of their efforts and that we, too, do not approve of fracking or want the pollution from it.”
“It would send a message that we are all in favor of making it illegal and that we do not want it in our towns or villages,” said Trustee Donna Loucks. “It would show we are all in agreement.”
Marrero and Yomboro invited the board members and mayor to attend a public information session sponsored by the Little Falls Common Council on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Little Falls Senior and Community Center at 524 E. Main St., Little Falls. They said David Slottje, senior attorney with the Ithaca-based Community Environmental Defense Council, has been invited to present information on the controversial practice and how to ban it through the use of amended zoning laws.
“Fracking is bad news and we don’t want it in our village” said Dolgeville resident Anne Wavra. “I ask that the village get a moratorium in place as soon as possible. We need to keep it out.”
