Dateline: 24 January 2012
On January 11,2012 there was a public forum about hydrofracking at the Moravia fire hall. Three Sempronius board members (myself included) and the Supervisor were present. Three speakers addressed the packed room.
Speaker #1:
Joe Heath, an Environmental Attorney who serves as General Council to the Onondaga Nation, gave a presentation on environmental and quality of life impacts in a community when hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) is done.
Speaker #2:
Bill Podulka, a physicist, spoke about the science and economic impact of hydrofracking.
Speaker #3:
Mary Jane Uttech, Deputy Public Health Director of Cortland County, spoke about the health aspects of hydrofracking in a community.
Joe Heath made the comment that the gas wells that are being drilled now are nothing at all like gas wells that have been drilled in Cayuga County in past years. All of the speakers presented evidence and informed opinion indicating that, based on hydrofracking experience in Pennsylvania over the past few years, people in the communities where hydrofracking takes place are being harmed.
The forum was three hours long and the room got downright hot, but I felt it was a worthwhile presentation to attend. I left that night more convinced than ever that a moratorium on hydrofracking in Sempronius was the most prudent step to take.
You can watch and listen to each presentation by clicking on the following links: