Environmental Activism Press Coverage

There are more than 5,000 unplugged and abandoned wells across New York State.

And, they pose a threat to homes, drinking water sources and wetlands. That's according to Toxics Targeting, Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan and two anti-fracking groups. They highlighted their concerns Friday morning. Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting, who got the information from the Department of Environmental Conservation, says the gas and oil wells can leak and cause contamination. He's calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to withdraw the state's revised SGEIS, which are the preliminary fracking guidelines, so the unplugged well issue can be properly addressed in the report.

Walter Hang says, "DEC's assertion that they've never had contamination problems, that these issues really aren't an issue, that the existing regulations are fine, that's entirely contradicted by this data."

BINGHAMTON — Years after an Allegany County family found crude oil pouring from its showerhead in 2008, they still don’t feel comfortable drinking their water.

A tank of brine continuously pours contaminants into a western New York lagoon. Across the state, nearly 5,000 abandoned oil and gas wells haven’t been properly capped.

Walter Hang, president of an Ithaca-based environmental database firm, Toxics Targeting, on Wednesday released a set of documents he says indicate shortcomings in the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s regulation of conventional oil and gas drilling, and lead to questions about whether the agency is equipped to regulate hydrofracking.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Anti-fracking groups say they have new, documented proof that shows New York State isn't ready for high-volume hydrofracking.

Toxics Targeting, an Ithaca-based environmental group, gathered with elected officials in Binghamton Wednesday afternoon to present information from DEC reports that it says illustrates lack of preparedness for extensive natural gas drilling.

22nd District Congressional Candidate Dan Lamb says if fracking isn't safe for all of New York State, it's not safe for this area.

Democrat Lamb was in Binghamton today where he outlined his stance on fracking. He says the statewide moratorium on fracking should remain in place. And, that comprehensive public health, environmental and economic impact studies should be done so people can see the true impact of drilling.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- As election season nears, the hydrofracking debate gets heated in the Southern Tier. Democratic Congressional candidate Dan Lamb held a rally in Binghamton opposing hydraulic fracturing in five counties in the Southern Tier on Tuesday afternoon.