High Volume, Slick Water, Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing poses numerous risks to the environment

Dear Commissioner Martens,

The February 27th New York Times article by Ian Urbina and his colleagues confirms what many of us who have been following this issue for two years are already aware of, namely that High Volume, Slick Water, Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing poses numerous risks to the environment and to the health of all the creatures dependent upon it.

In the light of the mounting evidence about the hazards of this process, I urge you to postpone any finalization of the revisions to the SGEIS until the EPA has completed its study of the process, to expand the aspects of the SGEIS regulations to include stringent regulations regarding the management of the drilling cuttings and wastewater, to use the expertise of a technical advisory committee and the common sense of a citizens advisory committee to make the necessary revisions in the SGEIS and finally, to allow a significant amount of time (at the very least, 30 days) after the revised version of the SGEIS is presented to the public to allow the public to comment and make further recommendations so that the regulations do what they must do to protect us all.

In addition I would urge you to make sure that every single phase of the drilling process be required to have an environmental impact statement submitted before a permit is issued. We must take advantage of the abundant information coming from other states where this kind of drilling has taken place, as well as the scientific studies being conducted on this process, to give us the highest quality protections we can possibly have. New York State has the unique opportunity to take the time to ponder the possible short and long term repercussions of allowing this industrial process to go forward here and to decide whether it is possible to safeguard New Yorkers through far-reaching and fail-proof regulations.

Sincerely,

Elisa E