At last Tuesday's Common Council meeting, Alderman John Friedman (Third Ward) made the point that, since Hudson's water supply originates in the Town of Taghkanic, what is done in Hudson to protect the citizenry from the negative effects of fracking waste may be of little consequence. In the report on the meeting, Gossips quoted Friedman as saying, "If they use fracking waste on their roads, it's going to migrate into our water supply."
A comment on that report explained that in November 2012 the Taghkanic Town Board had passed an 18-month moratorium on all drilling and hydraulic fracturing to give its zoning commission time to study the potential impacts. The story was reported in the Register-Star, and Gossips has gotten confirmation from two reliable sources that the Town of Taghkanic is concerned about the potential degradation of natural resources.
Of little consequence to our drinking water maybe, but of potentially great consequence to the Hudson River.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone in Hudson who cares about such things, the issue of the city's run-off will return when we decide whether to separate our storm water run-off from our sewage lines.
If you believe that by separating the sewers you are thereby improving the health of the river, except that you cannot explain with certainty why that is the case (in fact it's an unknown, so there's no one who can explain with certainty), then there's your evidence that you've been brainwashed by city officials and by the LWRP (excuse the redundancy).
The years-long mantra of Hudson officials that the decision to split the lines will be best for the environment was a campaign to get you to go along mindlessly. (That's because THEY are going along mindlessly!)
So please begin with some soul-searching, because the preference to split the sewers is not being approached rationally. Then learn the facts about the choice, and about how to turn an unknown into a known.
That is, if the river's health is something you care about (big "if").
The actual process of fracking itself should not be a local issue east of the Hudson, where there is no shale.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the use of fracking waste materials on any roads should be outlawed, everywhere. I would like to see transporting it by road, rail, or ship outlawed, where legally possible.
Learn a lesson from the use of waste oil spread on dirt roads in MO to keep down dust. The hauler spread it on even his own track, not knowing it contained dioxin.
Google Russell Bliss, Valley Park to see the devastating effects of using something you are unsure is safe.
(Know that I am opposed to fracking, for many reasons, before you start yelling at me)
What Alderman John Friedman did is called changing the subject. Just a slight of hand and now we're off of our concern with Hudson and on to the Town of Taghkanic. Let's keep to the point and concentrate on things we can control...such as what will be permitted here in Hudson. It is vital that the fracking ban be as comprehensive as possible to protect our residents from the potentially dangerous consequences of exposure to toxic fracking waste; whether it be the result of accidents from Trucks, or Barges on the River carrying fracking waste, the use of deicer comprised of this radioactive waste (we've only addressed it not being permitted to be used on public roads - what about private roads and driveways?; the Executive Order signed by our Mayor doesn't prohibit the use of deicer comprised of this fracking waste on private roads, driveways, etc. - just another loophole to add to all of the others that have been left out of the proposed legislation). Then if we move on and continue to concentrate on what we can control, the reasons given by our elected officials for not putting adequate fines in the law for violators (despite much struggle to get them to increase the fines above their original $250 per day); no indication of violators' responsibility to pay for clean up and attorney expenses are another key area that can bankrupt Hudson if not covered. Yes I know that we were told that many of these issues would be covered under Tort law, but according to the litigators I've spoken to, that is not accurate and certainly not protecting us to the extent that the fracking ban law should. So we have to wonder, why there is so much resistance to making sure that Hudson is completely protected both health wise and financially. Very disturbing.
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