Posted on 02/10/2013 8:56:10 AM PST by neverdem
As a rally is being organized for Thursday in Allegany by opponents of hydraulic fracturing, New Yorkers as a whole and in the Southern Tier remain evenly split on the controversial drilling technique for natural gas.
According to a Siena Research Institute poll released this week, when asked initially, voters statewide are evenly divided with 40 percent in support of the Department of Environmental Conservation allowing fracking to move forward in parts of upstate and 40 percent opposed (40 percent to 44 percent last month) Forty-seven percent of Southern Tier voters support fracking, while 48 percent are opposed.
After reviewing arguments in support and opposition to fracking and limitations on fracking that DEC could impose, 45 percent of voters statewide support fracking and 42 percent are opposed (50-46 percent among voters in the Southern Tier).
“With DEC expected to soon issue a decision on whether or not to allow fracking to move forward, voters across the state remain evenly divided, and voters in the Southern Tier — the area that makes up the majority of the Marcellus Shale in New York — are also evenly divided on the issue,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg says.
A Quinnipiac University poll released late last week shows 43 percent support drilling because of the economic benefits and 42 oppose it because of environmental concerns surrounding fracking.
Support is stronger upstate, with 48 percent in favor of lifting the ban on fracking and 40 percent opposed. “(Gov. Andrew Cuomo) is in a position that chief executives hate: making a decision on a controversial issue where voters are split down the middle,” Mr. Greenberg says. “Unlike his position on guns, which angered a vocal minority, Cuomo’s decision on fracking is likely to anger far more voters — no matter what he decides.
“However, fracking opponents will be much more upset if it moves forward than fracking supporters will be if it does not.”
Indeed, the passion is mainly on the anti-fracking side of the ledger.
If fracking moves forward, 88 percent of opponents will be upset, including 54 percent who will be very upset, according to the Siena poll. If fracking does not move ahead, 59 percent of supporters will be upset, including 20 percent who will be very upset.
“By better than two-to-one margins, a plurality of voters agrees with three statements that highlight the potential negative environmental impacts of hydrofracking,” Mr. Greenberg says. “However, a majority of voters overwhelmingly agrees with two statements highlighting potential economic benefits of hydrofracking.
“While Southern Tier voters are much more likely to have read or heard about hydrofracking, and more likely to have opinions on the statements in support or opposition to fracking, their views on these statements don’t differ substantially from the views expressed by voters from the rest of upstate or across the state.”
Five potential regulatory actions DEC could take if fracking moves forward — meet conditions of Safe Drinking Water Act of 2005, strictly monitor impact on groundwater, strictly regulate methane release, approve it for a trial period, and limit fracking fluids on site — all produce a majority or plurality of voters who say it makes them more likely to support fracking. Between 16 percent and 19 percent of voters oppose each of these potential regulations.
“Voters in the Southern Tier — while having more informed views — do not have significantly different views than voters from the rest of the state when it comes to fracking,” Mr. Greenberg says. “This is clearly going to be a divisive issue for the foreseeable future. Nearly half of voters support fracking and nearly half oppose it. However, opponents, including a majority of Democrats, are much more passionate about their views than supporters — including an overwhelming majority of Republicans.”
SPEAKING DURING a legislative budget hearing Monday, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said his agency has no projected date for finishing shale gas drilling rules, with completion dependent on recommendations from a health impact review.
If regulations aren’t finalized by Feb. 27, they’ll expire and will have to be put out for public comment again, which would likely extend the drilling moratorium by months. Mr. Martens acknowledges that to meet the Feb. 27 deadline, the massive environmental impact review on which the regulations are based must be published by Feb. 13. He says that DEC hired consultants to review potential seismic impacts, such as earthquakes, related to shale gas development. Their findings are included in the latest revision of the environmental impact study. The Associated Press reports that hundreds of gas-drilling opponents packed the hearing room in Albany and repeatedly interrupted the hearing with applause, groans or hissing. Many held small signs with slogans such as “No shale gas,” although security guards made them leave larger placards outside.
Before the hearing began, Sandra Steingraber, a leader of New Yorkers Against Fracking, confronted Mr. Martens and demanded the environmental review and regulations be put on hold and a comprehensive health impact analysis be done by an independent investigator. She went to a seat after guards threatened to arrest her.
At the end of Martens’ testimony, the protesters stood and chanted “Not one well!” before heading to the Capitol for a rally. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, joined the protesters to sign a “pledge of resistance” to fracking and discuss utilizing civil disobedience if shale gas development is permitted.
Gov. Cuomo’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts April 1 makes no mention of fracking. Mr. Martens says it would be premature to allocate money to regulate something that hasn’t even been approved to occur in the state.
Gov. Cuomo says the decision on whether to allow fracking will depend on whether the science shows it can be done safely.
We’ll wind up paying for it though.
I guarantee NY and Cal get federal guarantees on their state bonds before 2016.
Well, if that's the only question, it's easy enough to answer. Texas has almost sixty years of experience with fracking...and over twenty years of experience with horizontal drilling and fracking right here in the Barnett Shale.
We have experienced absolutely zero, zilch, nada safety problems.
So, of course, fracking can be done safely, governor. Save all the expense on environmental consultants and bureaucrats; proceed with the drilling.
It isn't a drilling technique. It is a production technique. It is something you do with the wellbore after the well has been drilled.
When the fundamental understanding of what the process is remains so flawed, it is a small wonder that Noo Yawkers (and associated shills from the ecowhacko industry) are against it. Heck, they don't even know what it is.
Thanks for the ping!
I would never insult the Amish by comparing them to liberals. The Amish understand the consequences of rejecting technological progress. You give up opportunities to increase material wealth.
The libs don't get that part and refuse to consider it.
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