Letter: Don't frack in New York

A sign protesting "fracking," is posted on a rural road in Tunkhannock, Penn., on Oct.19, 2011. Credit: Bloomberg/Julia Schmalz
Although former National Grid Chairman Bob Catell is optimistic that fracking can work in New York, I am not ["With care, fracking can work in NY," Opinion, Dec. 6].
The lack of transparency from the natural gas industry regarding fracking fluid and the industry's failure to admit that fracking does impact the environment negatively should be the first indications that these are not trustworthy business partners.
In addition, New York's population density, number of waterways and aquifers, and annual rainfall make the idea of fracking here nonsensical. No one can control where the natural gas will travel, given the natural vertical and horizontal cracks in the shale, even though the gas companies act as if they have it all under control.
We have no treatment plants for fracked water and no plan to dispose of radioactive sludge. Is there a health impact statement? A land impact statement? Are these plans and studies available to the public?
Don't do environmental experiments here.
Gladys Paulsen, Huntington Station
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