Res. No. 1663
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact and the Governor to sign A. 7218-A and S. 4220-A, which would ban hydraulic fracturing and the disposal and processing of fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing process in New York state.
By Council Members Jackson, Brewer, Chin, Gentile, James, Mendez, Palma, Vann, Wills, Rose and Rodriguez
Whereas, Hydraulic fracturing is a means of extracting natural gas or oil from shale formations whereby a tremendous amount of water combined with chemicals and sand is injected deep into the ground under high pressure, thereby fracturing the shale formation and opening passages for the natural gas or oil to flow out of the rock and thus be captured; and
Whereas, In extracting natural gas by hydrologic fracturing, much of the water injected into the ground is left underground, but a significant amount is retrieved with the gas and must be collected and disposed of; and
Whereas, Such retrieved water contains the toxic chemicals used in the hydrological fracturing process and often contains salts and other water pollutants, as well as radioactive material, with which the water has come into contact underground; and
Whereas, The water remaining underground and the gas or oil that is freed through hydraulic fracturing have the potential to migrate out of the shale formation through natural faults and other structures and pollute underground aquifers, drinking wells, or surface waters; and
Whereas, Some gas will escape into the atmosphere and contribute to global climate change, as natural gas is an extremely potent heat-trapping agent; and
Whereas, The intensive industrial activities, including drilling, the building of roads and pipelines, and the truck traffic associated with hydraulic fracturing, will pollute the air and harm human health, as well as destroy natural areas and permanently impact New York State's rural areas, causing significant damage to endangered, threatened, and other species, as well as to natural resources in general and quality of life; and
Whereas, The need to cut "greenhouse gases" released into the atmosphere when carbon-based fuels such as natural gas or oil are combusted to create energy calls for investment in alternative energy sources and not in new massive efforts to extract fuels such as natural gas; and
Whereas, Hydraulic fracturing, and the injection of fluids associated with hydraulic fracturing deep into the earth for the purpose of disposing of those fluids, have been shown in some cases to cause seismic activity such as small earthquakes which could damage surface structures or underground drinking water infrastructure; and
Whereas, Parts of New York City's drinking water watershed, and the infrastructure that carries that water from the watershed to city and other consumers, consisting of over nine million people, could be put at risk by hydraulic fracturing, either due to contamination of drinking water or from the destruction of underground tunnels or other vital infrastructure; and
Whereas, A. 7218-A and S. 4220-A, if passed and signed into law, would ban the issuance of permits for oil and natural gas extraction that would use hydraulic fracturing, as well as the acceptance, disposal, or processing of any fluids or drill cuttings associated with hydraulic fracturing, in the state of New York, thereby preventing all harms associated with hydraulic fracturing; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to enact and the Governor to sign A. 7218-A and S. 4220-A, which would ban hydraulic fracturing and the disposal and processing of fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing process in New York state.
DAA
LS 3474/2012