Federal Court Dismisses NYS Fracking Suit For Full Environmental Review

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

Hydraulic Fracturing, also known as fracking, is a controversial mechanical process in which natural gas or other substances are extracted from the Earth by use of wellbore drilling into reservoir rock formations.  Proponents of fracking tout the benefits of obtaining resources from otherwise inaccessible locations within the Earth.  Opponents maintain that the process creates a litany of environmental and health problems such as ground water contamination, toxic chemical surface spills and air quality contamination, among others.

NYS by attorney general Eric Schneiderman, sued the Delaware River Basin Commission, the EPA and other agencies to compel a full and complete environmental impact study, before continuing plans to develop fracturing of the Delaware River Basin.  In particular were concerns with fish contamination, breathing problems due to adulterated air quality and drinking water contamination. Noteworthy, is that the Delaware River Basin supplies drinking water to New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Read the details of the decision and how it affects NY in our latest Scales of Justice blog at http://www.liattorney.com.