New York Gov. signs bill to close loophole allowing import of drilling waste
Friday, August 7, 2020
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill banning the import of oil and gas drilling waste on Monday, making New York the first state in the U.S. to apply hazardous waste laws to oil and gas byproducts, according to FingerLakes1.com.
The loophole Como closed in signing the bill had previously let fracking waste avoid the label of “hazardous,” so it was regularly accepted to be spread on roads, or to be disposed of improperly at dumpsites and landfills throughout the state.
Since January 2011, New York landfills have imported more than 638 thousand tons of waste from Marcellus shale gas wells in Pennsylvania, according to records that state maintains.
Learn more: FingerLakes1.com > Cuomo signs hazardous waste bill, closing loophole allowing import of gas drilling waste from Pennsylvania
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.