Fracking in the Foodshed

Research & Development Of This Presentation: Martha Goodsell and Chris & Bob Applegate

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What is High Volume Hydraulic (Slickwater) Horizontal Fracturing otherwise known as Fracking?

State of the Art:

It can involve multiple laterals.

Technologically Advanced

Industrial in Scale

Fracking Transforms the Landscape

The Shale Gas Extraction Process

Step 1.

Deciding Where to Site the Well

Despite track record of spills and leaks.

Beaver Run Reservoir, Western Pennsylvania

Erie, Colorado

Fort Worth, Texas

Mt. Pleasant Township Washington County , PA

Aztec, New Mexico

Lathrop, PA

Charlston Township, PA

Step 2.

Constructing Access Roads and Gas Gathering Lines

Step 3.

Clearing the Well Pad Site

Wells require large, industrial pad sites. Depending on how many well heads a site may contain, a completed pad will range from 5-15 acres, but as many as 40 acres might be disturbed in the construction process.

Step 4.

Setting Up the Well Pad

Step 5.

Trucking In Materials and Supplies

All this heavy traffic destroys the roads

Tioga County Pennsylvania S.R. 3001 March 2010

West Virginia

Dust

Creates Undesirable Conditions

Exhaust
FracNet: The PA tally over a two day
inspection blitz was 731 inspections, 824 written warnings, 421 traffic citations, 131 trucks taken off the road, and 14 drivers placed out of service.

And Leads to Accidents.

Step 6.

Storing the Chemicals

Millions of pounds could be stored at one pad. Is this storage site located in a floodplain? Is there an evacuation plan?

Step 7.

Lowering the Drill Bit

Cool the Drill Bit

Float the Cuttings Out of the Hole

Step 8.

Circulating the Drilling Mud

Step 9.

Removing the Waste Drilling Mud And Rock Cuttings From the Bore Hole

How toxic are the cuttings? To what extent are they radioactive?

Boring the Hole, Temporarily Exposing the Aquifer

Drill stringer
Bore hole Chemicals can daylight

Drinking water can go turbid

Hickory , PA Dimock, PA Clearville, PA

Smells like motor oil!

Sealing the Bore Hole

Adding steel casing helps seal hole from aquifer.

Cement is forced down through the well casing, out the annulus, and back up the bore hole.

Failed Cement Jobs: Migration Through Natural Fissures

Toxic fracking fluid

methane
One quarter of all cement jobs fail immediately. Three quarters fail eventually.
Cornell Engineering Professor and Rock Fracturing Specialist , Dr. Anthony Ingraffea

Step 10.

Perforating or Perfing the Well

These perfs can also damage the cement job allowing methane and fluids to migrate in the bore hole.

Step 11.

Acidizing the Well

5,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid

Halliburtons acidizing compound often contains Hydrogen Fluoride.

Step 12.

Fracking the Well

The only step industry wants us to look at

Step 13.

Capturing the Flowback Waste

Step 14.

Trucking Waste Away to. . . ?

This waste, composed of brine AND drilling chemicals, is 5 times saltier than sea water!

Step 15.

Pumping the Gas to Market

Giant Diesel Engines

Compressor Station, Pleasant Ridge, West Virginia

Pipelines Carry the Gas to Market

Millennium Pipeline

What is a foodshed? And how will fracking affect it?

A foodshed outlines a particular area from which food is grown, processed, purchased and consumed.

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Agriculture and Industrialized Gas Drilling

Source: The Urban Design Lab, The Earth Institute, Columbia University

NY was once able to produce most of its food requirements and may need to do so again if gas reaches $5/gallon.

The Organic Foodshed of the United States

(Source: The Map Room)

Gas Fields of the United States

Notice the overlap of the Marcellus and the foodshed of the Northeast?

Mapping New Yorks Grass-based Agricultural Products

Red = Buffalo foodshed Green = Rochester foodshed Gold = Syracuse foodshed Blue = Albany foodshed Yellow = Poughkeepsie foodshed Purple = NY City foodshed Source: Mapping Potential Foodsheds in New York State

Drilling in the Foodshed: Impacts On Agriculture via Land, Water and Air
Chappel Unit in Hopewell Township Washington County

Two Types of Impacts to Farm Land

Physical Impacts on farm land
Fragmentation, Compaction, Erosion

Chemical impacts on farm soils

Chemical Contamination, Radiation, Heavy Metal

Farmland Impacts
Fragmentation Inaccessibility Explosions Openings for Invasive Species Compaction and Drainage

Erosion and Sedimentation

FRAGMENTATION

Jonah Field Pinedale, Wyoming

FRAGMENTATION

Dish, Texas

FRAGMENTATION

Allegheny National Forest, PA

PA Farmland Fragmentation

Farmers report fragmentation leaves some fields too small to farm.

Pipelines: Farm Field Fragmentation, Inaccessibility to Timber

Explosions and

Openings for Invasive Species

Soil Compaction and Field Drainage

Often, topsoil is not removed, set aside, and put back on top over pipe lines. Proper drainage techniques are often not utilized.

Areas over pipelines are often rendered useless for agriculture.

Subsurface compaction leads to surface saturation. Lack or aeration inhibits root growth and biological activity.

Soil Erosion

Sedimentation

Storm water runoff and sedimentation increases total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) in creeks and tributaries. When TDS or TSS increase the amount of light available to oxygen producing plants decreases. Eventually the plants die giving off bacteria which uses even more oxygen. As oxygen levels are depleted aquatic life dies.

Chesapeake Bay: Total Maximum Daily Load

The big debate: Will it be conventional farming or fracking ??? Farmers may have to choose which activity to pursue.

SOIL CONTAMINATION
Spills Leaks Flares

Explosions
Fires Experimental Disposal Methods Municipal sludge Soil Farming

Spills

March 30, 2011 Clinton County, PA

AUGUST 13, 2009 Ullom Road, Chartiers Township Washington County, Pa

Pipeline Leaks
A satellite image shows light reflected off of plants leaves; plants that are stressed by gas leaks reflect light in different regions of the spectrum, making it easier to detect leaks in underground methane pipelines.

Impoundment Leaks

ULLOM ROAD POND APRIL 20, 2009 Chartiers Township Washington County, Pa
Photo courtesy of Professor Mike Steven

Flares
Flaring affects soil fertility by causing the soil to become more acidic and reducing the total organic carbon, nitrate and phosphate content.

Explosions and Fires

Waste Disposal Experiments

Misting in Wyoming

Super Misting in Pennsylvania

Dust Control in West Virginia

September 27, 2010

Wetzel, West Virginia

The DEC may grant a beneficial use determination for using flowback water as a road de-icer.

Forcing waste into deep injection disposal wells.

Earthquake swarms can occur.

Sewage Treatment Plants

Heavy Metals BRINE

Radio Activity

Hazardous Chemicals

Municipal Sludge
CDC REPORT WARNS OF SLUDGE DANGER MARCH 2000

EPA cannot assure the public that current land application [of sewage sludge] practices are protective of human health and the environment. -- EPA

Soil Farming

Spreading untreated drill cuttings directly on farmland.

Will Farm Fields Become Brownfields?

Buried wastewater and drill cutting pits are the future superfund sites of America.

May 14, 2009 EnCana Site Garfield County, CO

What are the Waste Components?

Brine
NORM and TNORMS Heavy Metals
Of Particular Concern:
Bromide Chloride Strontium Barium

Fracking Chemicals
Glycol ether (2-BE)
Source: Dan Volz at U. of Pittsburgh

Do you want glow in the dark pickles showing up at the farmers market?

Alpha, Beta, Gamma Whats the Difference?

Alpha radiation damages every 10th atom it comes into contact with. Think of a big heavy bowling ball rolling across the lawn. Alpha particles are absorbed by their surroundings but only at close range. Beta radiation- damages every 3,000th atom it comes into contact with. Think of a golf ball rolling across the lawn. Gamma radiation- damages very few atoms it comes into contact with. Think of the wind passing over the lawn. Very few blades of grass will be bent. Gamma particles pass through cells without damage, but radiation can be received even though a very long way away.

RADIOACTIVITY: Irradiation vs. Contamination

Irradiation is direct exposure to radioactive material directly from the source.
Contamination is exposure to radioactive material that lands on objects such as the skin (or grass), is ingested through food or water, or is inhaled in dust form. It is possible to miss contamination of radiation fields. Univ. of Maryland Environmental Safety

Radiation at oil and gas facilities is not normally evaluated during site investigations and cleanup. EPA
API (1989) and other studies suggest 1/3 of all producing U.S. oil and gas wells have elevated radiation EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air

SHALE RADIOACTIVITY Uranium 238

Uranium 238 Uranium 234 is a stable isotope
Uranium 234 Thorium 230 Radium 226 Radon 222

Radium 222 LEAD Radon 218

Mercury 206

LEAD

http://www.periodictable.com/Isotopes/092.238/index.p.full.html

SHALE RADIOACTIVITY Thorium 232

Radium 228

Radium 224

Radon 220

http://periodictable.com/Isotopes/090.232/index.full.html

Radium, Radon and Health Risks

The greatest health risk from radium is exposure to Radon EPA

Health risks from exposure to radon are greater than all other routine, environmental exposures to radioactive material combined. - EPA

Radon
Radon can be found in air, soils and water. Is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Is naturally prevalent in much of the area. Levels are exacerbated at natural gas well sites.
No stable isotope (always radioactive giving off alpha radiation).

TNORM or TENORM
Material containing radionuclides that are present naturally in rocks, soils, water, and minerals and whose radioactivity has become concentrated and/or exposed to the accessible environment as a result of human activities. Radium precipitates out at surface: pipes, separators, storage tanks, gas lines, etc. API (1989) and other studies suggest 1/3 of all producing U.S. oil and gas wells have elevated radiation

Sources of TNORM at Gas Fields

Pipe Scale

Storage Tanks

Contaminated Soils

Heavy Metals in the Soils at Gas Sites

Barium Cadmium Chromium Arsenic Lead
Leafy greens, and many other crops uptake heavy metals and become contaminated. It takes four years of specific succession plantings, and disposing of the crops in a landfill, to draw some of these heavy metals out of agricultural soils. Some metals can never be removed.

Mercury

Bromide
The spike in bromides in Western Pennsylvania's rivers and creeks has put some public water suppliers into violation of federal safe drinking water standards. Bromide facilitates formation of brominated trihalomethanes, also known as THMs, when it is exposed to disinfectant processes in water treatment plants. THMs are volatile organic liquid compounds. Studies show a link between ingestion of and exposure to THMs and several types of cancer and birth defects.

Water Soluble Strontium

A study published in the Journal of Petroleum Technology focusing on the concentrations of selected important contaminants in Pennsylvania from Marcellus Shale flowback water found that approximately 3,280 mg/L of strontiumor 16,737 poundsare released every day into the Monongahela River.

It is in those high concentrations that strontium poses a risk of bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near the bone, and leukemia.

Water Soluble Barium

Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling mud. Barium reacts with almost all non-metals, forming poisonous compounds. Exposure by inhaling dust, eating plants grown in contaminated soils, or drinking water that is polluted with barium. Skin contact may also occur. Large intake of water soluble barium may cause paralyses and in some cases even death. Small amounts of water-soluble barium may cause breathing difficulties, increased blood pressures, heart rhythm changes, stomach irritation, muscle weakness, changes in nerve reflexes, swelling of brains and liver, kidney and heart damage.

BIOACCUMULATION and The Food Chain

Bioaccumulation is the process by which compounds accumulate in organisms faster than they can be broken down by the liver. Toxic chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive elements taken up by and accumulated by plants are passed on to animals & humans when they eat them.

Heavy metals accumulate in bones. Milk and meat products may contain heavy metals and radiation.

Yet there is NO food safety inspection in place for testing agricultural products produced in gas fields for these contaminants.

WATER: Quantity and Quality

CONSUMPTIVE WATER USAGE

Each frack job uses on average 3.5 million gallons of water (some use much more). Billions of gallons of clean water used in the extraction process will be rendered toxic and radioactive perhaps permanently.

Will there be enough water for agriculture?

The average dairy cow consumes 30 gallons of water each day x 365 days x 1,436,000 cows in New York. It takes 250,000 gallons of water to grow an acre of corn x 550,321 acres of corn. Grass land requires 20,250 gallons of water each week x 40 weeks x 24,803,000 acres of grass.
Source: USDA Census

The typical NY farm needs thousands of gallons of water a day for livestock and irrigation.

Flowback is advertised as produced water

Liquid waste can look benign, but . . .

 it is not only toxic, its often flammable.

Washington County, PA Produced water pit

Water, Water Everywhere & Not a Drop

The greatest danger in gas drilling is water pollution caused by spills, leaks, blowouts, and even methane migration. Any contamination of ground water and aquifers is a threat to public health, wildlife and agriculture. Water quality is not protected as drilling activities are exempted from the Clean Water Act and the Safe Water Drinking Act

Can you imagine operating a farm using this water replacement system? This is NOT a replacement for this

Water buffaloes in Spring Lake, Bradford County, PA

Drinking Water Sources

Most upstate municipalities draw their water from underground aquifers, lakes, and streams.

Most rural NY properties depend on private water wells both shallow & deep for all of their personal & agricultural needs.

Underground aquifers are as vulnerable as open surface aquifers. All water sources must be protected.

New York Water Basins

What if the water becomes unfit to drink?

The NYC watershed and Delaware River Basin combined - provides water for more than 15,600,000 people - the largest unfiltered water source in the world. The natural gas industry has leased hundreds of thousands of acres within the watershed and the river basin. That could mean 50,000 gas wells in the combined watershed area.

Water Scarcity Facing 1/3 of US Counties

Toxic Chemicals: A Threat to Our Water Supply

40,000 gallons of chemicals are used in one well.

93% of these chemicals have adverse health effects. 60% are known carcinogens

40% are known endocrine disruptors.

Class of Additive

Typical Use(s)

System(s) Adversely Affected (at high exposure levels) Gastro intestinal Central nervous Skin - blistering or peeling

Petroleum Distillate Products

Corrosion inhibitors Friction reducers Solvents

Kerosene Naptha

Mineral spirits, Aromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX)

Nervous system Liver Kidneys Blood forming tissues Leukemia Reproduction/ still births

Benzene Toulene Ethylbenzene Xylene also napthalene and benzene derivatives

Dangers listed by the DEC

Glycols

Crosslinkers Breakers Clay and iron controllers Scale inhibitors Corrosion inhibitors Surfactants Friction reducers Foaming agents Corrosion inhibitors Surfactants Iron and scale inhibitors

Respiratory system (lung tumors) Low inherent toxicity

Ethelyne glycol (antifreeze) Propylene glycol

Kidneys Reproductive system

Glycol Ethers

Male reproductive system Red blood cell formation

Monomethoxyethanol

Monoethoxeyethanol Alcohols

Central nervous system

Ethanol Methanol

(Pages 5-63 and 5-64 dSGEIS)

939 3

Class of Additive

Typical Use(s)

System Adversely Affected (at high exposure levels)

Amides

create polymers friction reducers scale inhibitors corrosion inhibitors corrosion inhibitors cross-linkers friction reducers iron and clay controllers corrosion and scale inhibitors friction reducers and surfactants

Nervous system Cancer Female reproductive system

Acrylamide Formamide

Amines

liver
kidneys

mono-,di-, and tri-ethanolamine

Organic Acids

corrosive to skin

formic acid acetic acid and citric acid

Microbiocides

Controversy

prevent bacterial production of sour gas maintain viscosity of additives

respiratory system gastrointestinal tract Kidneys and liver nervous system Severe pain, vomiting, coma and death nose and throat cancer

Biodegrade ?
Formaldehyde

corrosion inhibitor scale inhibitor surfactant surfactant

1,4-dioxane

kidney liver cancer Corrosive to skin

Hydrochloric Acid

Cleaning perforations and fractures

949 4

DECs dSGEIS (draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement) says:

45 products with incomplete ingredients listed 40 compounds with unknown ingredients because theyre mixtures Some chemicals not submitted to DEC DSGEIS) (chapter 5

And it flows down hill and down river

Or will eventually percolate up through the ground!

.

Faults and Seismicity in the Appalachin Basin of New York State

Source: Jacobi, R.D., 2002, Tectonophysics, v. 353, p. 75-113.

Experts suggest that, over time, most of the toxic underground water will find its way to the surface through fissures, rusted pipes and cracked cement, and through the conduits of missing and unplugged water and gas wells.

Natural Gas Drilling Activities Decrease Air Quality

Sources of Oil and Gas Air Pollution

Blowouts
Condensate tanks Construction activity Dehydrators Engines Flaring Fugitive emissions Pits Vehicles Venting
Y e t th e E P A s tu dy h a s e xc lu de d a ir pollu tion in its c u rre n t s tu dy of g a s drillin g .

Wa ter pollution is a definite possibility , but a ir pollution is a c erta inty.

Of Particular Concern
Ozone Fugitive Methane Hydrogen Sulfide Volatile Organic Compounds Noxious Chemicals

Other Hydrocarbons

Ozone (O3)

Ozone is three oxygen atoms joined together. Ozone is ready to react with whatever it meets. It can cause lung damage and illness. Ozone can also corrode building materials, statues and monuments, and natural rock features in the landscape.

Sublette County, Wyoming is a gas drilling zone with a population of 2 people per square mile Yet is has an ozone levels equivalent to Los Angeles

Ozone Negatively Impacts Plant Growth and Yields

According to EPA, even at relatively low levels of ozone exposure, crops can suffer a 20-40% loss in productivity. Ozone exposure makes plants less productive by decreasing their photosynthesis and by causing leaves to die. Root development is inhibited by ozone. As a result the hydraulic capacity to provide the transpiring shoots with water is reduced.

Plants, such as grapes, soybeans, alfalfa, clover, and grazing grasses suffer decreasing crop yields from ozone.

Fugitive Methane (CH4)

A major greenhouse gas concern
Optical Photography Infrared photography

Condensate tanks

Same Image

Invisible emissions of dangerous gasses

From New York Times October 14, 2009 Revkin and Krauss

Franklin, Texas

Venting

Sources of methane emissions into the atmosphere

Flaring

Blowouts

Also high levels of hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Hydrogen sulfide is most commonly obtained by its separation from sour gas, which is natural gas with high content of H2S. It is a colorless, flammable gas that is very poisonous.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes Acetone

Carbon Disulfide
Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Noxious chemicals
from diesel driven trucks and compressors can have serious health consequences on people, animals and plants. For humans this includes asthma, stroke, cardio vascular disease and irritable bowel disorders.

Aruba Petroleum (Photo: Tim Ruggiero)

Toxic Plumes: Imagine a foggy August morning

Natural gas sometimes contains a significant amount of ethane, propane, butane, and pentane heavier hydrocarbons removed prior to use as a consumer fuel as well as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide. All of the above with the exception of ethane, nitrogen, and helium are denser than air. All are colorless and vary greatly in their properties, including toxicity.

DUST, LIGHT AND NOISE POLLUTION

Rock Dust Particulate cloud near frac mixer

Source: Bobs Blog

Sound wall

You expect our animals to eat the grass when its covered with dust? Dairy farmer

Bradford County, PA Photo Sue Heavenrich

Silicosis
Silicosis is caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust. Effects include lung cancer, Bronchitis/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, Scleroderma and possible Renal Disease.

Silicosis makes an individual more susceptible to TB. Because of their susceptibility, cattle and farmed cervids (deer and elk) are routinely tested for TB.

Light Pollution and Pollinators

Research on insects, turtles, birds, fish, reptiles, and other wildlife species shows that light pollution can alter behaviors, foraging areas, and breeding cycles.

Light Pollution and Trees

Prolonged exposure to artificial light prevents many trees from adjusting to seasonal variations.

Compressor Station Noise

Can happy cows live here too or only in California?

Noise affects hatchability rates of birds and poultry, small ruminant metabolism, and human endocrine systems. Studies indicate that it also increases blood pressure and stress levels in all animals.

Impacts on Livestock

At least 40% of fracking chemicals are endocrine disruptors and can cause falling reproductive rates, stillbirths, and birth defects. Small spills can have huge effects on livestock, who often drink from surface water sources and are attracted to the salty taste. There are growing, documented reports of livestock illness and death from acute toxicity.

Livestock Poisoning from Oil Field Drilling Fluids, Muds and Additives, appeared in

the journal Veterinary & Human Toxicology in 1991. It examined seven instances where oil and gas wells had poisoned and/or killed livestock. In one such case, green liquid was found leaking from a tank near a gas well site. The studys authors found 13 dead cows, whose postmortem blood was chocolate-brown in color. Poisoning cases involving carbon disulfide, turpentine, toluene, xylene, ethylene, and complex solvent mixtures are frequently encountered, the study concluded.

A surface spill at .5% dilution can do this?

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality: Cato Parish - spilled fluid killed 17 cows.

Tioga County PA- May 2010 28 Cows quarantined after drilling fluid (heavily laced with strontium) leak.

Food Safety?

Most food is not adequately inspected for chemical contamination. There is no system in place to test affected crops, meat, or dairy, even when exposure by fracking chemicals is suspected. The National Residue Program, which monitors known chemical residues, is missing key heavy metals & chemicals.

Since key information is missing on what chemicals are used in gas production, its impossible to monitor their presence in the food chain.

A Fukushima Analogy?
We know radiation affects agriculture and fisheries, and travels through the foodchain. With radiation you must worry about your total dose over a lifetime, wherever it may come from.

Japanese Imports Banned Due to Radiation Concerns

We dont know the implications from long term low level radiation exposure to us, our livestock or our food sources.

Radioactive feral hogs in Europe

Fish warnings on our rivers

Will our cattle be next?

What are the cumulative impacts on agriculture, plants, and animals?

Where are the studies? What will happen to our food? What will happen to our farms?

Impacts to New York Agriculture

NY ranks in the top 5 states for production of dairy, cherries, apples, cabbage, potatoes, onions and maple syrup.
The counties covering the Marcellus Shale formation include an agricultural region called the plateau country which is known for its production of dairy, beef, vegetables, wine, potatoes, and many other foods. New York has numerous award-winning vineyards and breweries. The number of NOFA-NY certified organic farms has increased steadily in the last decade with a concentration of organic farms in the Shale Gas region. Most upstate farms are small, compared to farms in other regions, yet are the most threatened from HVHHF.

Good For The Local Economy?

Other Impacts

Property values Insurance rates Heavy traffic congestion (between 5850 and 8905
truck trips per pad)

State forests and outdoor recreation

Health impacts
Security and safety

Social services and housing

12 Unintended Consequences
Shortages of sawdust and bedding material for farm use. Shortages of gravel, concrete and other supplies for agricultural use. Difficulties in finding open repair shops or on-call mechanics for agricultural equipment as many technicians are working for or catering to the gas companies first. Difficulties in finding rendering options for deceased animals. Who wants to take a potentially contaminated animal?

Unintended Consequences Continued

Shortages of milk truck drivers are raising the cost paid by farmers to haul milk to the market. Road congestion & deterioration is causing difficulties for farm vehicles. In addition to being drilled, some farms are being mined for gravel. On other farms water is being hauled away or pumped off.

Unintended Consequences Continued

Bat and bird habitat is being destroyed resulting in higher insect populations. Such pests may lead to livestock stress, disease and even death. Coyote populations are likely to increase threatening sheep, goat, deer and young calves.

Unintended Consequences Continued

Taxpayer supported farmland protection programs may allow for drilling. Land trusts and open space projects wishing to preserve and promote agriculture may not be able to prohibit industrialized drilling. Consumers may become wary of agricultural products from frackland. Farmers may be left liable for contamination or pollution as a result of their leases. Others may be held financially responsible under a mechanics lien.

First the Boom

1311 31

Then the bust

Tim and Christine Ruggiero Denton, Texas Drilling mud spread on property.

Waste fluid pond Unknown gas bubbles

Condensate tanks.

Original 2010 assessment: $257,330. Current 2011 Assessment: $75,240.

OR THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER!

Recent newspaper headlines Court allows condemnation of 9,100 acres in Kansas (issue: underground gas storage site leak)

"Cattle vs. Conoco: How Gas Fields Are Crowding Out New Mexico Ranchers (issue: living conditions and affected livestock) Eminent Domain Power Granted to Private Pipeline Companies

How Did NY Get Sold Down The River?

A Perfect Storm

New technology + lax regulations = profits Lack of oversight Federal, state, and local Nearby energy markets Stealth leasing Ignorance by design

Appalachia
Milk pricing

Why are we talking about agriculture without talking about fracking?

Cuomo supports NYS Council on Food Policy
Quinn, Stringer and other potential 2013 candidates explore food policy as a recipe for success
NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State

Agriculture is Economic Development

New Food System Principles Emphasize Health Benefits
ANALYZING REGIONAL FOODSHEDS AND LOCAL FOOD: THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE LAW AND POLICY

Why are we talking about drilling impacts without talking about agriculture?

Farming in the Northeast is a constant struggle. Most farm families need off-farm jobs to make ends meet & pay for health insurance. Gas bonuses & royalties can feel like winning the lottery. Farming involves a lot of hoping for the best and the safety of gas drilling is no exception. Buyers are increasingly wary of leased & developed land and mortgages can be hard to secure. In Pennsylvania, its estimated that 25% of farmers with gas wells have abandoned farming. Will farmers be stuck with useless farmland?

THE TRADE OFF

Government is forcing farmers into a choice many don't want to make. What is needed is an agricultural policy that helps farmers receive a fair price for their products. An energy policy that provides some cash at the expense of the health of the farm families, the safety and marketability of the food they produce, and the profitability of their farms is no substitute for good farm policy. We must do better than to put our water, air and soil, our food supply, the health of individuals and communities and the well-being of future generations at risk.

Ask Your Doctor If Gas Drilling Is Right For You!

WARNING: gas drilling near your home may put you at risk for possible exposure to carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors by inhalation, ingestion, and absorption; elevated ground level ozone and air pollution in gas production areas due to toxic fumes and diesel exhaust; disease caused by chemicals, hydrocarbons, radium, and heavy metals in your drinking water; adrenal gland dysfunction from the low frequency noise of compressor stations; and potential for explosion due to methane accumulation in your home. KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE ELDERLY AND PETS. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, headaches, nose bleeds, eye and skin damage, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, dizziness, and confusion.

Physicians report that methane, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, Hexane, 2 Methylpentane, and 3Methylpentane have been detected in their patients blood.
Related serious side effects in gas extraction, processing, and production areas can be expected, including permanent neurological damage, cancer, brain damage, and endocrine system disruption.

For a comprehensive review of Public Health Effects TEDX The Endocrine Disruption Exchange

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY ???

Ommegang believes that opposing development of hydrofracking is critical to the interests of our community, our people and our business. We are proud of our accomplishment in building a thriving, sustainable and environmentally conscious business in upstate New York. We are deeply concerned at the threat posed by development of drilling in the region and the risk to the purity of the water on which we depend, and which is a key reason we are located here. We are a company that enjoys a national reputation for super-premium quality beers produced in upstate New York and we hope that the state and local regulators attach value to what we do for the region in terms of employment and our representation of upstate New York in restaurants and grocery stores across the nation. We do not want our business future, our employees futures and our communities futures damaged or destroyed by water pollution, or compromised by the industrialization associated with hydrofracking for shale gas. -- Simon Thorpe, President/CEO of Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York I want to alert you to a less obvious effect that hydrofracking will have on us and on the NYS farms whose products we make a great effort to buy. We are very responsive to the needs of our shoppers. If hydrofracking is allowed to go forward our shoppers are certain to be asking us if the fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs and meats from New York State are produced in areas where hydrofracking is taking place. It will not take many inquiries for us to start researching alternatives to NYS products. -- Joe Holtz, General Manager of Park Slope Food Coop Inc, Brooklyn, New York At the Co-op, we work hard to support our Western New York farms. Our business depends on their survival. But if our customers tell us to source clean natural foods from non-hydrofracking regions, we and other grocers will shift our purchasing dollars elsewhere. Hydrofracking may create a few jobs in the energy industry, but it will put at risk our Co-op and all of local partners we do business with. -- Tim Bartlett, General Manager of Lexington Co-operative Market, Buffalo, New York

What Not To Do
If you are now planning to avoid food grown in gas drilling areas who could blame you?
But what will that accomplish?

Youll be driving another nail into the sustainability of American agriculture.

Where will your food come from when all the farms are gone?

What You Can Do

Get involved on a local, regional & national level. Support local grassroots organizations. If you dont have time to volunteer then consider making a financial contribution. Get to know your local farmer and his/her needs. Support sustainable farming practices and policies. Demand Farm Bill reforms. Contact your local representatives. Demand accountability. Push local zoning, and other protective municipal laws. Show up at meetings. Call state and federal representatives often.

Dont Take Our Word For It

Sources quoted, including scientific studies, can be found at: https://acrobat.com/app.html#d=cx0ZyEPSWPh9WxI jwDJbTA

Many thanks to those who shared their photos, experience, knowledge, professional talents and other resources; especially the folks at www.Marcellus-Shale.US.

Contact Us
Martha Goodsell
deerfarm6@frontiernet.net Christine and Bob Applegate ninibob@frontiernet.net