Rockland Legislature Bans Radioactive Fracking Waste
by Bill Batson
A ban on the use of waste products from the natural gas drilling operation known as fracking could become local law with the stroke of the pen from Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef. The Rockland County Legislature unanimously passed the ban on Tuesday, June 4.
Introduced by County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, the Keep Rockland County Safe from Hydro-Fracking By-Products Law prohibits the sale of all gas drilling waste, its processing at all wastewater treatment plants, and its application on all roads including applications for de-icing and dust control purposes within Rockland County.
“While New York State is contemplating allowing high volume hydraulic fracturing, it already has existing gas drilling operations with some 6500 low volume vertical hydraulic wells. The drilling process has the same hazardous contents as does the high volume fracking—heavy metals and a variety of chemicals,” said the legislation’s sponsor, Cornell.
“I initiated and sponsored the local law, naming it the Keep Rockland County Safe from Hydro-Fracking By-Products Law to avoid the risks that come with applying wastewater brine on roads as a de-icer, because its composition includes chemicals, heavy metals, extremely high salt content and potentially radioactive material found in the shale where drilling occurs. Run-off could be hazardous to our drinking water supply and to the health of our streams,” she continued
Read more at http://www.nyacknewsandviews.com/2013/06/bb_rockconofrack/