Arcuri Waffles On Drilling Marcellus Shale
Residents of the 24th congressional district in New York are upset that natural gas drilling using toxic chemicals in a process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, seems to be about to expand into their backyards. The process uses up large amounts of groundwater, which may become polluted in the process as well.
Some people say that drilling for natural gas in upstate New York is essential in spite of these risks, because Americans need to burn more fossil fuels for energy. Whichever side of the debate a 24th district resident takes, however, they’re likely not to be reassured by the statement that their U.S. Representative, Michael Arcuri, made this week. He said,
“I don’t want to oppose natural gas drilling in Upstate New York because there is a definite opportunity for gas drilling that has a positive impact, and I think that that’s an important thing if we are going to address energy costs and local jobs in the region. But I don’t want to sacrifice the purity of our water resources by rushing to drill before the infrastructure is in place in New York to regulate it in the way that it needs to be regulated. I will stand with the people in my district who could be affected by natural gas drilling to ensure that their water is protected.”
What on earth was Mike Arcuri saying? He’s saying on the one hand that he wants natural gas drilling. But on the other hand, he’s saying that he doesn’t want to sacrifice any of the purity of the area’s groundwater. So, he says that he’s going to stand with people who could be affected by drilling gas wells in their backyards, but he won’t actually stop the drilling from taking place.
What does that actually mean? Arcuri sounds like a PR hack working for a gas drilling company, promising protection while actually defending plans to go right ahead with the environmentally risky plans that were already in place. What people living on the Marcellus Shale need right now is clear leadership with solutions that make sense, not babbling politicians who try to weasel out of making a commitment to any position.
