Letters to the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald: March 29-April 4

Martins is right on hydrofracking

To the Editor:
    It was refreshing to read Sen. Jack Martins say that hydraulic fracturing, which has such serious ramifications for the public, be given the appropriate amount of time for review and study (“Martins: Bill would protect drinking water on L.I.,” March 15-21).
    As we, the public, continue to elect an enhanced caliber of people to the office, we can increase our confidence that the right solutions will prevail. What a stark contrast this approach is with our current federal leaders, who say, “Pass the bill to see what’s in it,” or completely bypass the will of the American people by enacting bad policies through administrative measures.
    By having the time about get the facts and have real discussions about what is really going on in other communities that rushed into hyrofracking, we can make sure the drinking water for New York state is not allowed to be contaminated.
    We have the opportunity now to ban hydrofracking, which uses more than 600 chemicals in its drilling water. Enacting a ban is the best solution, rather than risk getting weak regulations, insufficient government supervision and shoddy corporate practices to degrade our quality of life due to exposure to this noxious water.
    The Marcellus Shale area supplies 14 million people with fresh water. We can all do without many things. However, we cannot live without clean, drinkable water.
    Thank you, Senator Martins, for being on guard to protect New York’s environment and public health.

Chris Wales
Mineola