By Andrea and Malcolm Duncan
Methanol, formaldehyde, carbon disulfide, benzene, toluene and hundreds of other chemicals. … just a sample of what you might be breathing and drinking in should the following scenario be approved.
A 'No Fracking' poster promoting the documentary film 'Gasland'
Hydro-fracking is a process of drilling for natural gas. Deep holes are drilled vertically then horizontally. Millions of gallons of fresh water mixed with proprietary, secret chemical mixtures are forced into the well. This loosens the shale layers which in turn free the natural gas for collection.
However there are many problems associated with fracking. Niagara Falls NY is thinking of dealing with the problem of disposing of the by-product of the process. Unfortunately the gas industry is not required to reveal the proprietary contents of the fracking fluid so who knows what is in the mix? As well the fracking process stirs up heavy metals and radioactive properties found naturally in the earth which now become part of the mix.
The plan would involve hundreds of tanker truckloads a day filled with toxic residue from fracking operations arriving at the treatment plant. However, how do you remove the chemicals when you don’t know the composition? As well the radioactivity will not be able to be eradicated!
So now, we in Niagara Falls, Ontario, just about a kilometre away from the plant, will receive the first effect. We will end up unavoidably breathing in the mist from the falls as it spreads over the city. After the river roars through the gorge it feeds into Lake Ontario. Many communities around Lake Ontario use the water as the source of their drinking water. In fact, the water currents in the lake directly flow to the Toronto area. (This is how the Scarborough Bluffs were formed.)
It is time for Canadians to become aware of the threat to the water and air posed by this plan being contemplated by the Niagara Falls, New York Water Board. We have been attending short, monthly meetings with a VERY FEW other concerned people. The next meeting is at 5PM on Thursday February 23rd at the plant on Buffalo Avenue
As well there will be a free screening of the Emmy award winning documentary ‘Gasland’ at the Niagara Falls NY public library on Tuesday February 21st at 6PM. This movie is a shocking wake up call about the fragility of our environment. And the scary thing is ….it’s not a fictional account!
You can view the trailer for the critically acclaimed film documentary Gasland by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8 .
You can also learn more about growing public concerns over the health and environmental effects of “fracking” for natural gas by visiting the ‘New Yorkers Against Fracking website at www.nyagainstfracking.com .
Andrea and Malcolm Duncan live in Niagara Falls, Ontario. They are the owners of Bronte Harbour Trading Co.and are activists against injustices. They are also affiliated with the WNY Drilling Defense organization of Western New York.
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post in the comment boxes below. Please remember that NAL does not post anonymous comments or comments by people using pseudonyms. Only comments attached to real names work here.)
Niagara At Large 
Thanks for the information. It’s important that we hear these messages.
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Thanks to the Andrea and Malcolm Duncan for raising awareness on this issue with its potentially lethal effects for those who live and drink the water on both sides of the river.. What is being said by governments and agencies responsible for the quality of our water and approving the safety of the “propriatery”chemicals being used?
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The State of Texas has recently broken the logjam and now requires fracking companies to publish their “proprietary chemicals”. Hoepfully, all other jurisdictions will now follow their example.
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While I agree with your concern about ground-and-lake-water pollution, Ontarians should be thoughtful about not being hypocritical on this subject.
Fracking was likely invented in Canada, and has been occurring for 4+ decades. In fact, Port Colborne made good income from finding gas under Lake Erie in the 1970’s and 80’s. Underwater Gas Developers was a long-term Port company. (Port Colborne also had the first residence in Ontario heated by natural gas in 1880, and the original gas companies were later sold and became part of Provincial, then Consumers, then Enbridge Gas.)
There’s even one story of a drill-rig worker from Lowbanks whose personal water well went dry (or became suphur), and realised that it had happened because of his own fracking work !
Even worse, think of how we use natural gas. Niagara’s gas wells have long ago been emptied, so where does the gas originate to cook our food, heat our homes, run our industry, and make electricity?
It turns out that gas from fracked wells in Alberta is sent to us each summer and stored in our empty wells, then used by us the next winter. Isn’t it fortunate that we don’t see the damage caused by the fracking that provides us with heat: the sour gas wells that poison livestock & people, the destruction of ground-water and farming livelihoods?
If we haven’t worried about correcting fracking problems in Alberta, do we really have a right to worry about them in Niagara?
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Thank you Doug Draper for publishing this, and to the authors. Earlier I believe NAL sent a video showing tap water exploding in fire when a lit match was put to it. To my amazement, it was drawn to my attention that the Celebrity Glitz People magazine had an article about this — a month ago? showing the same flaming water as in the Gasland clip. One farming couple sold their land to the Frackers, the other now feed their cattle with bottled water after it was manifestly clear that their tap water on the adjacent property was frighteningly tainted.
I beleive the ever fragrant Dick Cheney has a hand in this, if I recall correctly.
I have sent this on to my cousins in upper NY state, who live in a rural area, and who are alarmed by this.
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… and we wonder why we are getting more and more rare and deadly forms of cancer in this region.
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Out of sight out of mind.!!!!!! ignorance is bliss.
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Energy companies fund political campaigns and lobbysts. Energy companies want regulations modified and diminished. Results? Carcinogens find their way into the air and water. It’s outlandish that the public is not privy to the chemical make-up of fracking fluids.
Poor regulatory regimes lead to the regulatory anarchy in Alberta as well. Energy companies in Alberta are contaminating the Athabaska air and water with carcinogens.
Buit if the public is simply exposed to the “oil sands” propoganda on TV, they are ignorant to realities on the ground.
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Save our planet for future generations.
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In this area Stevensville, some people have their own gas wells , suppyling gas for their own use, the reference about sulphur could be true, as any silver ware exposed to the air around these parts, gets black very soon.
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