Anti-Fracking Group Demonstrates Outside Martins’ Office

A group of activists held a demonstration outside the Garden City Park office of Sen. Jack Martins, R-Mineola, on Friday afternoon to urge support of a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing.

The group Food and Water Watch delivered a petition with over 1,700 signatures to Martins’ office, asking him to co-sponsor legislation to ban the dangerous gas-drilling process.

"Senator Martins' constituents are sending him a clear message that they want him to support a ban on fracking in New York," said Sam Bernhardt, Long Island Organizer for Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy group. "Long Island needs Senator Martins to be a leader in protecting us from fracking threats to our water, air, and food."

Hydraulic fracking is a process used bycompanies to mine for natural gas by injecting water, sand and chemicals – some of which may be toxic – into the ground to break up rock and release the gas. Concern has been raised in communities over the potential for these chemicals to leak into the groundwater and contaminate the water supply. According to Food & Water Watch, at least 54 municipalities in New York have passed measures against the process.

“The dangers of fracking are irreversible, affecting our water, air, food, animals and our health,” “said Patty Katz, of Reach Out America, a grassroots organization. “We understand that Long Island will be impacted by fracking — the Glen Cove water waste treatment plant may be the recipient of the contaminated fracking water with radioactive radon and toxic chemicals.”

Legislation to ban fracking has been introduced by Senator Tony Avella, D-Queens, which would make New York the first state in the nation to enact a permanent ban on fracking if passed.

“Fracking has been proven unsafe in over 32 states, and the evidence against it keeps coming in,” iEat Green founder Bhavani Jaroff said. “This drilling process has been linked to an increase in cancer rates, earthquakes, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution, not to mention an eroded quality of life for those living close the destruction.”

Martins  has already come out in opposition of hydrofracking.