Petition: Ban Fracking Now

Right now, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is considering lifting a temporary ban on fracking in New York. Lifting this temporary ban would threaten communities' health, pollute vital water sources, open up peoples' lands to gas exploration, and speed up global climate change. Communities across the country are watching to see if the Governor will stand with communities calling for a healthy environment or an industry determined to exploit New York's gas fields. What happens in New York is critical to the nationwide fight against fracking.

Realizing the fight New York's communities face, Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon started the Artists Against Fracking campaign, which has organized over nearly 200 of the world's biggest artists, musicians and filmmakers to raise public awareness about fracking to new levels. Now we're taking public awareness and turning it into public action to get fracking banned, starting in New York!

What is Fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking", is a new method of extracting natural gas and oil from rocks at depths from 2,000 to 10,000 feet. First, deep wells are drilled straight down through the aquifer. This drilling then curves horizontally below the earth's surface and into its shale rock formations. Next, millions of gallons of water laced with chemicals is injected at extremely high pressure into these rock formations, breaking apart the rock and freeing trapped methane along with other dangerous materials.

There are more than 27,000 wells in the US and each well uses 1-8 million gallons of water and 80-300 tons of chemicals each time it's fracked (wells can be fracked up to 8 times). However, only 4 states of the 31 that have major fracking projects have robust drilling rules in place. The fracking industry remains exempt from Clean Water, Safe Drinking Water and Clean Air Acts, hazardous waste disposal and other federal regulations.

Why New York?
New York, a bellwether state for natural gas development, is home to the marcellus shale, the type of rock formation that holds large reserves in natural gas. Many states with natural gas reserves are watching New York's decision on whether to lift the temporary ban. Lifting the ban instead of making it permanent would likely usher in a new era of gas drilling across the country. New York Governor Cuomo's decision on fracking will define his administration's clean energy policy. Let's help him make the right choice and turn New York into a clean energy state!