Yoko Ono's urgent appeal to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to prevent fracking in New York was an astute and comprehensive summary of the dangers in this drilling process ("Imagine N.Y. without fracking," Jan. 11).
Fracking presents insurmountable threats to our air, drinking water and the beauty of our lovely state and quality of life that cannot be mitigated by any regulations. There will be just a small number of temporary jobs with the only beneficiaries being the oil and gas industries and a few landowners willing to trade their property and tranquility for profit.
Few of the supporters understand hydrofracking will not mean energy independence or reduced gas prices since it will be sold on the open market and sold to other countries.
Fracking has polluted wells and destroyed farms in other states, killing farm animals and sickening people who live nearby with noxious gases and poisoned, even flammable, water supplies. The development of cancers from the chemical carcinogens used is a threat yet to be realized.
There is no way of knowing where the leakage will reach since water is mobile and could spread anywhere from the drilling areas through as-yet-unseen underground channels; once aquifers are contaminated, there is no way to recreate their potable water.
That the governor is even considering this unconscionable idea is amazing, horrific and flies in the face of all common sense.
We cannot allow the greed and irresponsibility of Big Oil to overwhelm the defense of our clean air, our water, our farmland and our health.
LISA BARRON
Loudonville