The greatest threat to New York's environment in decades

Clear streams, lush forests and rolling farmland define much of New York. But the rush to drill for gas in the Marcellus Shale threatens our environment and communities.

Ravaged forests, contaminated water

Next door in Pennsylvania, we’ve seen drinking water contaminated, waste spilled into rivers and streams, forests trampled by drilling rigs and trucks, and air pollution levels spiking near drilling sites. Pennsylvanian gas drilling has generated 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater that is loaded with toxic chemicals, corrosive salts, and sometimes even radioactive particles. We cannot risk our beloved rivers, streams, forests and fields to fracking.

Watch the videos to learn more about what could be in store for New York if the state moves ahead with drilling.

Will state officials protect our environment and our health?

Incredibly, Gov. Cuomo is moving quickly to allow drilling in New York—without doing critical research on the environmental and health effects. In Pennsylvania, a similarly reckless approach to drilling has led to:

  • More than 3,500 violations by the gas industry since 2008; 
  • Drinking water advisories each year for more than 325,000 residents near Pittsburgh; and 
  • Explosions and accidents that have put local families and workers at risk. Environment New York is bringing people together from all walks of life to speak out against drilling. 

With your support, we can protect New York’s forests, rivers, and drinking water for future generations.

Together we can win 

Your activism and our advocacy are a powerful combination — in 2010, it convinced then-Gov. David Paterson to set the nation’s first temporary moratorium on drilling. We need you to get involved if we’re going to stop Gov. Cuomo’s plan once and for all. If enough of us speak out, we can ensure that New York will stay protected from drilling. Join our campaign by sending Gov. Cuomo a message today.


Drilling Updates

News Release | Environment New York

Assembly Acts To Protect Health, Stop Fracking

Under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney, the New York State Assembly passed legislation to extend a two-year moratorium on the dirty drilling practice known as 'fracking'.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Environment New York

25,000 anti-fracking postcards delivered to Gov. Cuomo

As the deadline approaches for the Cuomo Administration to approve its proposed fracking regulations or allow them to expire, Environment New York delivered postcards from more than 25,000 New Yorkers urging the Governor to ban the dirty drilling practice. These postcards join a rapidly expanding chorus of opposition to fracking, including more than 200,000 public comments on the state's draft regulations and recent polling which shows opposition to gas drilling in upstate New York.

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News Release | Environment New York

As Promised Land opens, group warns of dirty drilling damage to health and the environment

As the new Matt Damon movie, Promised Land, opened in theaters last week, Environment America sounded the alarm about the very real damage fracking is doing in communities across the country.

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News Release | Environment New York Research & Policy Center

Enter our Halloween 'Frackenstein' costume contest!

With Halloween just around the corner, we here at Environment New York were wondering what Governor Cuomo is planning to wear this year. Will he go to Halloween parties dressed as 'Frackenstein' to get a treat from the gas companies? Or will he choose something more responsible, like dressing up as Captain Planet to defend our air and water?

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News Release | Environment New York Research & Policy Center

The Costs of Fracking: Environment New York Report Documents the Dollars Drained by Dirty Drilling

Firing a new salvo in the ongoing debate over the gas drilling practice known as fracking, Environment New York Research & Policy Center today released a report documenting a wide range of dollars and cents costs imposed by dirty drilling.  As documented in The Costs of Fracking, fracking creates millions of dollars of healthcare costs from air pollution, loss of property value near drilling sites, ruined roads and infrastructure, and contaminated property.  These costs are foisted upon local tax payers, property owners and municipalities.

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