Environmentalists Rally for Support Against Fracking

Two dozen people rallied against hydraulic fracking on Wednesday afternoon along Route 46 West.

The groups were protesting a state bill prohibiting the disposal or storage of wastewater and sludge used or created by hydraulic fracking both in and outside of New Jersey. Governor Christie vetoed the bill late last month.

The individuals were from various non-profit environmental organizations including Food & Water Watch, Environment New Jersey, and the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club.

“It’s about protecting our clean drinking water, our health, and our safety,” said Matt Smith, an organizer with New Jersey Food and Water Watch. “The legislature has to put pressure to get information about fracking out to the public so we know what’s going on around us.”

The rally site was adjacent to Republican Assemblyman Scott Rumana’s (D-40) office. Rumana is the Republican Whip in the State Assembly. He could not be reached for comment.

The rally is one of several that occurred outside of state legislators’ offices throughout the state Wednesday. The groups want state legislators to overturn the veto.
“There is the threat of drilling looming on the horizon but the threat of fracking waste is here now,” Smith said. “We need Assemblyman Rumana to help override the governor’s veto.”

Fracking involves collecting natural gas from inside the earth by fracturing land with water laced with chemicals. The controversial practice has been known to negatively impact the environment and poison water supplies, lacing then with gas and chemicals, including Radium and Benzene.

Christie signed a one-year long moratorium on hydraulic fracking in the Garden State in January.  Christie said in his veto that although fracking is currently banned in New Jersey it is “unlikely to occur in New Jersey” once the ban is lifted in 2013.

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