Bassett warns against hydraulic fracturing » Local News » The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY – otsego county news, delaware county news, oneonta news, oneonta sports

The Bassett Medical Center Board of Trustees and the health care network’s medical staff have each issued resolutions warning against hydraulic fracturing.

Both statements, arrived at separately, emphasize the importance of keeping water resources pure.

The statement by the 274-member medical staff, mostly physicians, reads in part:

“Whereas, the hydrofracking method of drilling for natural gas involves the use of millions of gallons of water mixed with known carcinogens, teratogens, endocrine disruptors, and other toxic materials which are injected under extremely high pressures deep into the earth, and …

“Whereas, contamination of ground water, air and other environmental damage has already been demonstrated in numerous locales with similar geology, such as Pennsylvania …

“We hereby resolve that the hydrofracking method of gas drilling constitutes an unacceptable threat to the health of our patients, and should be prohibited until such time as it is proven to be safe.”

The medical center’s board said: “The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has taken the position that hydraulic fracturing to recover natural gas poses unacceptable risks to the water supply and has asked the state Department of Environmental Conservation to prohibit natural gas drilling in the NYC watershed.

“The Susquehanna River watershed warrants the same consideration that assures protection for its aquifers and surface water reservoirs.”

The Susquehanna River’s source is Otsego Lake, situated in the towns of Otsego, Springfield and Middlefield, and the river flows right by the medical center.

Bassett President Dr. William Streck said Tuesday the board’s statement has been in the works since last fall and sprang “from the fundamental concern of the board about the safety of the water supply. That is our primary point of emphasis.”

In its resolution, which was approved unanimously, the board noted: “While the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulates natural gas development in New York, the historic responsibility to preserve the safety of water has resided in the purview of the Department of Health.

“For this reason, the board of trustees of Bassett Medical Center supports the DOH’s (Department of Health’s) continued involvement and attention to the public health concerns that have been raised, including possibly contamination of the water supply.”

Asked if the board’s statement on such an issue is unprecedented, Streck said, “It is unusual.”

He noted that many Bassett employees live in the towns of Springfield, Middlefield and Otsego _ towns taking steps to ban or restrict the controversial technique.