$50 million lawsuit pitting gas company, Town of Avon enters court today (fracking ban)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://thelcn.com/2013/02/04/lawsuit-pitting-gas-company-town-of-avon-enter-court-today/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]$50 million lawsuit pitting gas company, Town of Avon enters court today[/font]

February 4, 2013 by Ben Beagle

[font size=3]GENESEO — The lawsuit pitting a natural gas drilling company against the Town of Avon and state Department of Environmental Conservation arrives today in Livingston County Court.

Lenape Resources, which is based in Alexander, Genesee County, is seeking at least $50 million in damages from the town, claiming a local moratorium on gas drilling and storage has cost Lenape millions of dollars in lost business and unused mineral rights.

Lenape President John Holko has also claimed that the authority to regulate the gas industry resides with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and not local governments. The company is suing DEC, saying the agency is required to take action against local bans.

The court date is expected to draw a coalition of regional activists to the courthouse. A media advisory emailed Friday afternoon said the coalition would gather with community leaders at the courthouse to rally against fracking and in support of an existing moratorium on the gas drilling method. Groups including New Yorkers Against Fracking and Frack Free Genesee will lead the rally – which includes a street theater presentation involving large, inflatable costumes and a skit — and continue to call for a statewide ban on fracking.

…[/font][/font]

[Angry Dragon]

1. tell us what is in the shit you pump into the ground ...........

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. In my mind, this is a Red Herring

The question I ask is, “If you knew exactly what they were pumping into the ground, would you then say, ‘OK! Go right ahead!’?”

Placing too great an emphasis on the contents of the fracking fluids distracts from the central issue of whether it should be done at all, and invites a response from industry that goes something like this:

Tell us what you’re pumping into the ground.
Well, we’d really rather not, it’s a trade secret.
Well, we won’t let you do it, unless you tell us what you’re pumping into the ground. We need to know!
Oh, well (reluctantly) OK, if that’s what you need… This is what we’re pumping into the ground. So, I guess we’ll get started.
Uh… no… wait!

[annabanana]

3. You should cross-post this to GD. and maybe NY group.

A lot of people here care very deeply about this issue.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Cross-posting

(Done.)