The City of Syracuse is expected to say no to hydrofracking Monday. The Common Council is expected to approve a ban on the controversial gas drilling method.
It’s the last of a series of regulations regarding hydrofracking, which uses water, mixed with sand and chemicals, blasted deep into shale deposits to release natural gas. Opponents say there are health and environmental consequences to it, while supporters say it is a safe way to access otherwise unaccessable gas deposits, as well as bring jobs to upstate New York.
The council resolution, according to Democrat Kathleen Joy, would use the property conservation code to banhydrofracking as well as storage of fracking fluid inside city limits. She says Syracuse isn’t the only municipality taking this issue on.
"Buffalo has adopted a resolution to do the same thing," says Joy. "The city of Albany and the Town of Albany. So there are more and more municipalities and I like that. I think as we, as municipalities, band together, that sends a strong message to the governor and to the state that it's not just a statewide issue. It's a local issue."
Joy says there are gas deposits underneath the Utica Shale that runs through the city and calls this a proactive move to stop any attempts of drilling here in the future.
