September 30, 2010 (Press-News.org) On August 4, 2010, the New York State Senate passed a short-term moratorium on a controversy-laden type of natural gas drilling. The questionable method, hydraulic fracturing -- commonly known as "hydrofracking" -- uses massive amounts of a pressurized solution comprised of water, sand and chemicals to crack rocks housing natural-gas deposits, allowing the escaping gas to be collected.
While certainly not a new method, having been used to gather difficult-to-obtain gas deposits for decades, hydrofracking has come under fire in recent years. Environmental watchdogs began scrutinizing it following the 2005 federal Energy Policy Act that specifically exempted it from the oversight of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing concerns about possible groundwater contamination from hydrofracking in general, but specifically about a modified version called "horizontal fracking."
Opponents of all fracking-based drilling express doubts as to whether these methods adequately protect watersheds and groundwater deposits. Environmental activists are particularly concerned about horizontal fracking, as it has the potential to weaken rocks that support groundwater deposits and can possibly lead to contamination of critical water supplies and injury of workers involved in the extraction process.
Proponents of natural-gas drilling -- through hydrofracking or more traditional means -- including the American Petroleum Institute (API) insist that drilling is perfectly safe, and that by not drilling, New York is losing out on billions of dollars of profit and potential jobs. Both the API and the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, Inc., argue that no scientific evidence conclusively links groundwater or soil contamination with the practice of hydrofracking.
The New York State Assembly has yet to vote on the moratorium, and even if it does pass, it would only end drilling temporarily (until May 2011). In the meantime, if you are concerned about the effects of hydrofracking in your area, you should speak with an environmental law attorney experienced in handling cases involving groundwater contamination and toxic-chemical exposure.
Article provided by Joseph P. Stanley Law Offices
Visit us at www.stanleylawoffices.com
Hydrofracking Is Down, but Not Necessarily out, in New York
On August 4, 2010, the New York State Senate passed a short-term moratorium on hydrofracking, a controversial type of natural gas drilling.
2010-09-30
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
How 911 Calls Can Help Accident Victims
2010-09-30
From the time you were a small child you were taught to dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency. One thing that you were probably not taught was that calling 911 has a larger benefit than simply alerting authorities that an accident occurred or a crime was committed. When a criminal or personal injury case goes to court, recordings and transcripts of 911 calls can provide a wealth of information to attorneys.
For example, after an accident a person may call 9-1-1 to alert the authorities and, while describing what happened, make candid statements about his or her involvement ...
Keep It Offline: Social Media Sites May Affect Divorce Negotiations
2010-09-30
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare have changed the way people connect to friends, family and coworkers. For many users of these services, the day-to-day details of life have become more public, with far-reaching consequences.
While these sites and services allow us all to connect in ways we never previously imagined, they also pose new challenges with respect to personal privacy. Failing to recognize these challenges can impact one's life online and offline, causing marital strife and providing divorce attorneys with fodder for divorce negotiations.
According ...
Louisiana Makes Texting-While-Driving a Primary Offense
2010-09-30
On August 15, a new Louisiana law making texting-while-driving a primary offense took effect. Prior to that date, drivers could be ticketed for texting while behind the wheel, however, the driver had to be pulled over for another violation, such as speeding, before the ticket could be written. Now, police officers will be able to pull over and ticket drivers solely for texting or checking e-mail while driving.
"Innocent people should not lose their lives because someone chose to text while driving," stated United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, speaking in ...
Insurance Stacking in Nevada after Delgado
2010-09-30
Last October, the Nevada Supreme Court carved out an exception to the state's rule on insurance stacking in motor vehicle accident cases. In Delgado v. American Family Insurance Group, the court held that passengers injured in a two-car accident can recover under the permissive driver's liability and underinsured motorist (UIM) policies when both drivers are found to be jointly liable for the accident.
Delgado v. American Family
In 2004, Dionicia Delgado was riding as a passenger in a car driven by Eunice Marcelino when the vehicle was involved in an accident with ...
School Bus Safety
2010-09-30
It's back to school time, and this year 25.1 million children will ride to school in 474,000 school buses in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While school buses are safer than other passenger vehicles, there are specific laws in place to prevent bus related accidents.
According to the NHTSA, between 1998 and 2008 there were 414,399 fatal motor vehicle crashes, of which only 0.34 percent were classified as school transportation related. Buses are safer than smaller passenger vehicles, due primarily to their size. ...
The Illinois Tort Immunity Act and the Death of Michael Langford, Jr.
2010-09-30
The Illinois Tort Immunity Act shields local governments and employees of government agencies from liability for ordinary negligence committed in the course of their duties. But the shield is not a blank check for wrongdoing. Government agencies and their employees can be held liable for any act or omission that constitutes willful and wanton misconduct. The death of 5-year-old Michael Langford, Jr., in May raises the issue of willful and wanton misconduct in a very compelling way.
On Mother's Day 2010, Kathie La Fond worked a double shift, getting off of work at approximately ...
Judging Corrupt Judges in Georgia
2010-09-30
At the heart of the American justice system are the concepts of fairness and impartiality, especially on the part of juries and judges. Judges generally have reputations for knowing the law and applying it justly to the situations and defendants before them. So, what happens when the judges are the ones acting inappropriately?
Following a string of scandals and corrupt practices involving multiple judges in Georgia, the way people in the state view judges is currently under careful review.
A Very Thin Line
There seems to be a very thin line between the judge's ...
HP Lawsuit Filed Against Former CEO Will Meet Significant Obstacles
2010-09-30
Former Hewlett-Packard (HP) Chief Executive Officer Mark Hurd has made national headlines once again with the announcement that, after his firing from HP, he will join Oracle Corp., the world's second largest software company, as a president and board member. This announcement comes just a month after Hurd's public departure from HP following allegations that he violated standards of business conduct.
As Business Week reports, this is an excellent move for both Hurd and Oracle. Oracle is shifting its focus from software to hardware, and Hurd has experience with both. ...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What It Means For You
2010-09-30
The recent financial meltdown revealed problems within the financial system, especially for consumers, which is why Congress passed new legislation intended to safeguard financial transactions and stabilize the entire industry.
The Frank-Dodd Act creates an entirely new federal agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is designed to protect consumers from shady or fraudulent transactions and will oversee all financial companies, including banks, credit unions and private mortgage firms that do business with the public. The act will create or improve rules ...
New DUI Law Allows for 10 Year Revocations for Repeat Offenders
2010-09-30
William Scott Simon, of Belmont, was sent to prison late last year after being convicted for his eighth DUI, stemming from a January 2009 incident. Mr. Simon previously had his license suspended in 2004 after his seventh DUI conviction, but his license was eventually reinstated. While considered an extreme case, it prompted state Assemblyman Jerry Hill to author Assembly Bill 1601, which would allow judges to revoke the licenses of habitual DUI offenders for 10 years. This new law would apply to people who have three or more convictions within a 10 year period. Current ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Sexual health symptoms may correlate with poor adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in Black women with breast cancer
Black patients with triple-negative breast cancer may be less likely to receive immunotherapy than white patients
Affordable care act may increase access to colon cancer care for underserved groups
UK study shows there is less stigma against LGBTQ people than you might think, but people with mental health problems continue to experience higher levels of stigma
Bringing lost proteins back home
Better than blood tests? Nanoparticle potential found for assessing kidneys
Texas A&M and partner USAging awarded 2024 Immunization Neighborhood Champion Award
UTEP establishes collaboration with DoD, NSA to help enhance U.S. semiconductor workforce
Study finds family members are most common perpetrators of infant and child homicides in the U.S.
Researchers secure funds to create a digital mental health tool for Spanish-speaking Latino families
UAB startup Endomimetics receives $2.8 million Small Business Innovation Research grant
Scientists turn to human skeletons to explore origins of horseback riding
UCF receives prestigious Keck Foundation Award to advance spintronics technology
Cleveland Clinic study shows bariatric surgery outperforms GLP-1 diabetes drugs for kidney protection
Study reveals large ocean heat storage efficiency during the last deglaciation
Fever drives enhanced activity, mitochondrial damage in immune cells
A two-dose schedule could make HIV vaccines more effective
Wastewater monitoring can detect foodborne illness, researchers find
Kowalski, Salonvaara receive ASHRAE Distinguished Service Awards
SkAI launched to further explore universe
SLU researchers identify sex-based differences in immune responses against tumors
Evolved in the lab, found in nature: uncovering hidden pH sensing abilities
Unlocking the potential of patient-derived organoids for personalized sarcoma treatment
New drug molecule could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease in younger patients
Deforestation in the Amazon is driven more by domestic demand than by the export market
Demand-side actions could help construction sector deliver on net-zero targets
Research team discovers molecular mechanism for a bacterial infection
What role does a tailwind play in cycling’s ‘Everesting’?
Projections of extreme temperature–related deaths in the US
Wearable device–based intervention for promoting patient physical activity after lung cancer surgery
[Press-News.org] Hydrofracking Is Down, but Not Necessarily out, in New YorkOn August 4, 2010, the New York State Senate passed a short-term moratorium on hydrofracking, a controversial type of natural gas drilling.