Don't believe hysteria about fracking
In his Feb. 5 letter, Greg Baldinger served up the usual stew of misinformation common to the obstructionists. Space prevents me from correcting all the errors. I will limit myself to two.
Mr. Baldinger states that fracking fluids have contaminated wells in 11 states. Over the last 60 years, 1.1 million wells have been hydrofracked in the United States. The 2004 EPA studies show no evidence of fracking water contamination to any wells, public water supplies or aquifers. According to Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma, speaking on CNN on Feb. 8, "Not one instance of hydraulic fracturing contamination has ever occurred anywhere." Methane migration does happen, but rarely. There are more than 120,000 active wells in Pennsylvania. Fewer than a dozen incidents of methane migration occur annually. When an incident does occur, it is usually corrected immediately. Anti-drillers would like the public to believe that methane migration is fracking fluid migration and that it is widespread and permanent. This is simply not true.
Baldinger implies that 270 natural gas accidents are on file with the DEC. These are the facts. Quoting DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis in November of 2008, "One accident occurred in Madison County in February of 2007. This was an extremely rare, isolated incident. This was one of 509 wells drilled in 2007 with no other incidents at any of the others. A total of 514 wells were drilled the year before with no incident, and 421 wells have been drilled since with no incident. Again, the accident did not involve hydraulic fracturing. The problems involved turbidity and not toxicity. The DEC took firm action against the operator and required the well be plugged."
Greg Baldinger is correct when he says laws and oversight will not prevent accidents. His error is exaggerating these accidents, thus substituting hysteria for truth.
David Elmore
Davenport
Officer deserves retroactive pay
As the department head of the Oneonta City Police Department during 2006, I had formally requested in writing and through established channels that a test be held to establish a needed position in the police department.
The request for a Civil Service test was approved and given to all who were qualified and interested in this new position. Mr. Pucci scored No. 1 on the test, which paved the road for him to receive the promotion.
Upon the police department receiving the results of the test, Mr. Pucci was in fact promoted and did fulfill the duties of this newly established position as senior data entry machine operator. Whether or not a formal acknowledgement of the promotion was bestowed is irrelevant. The fact remains that Mr. Pucci did perform all of the duties of this new position, and did hold this position for at least as long as I was the police chief upon my retirement on Feb. 28, 2007.
In the interest of fairness, it is my opinion that he be given the retroactive pay that he deserves and expects.
John J. Donadio
Gainesville, Fla.
Donadio is a former Oneonta police chief.
