The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has released its Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement regarding the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) techniques for extracting natural gas. The public has until November 30 to submit comments.

Table 6.2 (page 6-31) shows an analysis of some of the substances used in fracking in Pennsylvania and West Virginia that are brought to the surface during the fracking operation . The SGEIS states: “Characteristics of flowback from the Marcellus Shale in New York are expected to be similar to flowback from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but not identical.”

Table 6.2 reveals the presence of extraordinarily high concentrations of a compound called 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide in all 25 wells tested in Pennsylvania. A few minutes on the web discloses that this compound is a well-known mutagen (think birth defects) and carcinogen.

When asked if the report could be an error, a DEC official said,”(W)e are looking into whether or not this is an error. This provision was put together by one of our consultants.”

This is frightening no matter what. If it is accurate, we will be exposed to this deadly toxin; if it is an error made by a “consultant,” what does that say for the whole study?