Fracking Fears Discussed in Morris Township

Would like fresh lemon or toxic chemicals with your water?

According to CommunityEarth, that might be the choice to make as fracking poses a danger to New Jersey. Those interested are being offered
a free public event on Oct. 4 co-hosted by CommunityEarth and Food & Water Watch, that will feature Ray Kemble, an internationally renowned whistleblower and anti-fracking activist. 
Kemble drove a truck for the gas industry, but spoke out after his water was contaminated through illegal dumping of fracking waste in his hometown of Dimock, Pennsylvania.
Kemble, whose story was featured in the film Drill Baby Drill, will be part of a panel that includes fellow activist Craig Stevens, as well as environmental and legal experts. 
The interactive forum will provide information on what fracking is, why it is controversial, and how New Jersey is impacted by fracking practices in Pennsylvania. The panel will explore proactive measures and actionable solutions to ensure we will have drinkable water in our future.

Ray Kemble’s story will spotlight the real life impact of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) as it pumps water and chemicals into the earth to harvest natural gas.  

Kemble has had no drinking or potable water for seven years and delivers water on a daily basis to eighteen impacted residents of Dimock while also working tirelessly to fight the practice of fracking. 

Craig Stevens, whose pristine 150 acre family farm in Dimock was contaminated by fracking waste water, organized a movement to alert local EPA officials to toxic contamination in the region. 

"Dimock is an example of what communities across the country including New Jersey face when fracking comes to their town.  New Jersey has a legacy of toxic waste and continuing that legacy through fracking waste dumping poses a bigger threat to drinking water, public health and the environment than anything we have done in the past,” said Jim Walsh (@jimrwalsh), New Jersey Director of Food & Water Watch, who will be participating on the panel.  “Although fracking is not currently practiced in New Jersey, radioactive fracking waste has come to our state and fracking wells are not far off as the US Geological Survey has recently identified up to 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas that could be fracked in central and northern New Jersey. The Legislature acted quickly by passing a bipartisan bills to ban fracking and ban the discharge of fracking waste in New Jersey, but Governor Christie refused to sign these bills, leaving New Jersey's drinking water in danger of contamination from this toxic mess.”

The story of Kemble and his compatriots have been so compelling they have drawn the attention of Mark Ruffalo and a host of Hollywood notables who have visited Dimock to meet with those affected and draw national attention to the issue.  

“While New Jersey doesn’t have the rich gas deposits that Pennsylvania has, it is still important to ban this dangerous practice here.  In addition to polluting our drinking water and the disposal issues, the tremendous amount of water that is used in the process never returns to the hydrology cycle – millions of gallons of water are lost forever," said Wanda Knapik (@WandaKnapik) , event organizer and President of the Board of Community Earth.  "Our state aquifers are already in a huge deficit and fracking will only add to this problem.  We urge all to come to our event to hear from experts and learn what we can do together to protect our drinking water. “

The event will be held at the Unity Charter School at 1 Evergreen Place, Morris Oct. 4 from 6:30 p.m. to  9 p.m.  

Time permitting, the film Drill Baby Drill will be shown after the panel discussion. Light refreshments, including clean drinking water, will be served.  Donations are welcome to cover event costs and registration is available online.