GASLAND-News

At the rally Monday in Albany, Josh Fox spoke about the need to recognize all the groups in NY fighting fracking to better let Albany know the strength of the opposition, and to help communication between all the groups. His speech is linked wherein he explains it. There was a little book everyone was asked to sign. You can send the name of your group and contact info to his e-mail:

db@nowlookup.com

Please pass this on to other groups you know of.

Thanks,

Kelly

Filmmaker arrested at hearing

By: Talia Buford

February 1, 2012 10:42 AM EST

Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox was arrested Wednesday morning after attempting to film a House Science Committee hearing on hydraulic fracturing.

Fox was led out in handcuffs by the Capitol police shortly after 10 a.m., before the hearing could be gaveled into order. The "Gasland" director was attempting to film the hearing looking into EPA's investigation of potential water contamination from natural gas drilling in Pavillion, Wyo.

"I'm within my First Amendment rights, and I'm being taken out," Fox shouted as he was led away.

Fox has been charged with unlawful entry, according to Capitol police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

Fox is working on a sequel to his Oscar-nominated "Gasland."

An ABC news crew was also turned away from the hearing. The committee chairman has the discretion on whether to allow uncredentialed members of the media to film hearings, according to a democratic staffer.

The committee recessed after Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) called a motion to suspend the committee rules and allow for Fox and the ABC crew to film the hearing.

"... it's clear we have space in this room to film this hearing," Miller said. "If you claim that rule does not allow them to film, or allows you the discretion to turn them away, I move the rules be suspended so the fella who wanted to film for HBO be allowed to film this hearing and that ABC be allowed to film this hearing and all God's children be allowed to film this hearing until the room is too full for us to conduct our business."

Before Miller's motion, subcommittee chairman Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) noted that the hearing is being webcast and that anyone filming the hearing would need the appropriate press credentials.

The hearing resumed nearly 30 minutes later, after Republicans voted to table both Miller's motion to allow the filming and a second motion to recess the hearing.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 10:38 a.m. on February 1, 2012.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=98E98050-F36F-457F-95B3-89F2A6A135A6

Senator Ball recently joined Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox for a

tour of Pennsylvania communities affected by hydrofracking. The

eye-opening tour, which will appear in the documentary GASLAND 2,

revealed a laundry list of missteps, oversights and cover-ups by the

gas companies.

Some of the tour findings include:

Lack of full disclosure about proprietary chemical formula used in the

fracking process.

Lack of protection for workers at drilling sites from fracking fluids and waste.

Lack of land owner understanding about lease agreements and royalties.

Lack of third-party chemical testing for contaminants in land owner’s water

Lack of responsiveness by companies to pay for damages involving lost

value of property as a result of contamination of water and soil, lost

productivity of land, lost livestock and crops.

Lack of local employment by the drilling companies (Chesapeake

Energy). The workers at the Chesapeake site rigs were transported into

Pennsylvania from Texas, Louisiana and Connecticut. Reason given is

because it’s too costly to train local citizens.

Seemingly aggressive unethical sales practices used by the companies

“land man” to encourage land owners to sign leases.

Lack of sharing of information on contamination between land owners.

Lack of air quality testing.

Lack of process to respond to or to Insure against devaluation of land

owner’s property.

No presumption of causation by the companies, they seem to be able to

easily deny damages to water, soil, lost value of property and lost

productivity.

Absence of environmental impact analysis process

No disclosures or warning statements on lease agreements concerning

the financial, health and environmental risks of hydrofracking.

Lack of full disclosure of past violations and spills by companies.

Lack of commitment to remediate soil and water upon contamination.

Lack of water from trusted governmental third parties instead of companies.

Lack of regulations on campaign contributions to chairs of environment

committees in state government.

Lack of fine or penalty structure in response to contamination of

water and soil.

Lack of evacuation plan for local EMS."

http://ball4ny.com/on_the_ball/press-releases/press-release-gas-companies-won%E2%80%99t-spill-information

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

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