Local Activists Ask Cinnaminson for Fracking Ban Support

A local advocacy group will be educating passersby in Cinnaminson this afternoon on the dangers of fracking and encouraging residents to contact their legislators to support the ban.

The Cooper River Group of Food & Water Watch, a non-profit consumer group that works to ensure the safety of food and water, will set up shop at the Shoppes of Cinnaminson with signs, literature, and more to call on Sen. Diane Allen—whose legislative offices are now in town—to support the fracking waste ban.

The ban on fracking waste bill passed through the State Senate and Assembly. However in September, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the ban.

“Folks are definitely concerned about this—the impact it could have on drinking water and waterways,” said Emily Reuman, regional organizer for Food & Water Watch.

Fracking is a way of drilling for natural gas that involves shooing water at a high pressure into the earth.

“In that process,” Reuman said, “you’re shooting a whole load of chemicals that include lead, arsenic and other known carcinogens. This toxic wastewater comes back up and has to be disposed somewhere. The concern is that we don’t have a way to deal with it properly. That’s where the fracking waste ban comes from.”

Sen. Allen voted to support the ban on fracking waste but Reuman’s group is concerned that state Republicans like Allen will now side with the governor after the next vote in early December.

“Sen. Diane Allen—she definitely has supported the fracking waste ban in the past,” Reuman said. “Our concern is when this comes up again for a vote, we need to make sure our Legislature votes the same way they did the first time now that they are facing the governor’s opposition. If they do, they would override the governor’s veto.”

It’s been reported that Christie vetoed the ban citing that it’s premature and that it would not occur in New Jersey any time soon.

Reuman said there have been reports of fracking waste in at least three facilities in New Jersey and that waste from Pennsylvania—where fracking is a hot button issue—was dumped in a New York landfill.

The local chapter of Food & Water Watch has members from Cinnaminson, Willingboro, Mt. Laurel, Collingswood and more. The group will be out near ShopRite and Ross at 3 p.m. today talking to residents and asking them to call Sen. Allen’s office.

Activities will also hold a call-in day to Allen’s office to ask for her support for an override of the fracking waste ban.