Second in a series
Re “Meghan Says Five Goals Were Achieved at the Council Meeting”
[img]1307|right|Meghan Sahli-Wells||no_popup[/img]To counter recent stories asserting that no proof-laden connection has been established between the oil drilling method known as fracking as a cause of deteriorating health and environmental conditions, Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells said the claim is erroneous.
“There is a growing body of scientific knowledge around this subject,” she said. “I am not talking about hyperbole but peer-reviewed studies.”
Competition between the pro- and anti-fracking sides has been strident from the start with no apologies for ugliness or exaggerations.
“Obviously,” said Ms. Sahli-Wells, “any company will want to defend its business practices. So there always will be a battle of studies.
“When you look into the scientific community, you will find more and more cause for alarm. I am talking about information scientifically based, not from activists.”
The vice mayor said that demonstrated links have been shown between fracking practices and damage to land and people. “You have to look no farther than California itself,” she said. “At least a year ago, there was a court case in which an almond farmer in the Central Valley won about $6 million for damage to his almond crop. There was a pit where fracking wastewater was being dumped, and all of his almond trees died.
“The court case is very clear. Studies were done. It is as official as you can get. The case was against a company that would have defended itself if they had thought they were right. Six million is a lot of dough,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said. “They didn’t because they were wrong.”
(To be continued)
