Petition to ban fracking receives 500 signatures

WARWICK — Sustainable Warwick’s petition to ban industrial fracking in Warwick has gathered 500 signatures, the group’s chairman Geoff Howard announced in a press release.

“The public response has been loud and clear,” Howard said. “We hope to have well over a thousand signers by the Town Board meeting on Jan. 24.

“The need for this petition has arisen because of the Town Board’s inaction in committing to drafting a ban, bringing it before the public, discussing it openly, and voting on it one way or another, despite the Town Conservation Board’s unanimous recommendation to ban fracking,” Howard added.

The situation comes with some urgency because the end of February is the effective deadline, beyond which it may be too late to pass any enforceable “home rule” local law banning fracking.

More than 150 municipalities in New York State have restricted fracking.

“Now we need to ensure that our Town Board gets the message and does the same for us,” Howard added. “We urge all interested Warwick residents not only to sign the petition, but to attend the Town Board meeting on Jan. 24th.”

Essential information:
Any Warwick resident or taxpayer over the age of 18 may sign on to the petition by going to www.change.org/petitions/warwick-ban-fracking-now .