Family Life

11.01.12 | Sarah Harnisch

More then 50 towns and cities from across upstate New York are asking to join two massive hydrofracking cases. Towns like Rush, Mendon, Ulysses, and Ithaca are asking a State Appeals Court for permission to weigh in on whether they can ban natural gas drilling within their borders. 53 different municipalities, along with the State Associations of Towns and the Conference of Mayors made the court filings this week. They are asking to testify during 2 major state Supreme Court cases. One lawsuit was filed by a Norwegian gas company, the second, a Cooperstown-area farmer. Both favor drilling. Lawyers say either ruling could have a dramatic impact on every town in the state, and their ability to control where they will allow high-volume hydrofracking.