Fleased is providing a voice for fellow landholders who leased mineral rights before we knew that shale gas exploitation threatened our land, air, water, and communities. To learn more or join us, contact us at fleasedny@gmail.com.
Many landholders signed leases with gas companies before shale gas exploitation was anticipated in New York State. Why did we sign? Partly because natural gas was portrayed as a relatively “clean green” fuel, so obtaining it locally seemed reasonable. Partly because the way it was presented to us made it sound not only benign, but inevitable.
Previous gas drilling was far less dangerous than the slickwater high volume hydraulic fracturing used for shale gas exploitation and the older technology is what most of us thought we signed up for. Our expectations were based on conventional gas drilling. None of us knew that toxic chemicals would be injected into the land under our homes, woods, farms and wells. Changes in the law since many people signed now allow for denser well spacing, further increasing impacts.
Had we known about the pollution potential and the possible transformation of peaceful residential and agricultural areas into industrial zones, we would never have signed.
Fleased is collecting accounts of how the landsmen who visited us operated—specifically what information and misinformation they gave us about the process and impacts, what promises and assurances were made and what pressures they put on us to sign. Fleased is also examining the content and import of specific provisions of our leases. We are making our presence and concerns known to the political “powers” locally, in Albany and nationally, and we are considering possible legal actions.
Join us if you have been Fleased. <fleased.ny@gmail.com>
