Lamb Stands Up Against Southern Tier Fracking

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) As New York waits for word on if and where fracking will occur, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. 22nd district Congressional seat speaks out against it.

Local leaders and environmental groups joined Dan Lamb at a rally in opposition to the potential to allow drilling for shale gas.

Dan Lamb says there needs to be more federal safeguards in place and studies done before fracking comes to counties in the Southern Tier.

The Democrat said he believes the state-wide moratorium should stay in place and comprehensive public health, environmental and economic impact studies should be done.

Lamb says even if Governor Andrew Cuomo approves fracking in counties in the Southern Tier of New York State, it won't stop him from pursuing an agenda in Congress on this issue.

"We will not allow you to pollute our air, poison our water, scar our landscape for short-term profits and for jobs for out of state workers. We're not going to do that," said Lamb, "I believe fundamentally it would be reckless and catastrophic to advance this industry prior to restoring critical environmental safeguards, completing the honest research needed to prove this industry is indeed safe."

Reports have said the Cuomo administration may allow fracking only in the five counties that border Pennsylvania's Northern Tier.

There is no official word on when New York will announce its decision or begin permitting.