CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Hydraulic fracturing will set back, not save, the Southern Tier economy if the government allows the controversial gas drilling technique to proceed, congressional candidate Leslie Danks Burke said Tuesday.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a heated topic among those who live and work above the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation, a portion of which lies below Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.

Supporters say a drilling boom will spur economic activity, while opponents say the potential risk to the environment, health and quality of life outweighs economic benefits.

Danks Burke touched on the subject during a brief interview with The Leader.

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