KATONAH, N.Y. – State Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) will host a hearing later this month at the Katonah Village Library’s Garden Room that will examine the risks and benefits of hydraulic fracturing in New York.

Ball represents the 40th Senate District, which includes Lewisboro and Pound Ridge.

Also known as hydrofracking, hydraulic fracturing is the process of pumping water, sand and chemicals underground and into rocks to release and capture gas for future energy use. Ball hopes the hearing, which is slated for Aug. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., will build awareness about hydrofracking.

The senator will solicit testimony from industry experts to determine any public policies that may need to be created to protect the health and welfare of the public and the environment as it relates to hydrofracking.

Ball has also been invited to receive a tour of communities that have been affected by hydrofracking. He will join filmmaker Josh Fox during the taping of the film, “Gasland 2” in Pennsylvania on Aug. 12 and 13. The first film, “Gasland” was a 2010 documentary that focused on communities in the United States affected by hydrofracking.

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