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Mark Ruffalo Joins Rally Against Hydrofracking at BMCC

By Ben Fractenberg | November 30, 2011 6:23pm

DOWNTOWN — "No fracking way!"

That's what hundreds of activists, including actor Mark Ruffalo, said about the natural gas-extraction method hydrofracking during a rally Downtown Wednesday — as state officials decided to extend the public comment period on the proposed, highly controversial practice.

"Why is the state and the [Department of Environmental Conservation] so gung-ho on moving forward on this regressive and unimaginative plan to frack the daylights out of New York State," Ruffalo said at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

"You say it can be done safely, but clearly it cannot. Otherwise we wouldn't be here today. "

The actor's comments came just before a state hearing about the fossil-fuel extraction method, nicknamed "fracking," which which uses pressurized water mixed with chemicals to break apart underground rock formations, releasing fossil fuels.