SYRACUSE -- A big crowd packed into Nottingham High School Wednesday night to voice their concerns about hydrofracking. The controversial drilling procedure releases natural gas from underground, but, it uses water laced with chemicals to do it.

Opponents say those chemicals can leak into the watershed and possibly contaminate drinking water. Jack Ramsden volunteers for groups opposing hydrofracking. He says freshwater is a gift. "That freshwater is critically important to our future and to our children's future," he says, "so everybody should get on board."

Energy companies insist hydrofracking is safe. Many have already bought hundreds of parcels of land for drilling.

A member of the Department of Environmental Conservation was at the meeting. The DEC still has to make a final decision on hydrofracking regulations.