New South Wales' Northern Rivers will be one of the first regions to undergo a detailed scientific assessment of the impact of coal seam gas mining, including impacts on underground water.

Actor and director Mark Ruffalo recently joined Stephen Colbert to discuss an issue that continues to divide many Americans.

Appearing on the "Colbert Report" this week, Ruffalo discussed what he sees as one of the biggest problems associated with fracking, mountaintop removal coal mining and the extraction of Canada's tar sands oil. "All of these things destroy water," Ruffalo argued.

As a resident of a region impacted by hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, Ruffalo said that he feels quite passionately about water protection.

At first excited about the prospect of cheap and independent energy, Ruffalo said he changed his mind about fracking after visting Dimock, Pennsylvania. He told Colbert, "I saw what it does to families. These people can't drink the water that's coming out of their tap. Here in America."

Earlier in the interview, Ruffalo stressed the potential of renewable energy sources like "wind, water and solar." Citing the prevalence of solar energy in Germany, Ruffalo remarked "America's being left behind. We're being left behind all over the world."

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