2012 is looking mighty good so far/Please help with the de facto moratorium pledge

Greetings,

I am exceedingly pleased to let you know that there is a growing sense that New York's de facto moratorium on horizontal hydrofracturing in Marcellus Shale will likely continue throughout 2012. That is thrilling news, though I hesitate to mention it to avoid jinxing our shut-out. Keep pushing. No let-up.

Here are some hot-off-the-press newsclips as well as a terrifically informative video of a presentation last Thursday involving two key pro-fracking advocates and others. Thank you Press & Sun-Bulletin. Listen very carefully at 20:45.

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120119/NEWS01/201190415/Experts-G...

http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/news/2012-01-14/strictly-b...

http://www.pressconnects.com/livestream/article/20120119/NEWS11/12011901...

The Withdraw the Revised Draft SGEIS coalition letter now has more than 22,000 signatories and is focusing enormous political pressure on Governor Cuomo. He has yet to make a final decision about Marcellus Shale gas, but is reportedly listening to us: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120116/NEWS10/120116018 Pour it on with everything you have got!!!

Albany

I implore activists going to Albany tomorrow to help with two very important matters. First, request that legislators sign the Withdraw the Revised Draft SGEIS coalition letter. Second, request that legislators sign the de facto Moratorium Pledge that I sent to members of the DEC Marcellus Shale Advisory Panel. This pledge is extremely important. Lean hard. Email me any signatories. I will follow up.

Here is a blurb to help you make your case:

Since 2008, there has been a de facto moratorium on horizontal hydrofracturing in New York's Marcellus Shale pending adoption of a Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS).

Region 2 of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency just submitted 28 pages of detailed comments that identified dozens of major inadequacies in the Revised Draft SGEIS. EPA concluded: "The NYSDEC asserts that it will match the rate of permit issuance to the availability of personnel who will review those permits, inspect well pads, oversee well construction, waste disposal, and enforce other permit conditions and regulations. However, with the multitude of requirements and best management practices that the revised dSGEIS calls for – much of which provide protection for water resources – it is not made clear in the revised dSGEIS how NYSDEC plans to do this (emphasis added), given the current state of the economy.

A coalition letter with more than 22,000 signatories requests that Governor Cuomo Withdraw the Marcellus Shale Revised Draft SGEIS due to at least 17 critical shortcomings.

You are respectfully requested to sign that coalition letter: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/cuomo/coalition_letter/2011

You are similarly requested to sign the following de facto Moratorium Pledge:

Given the irreparable harm that shale gas extraction could wreak on New York's environment and public health, I request that Governor Cuomo maintain DEC's de facto moratorium on Marcellus Shale horizontal hydrofracturing until there is a consensus among all local, state and federal authorities as well as potentially impacted parties that the 17 major shortcomings documented in the Withdraw the Revised Draft SGEIS Coalition Letter have been fully resolved.

____________________________________________________

Date: ______________________

Fabulous Press Coverage

2012 is off to a stupendous, shockingly great start. See our fabulous on-target press coverage:

Conclusion

It is hard to believe how far we have come. The strategy of maintaining the de facto moratorium on horizontal hydrofracturing in New York’s Marcellus Shale is still holding steady as a rock against seemingly insurmountable odds. When we began our effort in the autumn of 2009, that prospect was almost unimaginable.

Thank you, again, for all your help.

See Toxics Targeting’s 2009 - 2012 Marcellus Shale Gas press coverage at: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/marcellus-news-compilation

See Toxics Targeting’s 2011 compilation of news coverage: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/2011-marcellus-news-compilation

Finally, please keep beating the bushes for more signatories, notably local officials, farmers and businesses. Signatories from other states and nations are warmly accepted. We need at least 100 signatories in each category.

I appreciate all your earnest assistance. Keep slugging.

Walter

Marcellus Shale

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2012 is looking mighty good so far/Please help with the de facto moratorium pledge

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