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Red Alert on Shale Gas Fracking/Detailed Plan of Action Outlined

Greetings,

Shale gas events continue to unfold rapidly in New York. I write to offer a detailed plan of action for the next phase of our efforts. Everything we have achieved during the last four years is on the line. Your help is needed more than ever.

No Anti-Fracking Bills Enacted in Legislative Session

I do not lobby, but want to let you know that the Legislative Session ended Thursday with no anti-fracking bills enacted. Killed in various committees were: Avella's Fracking Ban bill, Seward's Home Rule bill, Lifton's Health Assessment bill, the Hazardous Waste regulatory bill and the one-year moratorium bill.

No Fracking Demonstration Project Event

Last Wednesday, approximately 100 groups and individuals, including myself, announced in the State Capitol that they co-signed a letter opposing any Fracking Demonstration Project. A lot of work was required to draft an acceptable letter.

The event received good coverage, particularly in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/nyregion/environmental-coalition-to-fi... and http://www.pressconnects.com/viewart/20120620/NEWS11/206200370/Anti-frac...

You can hear me speaking at the event: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/videos/2012/06/20/albany

Red Alert: Take Immediate Action Today

Many activists fervently believe that Governor Cuomo will ban fracking because it can cause pollution problems and he will support sustainable energy alternatives instead of shale gas extraction.

If he were so inclined, I believe that he would have done that long before now.

In the last few days, Governor Cuomo has repeatedly reiterated that a final fracking decision would be made "shortly." All indications are that Governor Cuomo will try to permit shale gas fracking in the immediate future, very likely in the Southern Tier. That is why it is imperative for us all to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, we must make sure that Governor Cuomo fulfills the requirements of Executive Order No. 41 to "revise" the Draft SGEIS "comprehensively." New York's shale fracking moratorium stays in effect until a Final SGEIS is adopted. No Demonstration Project can be permitted until that occurs.

SECOND, WE MUST BLOCK PRO-FRACKING RESOLUTIONS FROM BEING ADOPTED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE FIVE COUNTIES PROPOSED FOR THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT: CHENANGO, BROOME, TIOGA, CHEMUNG AND STEUBEN. The NYT reported that fracking would only be allowed in communities that support it. While we do not know if that is true, we must make sure that no pro-fracking resolutions are adopted.

Let your local officials know that no shale gas fracking is allowed in New York until a Final SGEIS is adopted. Show them the coalition letter with more than 22,000 signatories which requests that the Revised Draft SGEIS be withdrawn due to 17 documented inadequacies. Inform them that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency voiced equally grave concerns about the Revised Draft SGEIS. Until adequate safeguards are finally adopted, pro-fracking resolutions are inappropriate and premature.

YOU SHOULD WRITE YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO REQUEST THAT PRO-FRACKING RESOLUTIONS MUST ONLY BE CONSIDERED PURSUANT TO NEW YORK'S OPEN MEETINGS LAW REGARDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

Activists must attend each and every local government meeting to make sure that no pro-fracking resolutions are adopted surreptitiously. Stay until all representatives leave, the lights are turned off, the door is locked and the parking lot is empty.

I AM NOT KIDDING. Several pro-fracking resolutions have reportedly been passed late at night after citizens left meetings because they did not know the matter would be taken up.

You will be shocked when you read this Committee on Open Government description of the skullduggery involved with Open Meetings Law violations: http://docs.dos.ny.gov/coog/otext/o4250.htm

If you have any questions about the Open Meetings Law, contact Bob Freeman, Esq. of COOG. Bob is incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to help. He is a gem, a treasure and a world-renowned New York State institution. He will assist you without charge. Tell him Walter sent you. Thanks, Bob. See: http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/

THIRD, IDENTIFY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST INVOLVING MINERAL RIGHTS LEASING. REQUEST IN WRITING THAT THEY RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM SHALE GAS VOTES.

Keep pushing until it happens. This strategy was essential in defeating two proposals to lease mineral rights for public property in Broome County.

See an article about this critical issue: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120626/NEWS11/306260009/Hydrofrac...|head

Fourth, intensify opposition to the Fracking Demonstration Project and build support for Withdrawing the Revised Draft SGEIS because it fails to fulfill the requirements of Executive Order No. 41.

GET MORE SIGNATORIES FOR BOTH COALITION LETTERS, PARTICULARLY: CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, LOCAL OFFICIALS AND BUSINESSES throughout the proposed Demonstration Project area.

See: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/cuomo/coalition_letter/201... and http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/cuomo/coalition_letter/2011

Call and Email Governor Cuomo: 518 474 8390 and http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

Tell him that unless fracking can be done safely everywhere in NYS, it must not be done anywhere. Tell him to provide equal protection for all New Yorkers from shale gas hazards.

Conclusion

The political and economic forces underpinning shale gas fracking are enormous. Google “cheap natural gas” to see the grim reality that we face.

I believe the Governor is likely preparing to permit fracking in at least a portion of New York with the aim of later expanding the practice throughout New York's tight shale formations. We must stop him from using that "divide and conquer" strategy.

Last week, I said that if Governor Cuomo does not fulfill our requests, New Yorkers would fight him "town-by-town, county-by-county and region-by-region." I said we would do "whatever it takes" to safeguard our state. I promised that "we will never give up."

That is the scenario that is looming.

Keep slugging. Stay focused.

Don't fret. We are still good for the moment.

Thanks so much for your help.

Cheers,

Walter