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Binghamton Rally - September 13th, 2010, 10:00am

URGENT CITIZEN ACTION ALERT-URGENT CITIZEN ACTION ALERT-URGENT CITIZEN ACTION ALERT

Greetings,

Citizens concerned about Marcellus Shale horizontal hydrofracking will hold a rally at 10:00 AM on September 13th in front of the downtown Federal Building (15 Henry Street) in Binghamton, NY.

This demonstration of grassroots activism and citizen democracy will take place prior to the Environmental Protection Agency's national hydrofracturing hearing. EPA's event will be held next door. See below.

I implore all activists working to prevent shale gas hazards in New York to attend the rally. EPA supports many of the concerns spelled out in the coalition letter requesting the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to withdraw its fatally-flawed draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS). Now that we have achieved our goal of more than 10,000 signatories to that letter, we must intensify pressure on EPA to enforce its concerns.

See EPA's landmark 12/30/09 letter to DEC: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/documents/epa_letter

EPA's hearing will be a huge event in the national shale gas debate. There should be extensive media coverage. Norwegian National TV is coming!!!

Even if you do not plan to comment on EPA's hydrofracking study, please show your strong visible support by joining us. Binghamton is arguably the epicenter of New York's Marcellus Shale region. It has become a crucial horizontal hydrofracking battleground.

On July 20th, citizens shockingly defeated a $15.9 million Broome County public property gas leasing proposal.

On August 5th, more than 50 people generated front-page coverage in Binghamton by bird-dogging Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Cuomo on Marcellus Shale concerns.

On August 19th more than 200 activists mobbed Andrew Cuomo in nearby Ithaca and generated more front-page coverage as well as extensive regional TV coverage.

Cuomo, Paterson, Grannis and Enck are watching every move we make. We must keep building momentum. We need maximum public participation next Monday.

Vote with your feet. Show up and make a political statement that New York is worth fighting for.

See you in Binghamton. Bring everyone you can. We need to reach the next quantum level in our organizing efforts.

Onward and upward,

Walter

Directions to the Rally venue: http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/direction/DirBing.htm

EPA’s Public Meeting on Hydraulic Fracturing Study to
Take Place in Binghamton, New York

Meeting Scheduled for September 13 and 15 at the Broome County Forum Theater

New York, NY – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected a new venue and dates for the public meeting on EPA’s upcoming hydraulic fracturing study originally scheduled for August 12, 2010. The meeting will now be held at the Broome County Forum Theater in Binghamton, New York, on September 13th and 15th, 2010.

Meeting Information:
EPA will hold four identical sessions during a two day session at the same location:

Date: Monday, September 13, 2010
Location: Broome County Forum Theater, 236 Washington St., Binghamton
Time:

  • 12:00pm – 4:00pm (pre-registration begins at 10:30am)
  • 6:00pm – 10:00pm (pre-registration begins at 4:30pm)

Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Location: Broome County Forum Theater, 236 Washington St., Binghamton
Time:

  • 12:00pm – 4:00pm (pre-registration begins at 10:30am)
  • 6:00pm – 10:00pm (pre-registration begins at 4:30pm)

Transition from the Postponed August 12 Meeting
The four sessions scheduled for September 13 and 15, 2010 will be identical to those already convened in Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The agenda will match that of the meetings previously scheduled for August 12. As with all previous meetings, EPA will make a short presentation at the beginning of each session and registered speakers will then have the opportunity to provide verbal or written comments directly to EPA.

All individuals who pre-registered for the August 12 meetings will retain their registration for the September 13 and 15 meetings. Because the timing of the sessions has changed from a one-day event to a two-day event and EPA has added another meeting session, EPA needs pre-registered individuals to specify the session they would like to attend.

  1. Pre-registered speakers for the August 12 session will be sent an e-mail from the Cadmus Group requesting they select one preferred session in which to provide verbal comment. The email notification will provide instructions on how to choose a session. Speakers who pre-registered using the telephone registration will be contacted by Cadmus by phone to confirm their preferred session.
  2. Pre-registered attendees (those who opted not to give verbal comment) will be asked to indicate the session they would like to attend via the registration website. The registration website is located at http://hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com and will open beginning at 9:00 am on Friday, September 3, 2010.

EPA is expecting room-capacity crowds at the Binghamton meeting sessions. Pre-registering to attend the meetings will help EPA plan the meeting logistics and increase the likelihood that individuals will be able to attend their preferred sessions. Individuals may pre-register for the meetings online at http://hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com or by calling 1-866-477-3635 (toll free). Online and telephone registration will remain open through 5:00 pm, September 10, 2010. Those who are not pre-registered may still register to attend or provide verbal comment on the day of the meeting. Verbal comments from individuals registered on-site will be accommodated as time allows.

EPA encourages the public to submit written comments on the proposed study, and relevant information and data by e-mail at hydraulic.fracturing@epa.gov through September 28, 2010. Please write “Hydraulic Fracturing Study – Comments” in the subject line of the message. Written comments may also be hand-delivered at the public meetings or sent to EPA at the following address:

Jill Dean
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Mailcode 4606M
Washington, DC 20460.

EPA looks forward to receiving more public input on the upcoming research study on the potential relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water.

For additional questions or comments, please email hydraulic.fracturing@epa.gov or call 1-866-477-3635. Meeting information may be found on the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study website at http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wel....

Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP to senn.john@epa.gov by 5:00 pm, September 10, 2010. There will be a separate media registration table at the venue. The Forum Theater will be equipped with a mult box and Internet access.

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