Town of Union, NY (WBNG Binghamton) New York's DEC Commissioner visits Broome County and is met with opposition just days after draft regulations for hydrofracking are issued.
Members of NYRAD, Toxics Targeting and others stood in the road, waiting for Commissioner Joe Martens Wednesday morning as he left another media outlet.
Martens' car drove by and there was no comment.
The groups say they want the draft re-done, adding equal protection in drilling regulations.
Under the draft, the NYC and Syracuse watersheds would be prohibited to natural gas extraction.
"We want to send a message to commissioner Martens that I don't know a single person in Upstate New York that thinks we deserve less protection than NYC and Syracuse. It is unfair and he needs to know that we are not going to stand for that," said Ben Perkus, NYRAD Board Member.
80% of the Marcellus shale available would be accessible.
"We got an incredible crew out here to send a message to commissioner Martens that he should be ashamed. He's proposing to protect some New Yorkers more than others," said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting.
"I'm here today because I do not believe Martens is doing any justice by saying it is safe," said Fay Gougakis, Ithaca.
The State DEC will have a 60 day comment period. That is anticipated to start by late August after the SGEIS is updated with socioeconomic research.
Public contact for DEC:
Phone: 518-402-8044
Email: public@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Mail address: Division of Public Affairs and Education, 2nd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4500http://media.wbng.com/images/470*264/martens61.JPG