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Drilling supporters and opposition press their case as Cuomo visits
Isaac Silberman-Gorn, a member of Citizens Action, left, and Walter Hang, of Toxics Targeting, right, join anti-fracking protesters on the Binghamton University campus Thursday morning. JEFF RICHARDS / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
VESTAL — While Gov. Andrew Cuomo came to Binghamton University on Thursday to tout his Tax-Free NY initiative, about 50 protesters were focused on another topic: shale gas fracking.
The protesters camped outside the University Union East building, where Cuomo spoke, and held signs voicing their opposition to fracking in New York, often chanting anti-drilling slogans.
“This can not be done safely, and we don’t want it here in our community,” said Isaac Silberman-Gorn, environmental organizer at Citizen Action of New York.
While the opposition was pressing its case at Cuomo’s local appearance, landowner groups were trying to rally support in Albany. The state’s largest coalition of pro-drilling landowners hosted a forum Thursday, making the case for the soundness of hydraulic fracturing to an audience that featured lawmakers from both houses.
The panel discussion was billed as a response to Cuomo’s recent criticism of pro-fracking groups for not doing more to educate the public and allay concerns raised over the safety of shale-gas drilling.
Last week, Cuomo said he will make a decision on the fate of natural gas drilling in New York before the 2014 election. The governor is awaiting the completion of a review by State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah.
Though Cuomo’s presentation at BU was on his tax-free initiative, he addressed the fracking debate when pressed by reporters following his economic development talk. He repeated his common line on the topic, saying the decision is one that should be made based on science rather than emotion.
“The DEC commissioner and the health commissioner are analyzing the data and when they have a decision, that will be the decision and the path the state follows,” Cuomo said.
Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, which is headquartered in Ithaca, said the health commissioner’s review is improper, as it is being completed without public input. “The governor is simply not listening.”
Dan Fitzsimmons, president of the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, said drilling can be done safely and it can help clean up the environment by offering a more cost-effective energy source. And, he added, it will create jobs in the region and increase tax revenues.
“If (Cuomo) goes with the science, we’ll have gas drilling in New York state,” he said.
Jon Campbell of the Gannett Albany Bureau contributed to this report.
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Cuomo: Decision On Fracking By 2014 Election
Too soon or not soon enough? Governor Andrew Cuomo says he'll have his decision on fracking by the 2014 election.
Written reports say the Democratic Governors been waiting for State Health Commisioner, Dr. Nirav Shah's health review before making any decision on hydraulic fracturing.
Cuomo says the review should be completed in a few weeks. Anti-frackers say that review is invalid. Fracking supporters say 2014 is too far away.
"Don't let Dr. Shah finish the review who conducted it in secret without any public input. If you want to address the concerns that have been raised in good faith by elected officials in the Southern Tier and by concerned citizens, conduct a public health study," said President of Toxics Targeting Walter Hang.
"I think we've waited long enough. The facts are in. They've been in. We've recently walked with two of the memorial hospitals down in Pennsylvania. They don't have any health problems. They haven't see any health problems. These are two of the counties with the heaviest drilling going on. it's time for the governor to get this finished and get it moving," said President of the Joint Landowners Coalition Dan Fitzsimmons.
A decision on fracking has been on hold while the Department of Environmental Protection conducted its impact study.
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Fractivist Letters
A longtime anti-fracking activist is ratcheting up his letter writing campaign to Governor Cuomo with a new on-line message.
Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting in Ithaca held a news conference outside Governmental Plaza in Binghamton today to announce some early success. Hang says that over the past 10 days, 1,000 people have customized a form letter that he's made available on his website. Those letters are then e-mailed to Cuomo, his local representative, and the Commissioners of Health and Environmental Conservation. As with previous pleas, Hang and his allies urge the state to scrap its current draft environmental regulations and conduct a more thorough study of any potential health risks associated with fracking.
Hang says he thinks public pressure has played a role in delaying a final decision on hydraulic fracturing. "I believe that the coalition letters that Mayor Ryan and I and Dr. Perkus and literally tens of thousands of other New Yorkers have written in the last 3 and a half years are the main reason why there is still not a single fracked shale well in New York State."
Last week, a mid-level appeals court upheld a ruling that municipalities have the right to ban fracking. However, Hang says the anti-fracking movement should not focus exclusively on so-called home rule battles. He says the state regulatory process is the best way to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers. You can find Hang's form e-mail at toxicstargeting.com.
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Activists Write Governor Cuomo on Health Impact Study
Anti-fracking activists continue to barrage Governor Cuomo with calls for a health impact study of the drilling process.
More than a thousand letters requesting the study have been sent within the last week, according to Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting. He believes that such letters are the main reason that there are no frack shale wells in New York.
"They demonstrate an intimate knowledge of the bureaucracy of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.They reflect a very powerful understanding of the politics of New York State. And combined with your efforts to educate New Yorkers about what's at stake, that's what's held up fracking in New York," said President of Toxics Targeting, Walter Hang.
Hang and Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan made their call Monday afternoon in front of Government Plaza in downtown Binghamton.
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Fracking opponents send letters to Governor Cuomo
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Anti-fracking advocates in the Southern Tier made another push for a public health impact study.
More than one thousand individual letters have been sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo in the past ten days.
Senders used an email program developed by Toxics Targeting. The letters request a public health impact study be done that includes review and comment from the community.
Advocates claim the Department of Health review currently underway is not meeting its mandated goals.
Fracking opponents say they believe their continued efforts are making an impact.
"I believe that the coalition letters that Mayor Ryan and I and Doctor Perkus and literally tens of thousands of New Yorkers have written in the last three-and-a-half years are the main reason why there is still not a single frack shale well in New York State," said Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting.
At the same time, landowners and fracking supporters continue to express their frustrations over the continued delays.
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