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Push for public comment on fracking review
Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A coalition letter against Hydraulic Fracturing is circulating the area and asks for public participation on the Department of Health's review.
The letter to Governor Cuomo wants to see the "DOH's Review of the Public Health Impact on High Volume, Hydraulic Fracturing" put on hold until there is opportunity for public feedback.
"And if he does not give us what we've requested so respectfully, he's going to continue to absorb tremendous criticism, again not just from local government officials but senior leadership in the Assembly and the State Senate," said President of Toxics Targeting Walter Hang.
Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan was joined with the President of Toxics Targeting and a representative of New York Residents Against Drilling.
More than 1,500 citizens signed the letter that was released on Sunday.
"We hope that he (Gov. Cuomo) will be guided by our very respectful coalition letter to open this entire proceeding up to public participation. This is the most important environmental issue for the Southern Tier in a generation," Hang said.
Toxics Targeting is an environmental data services company that provides online interactive maps of known or potential toxic sites, some from traditional gas drilling.
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Coalition writes governor a letter against fracking
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Hydrofracking opponents continue to push for public participation in the state's ongoing health review of the procedure.
Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan was joined by other coalition members Tuesday to announce the details of a letter that is being sent to the Governor. It has gained more than 1,500 signatures from environmental and civic groups, as well as scientists, physicians and other citizens.
The letter requests that Governor Andrew Cuomo put the Department of Health Review on hold, pending formal public participation and other revisions.
"There has never been a single piece of paper released to the public about the scope of the Department of Health review, how it’s being undertaken, what the critical issues are. There has been no public disclosure or public notice in any way about that entire proceeding," said Walter Hang, President of Toxics Targeting.
Toxics Targeting also announced the release of a new interactive map on the company's website. President Walter Hang says the map allows citizens to identify health and environmental threats that could be made worse by fracking.
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Fracktivists Push for Public Input
There should be public participation allowed into New York State's health assessment on fracking.
That's according to a group of scientists, doctors, politicians, farmers and other residents. They have sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to put the State Health Department's review on-hold. Walter Hang, of Ithaca based Toxics Targeting, says the review needs to have formal written notice of what it involves. He also says it should allow for 30 days of public review and comment. And, there should be at least one public hearing.
Walter Hang says, "The final SGEIS must not be adopted, that entire proceeding has to be put on hold until these public participation requirements are completed. The last thing is we want to make sure that critical concerns that have been excluded from the proceeding are addressed."
Hang says those include the state not adequately addressing 650,000 known and potential toxic sites. And, thousands of abandoned gas and oil wells. Toxics Targeting has created an interactive map where you can see those areas of concern. It can be found at maps.toxicstargeting.com.
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Campaign Launched to Require Formal Public Participation and Major Revisions for DOH Fracking Review
From Walter Hang:
Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan and representatives of a statewide coalition of environmental, civic and good-government groups as well as scientists, physicians, farmers, artists and local business owners will announce the launching of a campaign calling for formal public participation and major revisions to the New York State Department of Health's Review of the Public Health Impact of High Volume, Hydraulic Fracturing.
The DOH Review has received intense criticism because it has been conducted in secret without any a) public notice of its scope of work, b) public comment period or c) public hearing.
A new coalition letter requests that Governor Cuomo put the DOH Review on-hold pending fulfillment of formal public participation requirements and other major revisions. The letter gained more than 1,300 signatories in less than one day. See: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/letters/2013/02/24/public-...
Walter Hang, President of Toxics Targeting, Inc., will announce the release of a new interactive web map that illustrates the locations of more than 650,000 known and potential toxic sites, approximately 5,000 abandoned and unplugged gas/oil production wells, more than 12,000 active gas/oil production wells in addition to a wide range of "sensitive receptors" that could be irreparably harmed by shale gas extraction hazards.
The free web map allows concerned citizens and government officials to identify public health and environmental threats that could be exacerbated by proposed shale gas fracking activities.See: http://maps.toxicstargeting.com/
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