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Future of Fracking Remains Uncertain in NY
Opponents and supporters of gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing are stuck in limbo, both sides believing a "final decision" is long overdue, Some local governments have taken matters into their own hands, not waiting for the state to take action. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports on some of the most recent developments.
As activists continue sounding the alarm over fracking - and political observers try to decipher signals sent from the Cuomo Administration about it - The Westchester Board of Legislators voted unanimously on Monday to ban fracking fluids from the suburban New York county. Westchester joins the list of community governments that have imposed laws impacting gas drilling and hydrofracking, in anticipation the state may give fracking the green light.
In Westchester, no fracking fluids will be allowed in any sewer plants within its lines, the fluid will be banned from sale in the county as well its application on any roads as an ice and snow melt solution.
Legislator Katherine Borgia has taken the issue a step further by asking state lawmakers to introduce legislation.
Lenape Resources' owner John Holko is all-too familiar with local legislation - the town of Avon, where he is based, has issued a moratorium under which he cannot drill new gas wells - he says state law supersedes local law - he would like to see that law enforced, lifting the patchwork of local bans.
It has been suggested that Governor Andrew Cuomo will restrict fracking to the Southern Tier - "not a good idea" says Walter Hang - he is the President of Toxics Targeting, an environmental data base firm based in Ithaca.
"If it's not safe for all New Yorkers it can't possibly be safe for just the residents of the Southern Tier. The Governor has a really long row to hoe. It's fine that there's opposition in Westchester County toward the fracking wastewater, but there's never been any fracking wastewater dumped in Westchester County or anywhere downstate. It's all being dumped in Central New York, in the Finger Lakes, in the Southern Tier," Hang said.
In a related development, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has dealt a crippling blow to those opposed to a planned $43 million natural-gas compression station, denying a request to re-hear arguments against building the Millennium Pipeline project.
And while the fracking issue remains complex and controversial - John Holko says there is really no cause for alarm.
On Monday, chairmen of three Assembly committees sent a letter to DEC Commissioner Joe Martens, urging him to withdraw the latest proposals until the health review is completed. The DEC has not yet returned calls for comment.
Governor Cuomo is caught in the middle of the controversy - Walter Hang promises activists will be in Albany next month and make their presence known at the State of the State address.
A new round of comments on the DEC’s revised set of proposed fracking regulations will be accepted between December 12th and January 11th. The new deadline to finalize the rules is February 27th.
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Drilling Meeting Controversy
Binghamton Matt Ryan was on the offensive today after what he calls erroneous claims made by a pro-drilling agency.
Back on Monday, Matt Ryan attended a meeting hosted by the New York State Petroleum Council. He, like all other elected officials in Broome and Tioga counties, were invited. He also brought a guest, Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting. Hang has helped lead the charge against allowing fracking in New York State.
Towards the end of the forum, Ryan and Hang raised their concerns about fracking during a question and answer period. An article posted by the organization Energy In Depth said that Ryan was not invited and crashed the forum. Ryan says that's clearly false and takes exception to it.
Mayor Matt Ryan says, "That's totally not true. I notice now that they're back tracking on that. Someone called me and said they are scrambling to set the record straight, oh yes he was invited. But, this is what they do. They take things and turn them and twist them."
A spokesman for Energy In Depth says the organization did have two field reporters at the Empire Energy Forum. He says that Hang was an uninvited guest and was asked to leave, although in the end did not after Mayor Ryan objected.
Energy In Depth says it was characterizing the mayor's attendance and says it was disrespectful for the mayor to bring a known anti-fracking activist to the forum. As to the issue of the term crash, Energy says that can be open to interpretation.
A spokesman for the New York State Petroleum Association says that while all officials were invited, guests were not encouraged. Karen Moreau says that Ryan asked ahead of time if he could bring his wife to the forum and he was told yes. However, she says instead Walter Hang showed up.
Moreau says it appears that Mayor Ryan used the situation as an opportunity to grandstand.
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Hydrofracking demonstrators out for Governor’s visit
BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -- With the governor in town, people on both sides of the ongoing hydrofracking debate were out to make sure their voices were heard.
Pro- and anti- fracking demonstrators greeted Governor Andrew Cuomo during his tour. Both sides say it was important for the governor to see firsthand how the community feels about the issue.
"Obviously we were out on a cold day, it was short notice, we had over 50 people that made it. Most of them were older people, some were with crutches, some were shivering, but we were all willing to stand there to make sure the governor knew it was important to our community and we hope that he recognizes that," said Bob Poloncic of the Vestal Gas Coalition.
"We want him to see the citizen concerns of the lives and the children and the families that he's going to be basically managing. We believe it would be irresponsible of him to allow fracking to go forward until all of the critical concerns raised about the SGEIS have been fully resolved," said Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting.
Last week, the DEC filed for an extension of the decision making process for hydrofracking. They also released new proposed regulations, which could change depending on the results of an ongoing health assessment.
Anti-Fracking Protest
As with all of his previous announced visits to our area since becoming governor, Cuomo was greeted by noisy anti-fracking activists.
Wednesday morning's crowd of over 50 fractivists were atop a grassy knoll across from the First Air hangar where Cuomo made his presentation. They're demanding that the governor scrap the current proposed fracking impact study and regulations and start over. They especially want more openness and public participation in the review of health consequences.
Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting helped organize the protest and says the movement is growing in momentum. Hang says, "A couple of years ago, there'd be 5 or 10 of us here. And you can see, it's just a huge crowd. These people have not gone to work, kids have not gone to school, I'm not at work. We're here to send that message to Governor Cuomo, don't allow fracking in a demonstration project in the Southern Tier unless it's safe for all New Yorkers."
Governor Cuomo told us that the decision on whether to allow fracking or not will be based on facts, not emotion. He also says he understands the controversy. Cuomo says, "It's a big issue, big decision, big consequences on both sides. We want to make sure that we are thorough, we want to make sure that we have all the facts and do all the research and that's exactly what we are doing. We have a great team of government professionals, outside experts making sure that we have all the information and all the facts."
Cuomo says there is no timeline for making a decision. A group of fracking supporters gathered outside of BAE where Cuomo visited after leaving the airport.
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