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Arcuri Calls on Governor, DEC to Redo Draft natural Gas Drilling Regulations
From Office of U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri:
Today, U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24) called on Governor Paterson to withdraw the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) because it does not go far enough to protect public health and the environment from potential harm as a result of natural gas drilling in Upstate New York.
Joined by local officials and environmental advocates at Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg, NY, Arcuri signed Toxics Targeting President Walter Hang’s “Withdraw Draft SGEIS Coalition Letter,” which was sent to the Governor. Arcuri is the only federal representative to sign the letter, which has received more than 10,000 signatures to date.
“I am proud to join the more than 10,000 signatories in calling on the Governor to withdraw the DEC’s draft natural gas drilling regulations,” said Arcuri. “With so many serious shortcomings in the scope of the SGEIS, it is apparent that the process must be restarted in order to ensure public health and the environment is protected from the potential harm associated with natural gas drilling. Although natural gas is a tremendous resource that presents a number of economic opportunities for Upstate families, we cannot let a rush to drill irreparably contaminate our most precious natural resource—our abundant supply of clean drinking water.”
“I commend Congressman Arcuri for his courage and leadership in safeguarding New Yorkers from potential horizontal hydrofracturing hazards,” said Walter Hang, President of Toxics Targeting, an environment database firm in Ithaca, NY. “Every constituent of the 24th Congressional District should support Congressman Arcuri decisive efforts to protect their public health and natural resources from irreparable harm.”
The draft SGEIS for potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale formation was released by the DEC in September 2009 to supplement the existing GEIS written in 1992 to analyze the range of potential impacts of shale gas development using horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing. However, the draft fails to address many of the aggregate impacts on health and the environment that may be associated with gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing including, water supply, water quality, wastewater treatment operations, drill pad density, and infrastructure.
Arcuri added, “Hydraulic fracturing will likely involve the construction of hundreds, if not thousands of drilling pads. Since much of this area is either forest or farm land, it should be expected that constructing these drill pads will also require the construction of a significant amount of access roads as well. The dSGEIS contains no discussion on how many pads can be constructed per square mile, or what impact 5 or 50 pads would have. Additionally, who will pay to construct and maintain these roads or repair existing roads damaged by the increased heavy truck traffic? This is the sort of question taxpayer deserve to have answered before the DEC issues any drilling permits.”
Walter Hang is president of Toxics Targeting, an environmental database firm that helps to safeguard New York State’s drinking water. He and his colleagues have released extensive government information documenting natural gas hazards in New York State involving fires, explosions, polluted water supply wells, evacuated homes and massive uncontrolled wastewater releases.
Comments from other event attendees:
Martha Robertson, Chairwoman of the Tompkins County Legislature, said, “We are lucky to have Congressman Mike Arcuri fighting for our communities here in upstate New York; he knows how critical the quality of our water and air is to our tourism and agricultural sectors, and to our basic quality of life. Mike's been speaking out for years and finding specific ways to hold the gas industry to the same standards of federal regulations as every other industry must meet. I'm delighted that he has turned his attention to the NYS DEC and is now calling on the agency to start over with its dSGEIS. We have all learned by watching the gas industry's experiment that is going on in Pennsylvania, and the DEC must use those lessons to protect New York. I'm grateful to Mike for his dedication to this issue.”
Roxanne Marino, Town of Ulysses Supervisor, said, “Industrial-scale hydraulic fracturing as proposed in the shale formations of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier is a land, water, and chemical-intensive activity that poses unacceptable risks to human health and safety and environmental degradation. The NYS DEC draft SGEIS and staffing are wholly inadequate to protect our communities and natural resources, as the DEC has recognized in excluding the New York City and Syracuse watersheds. All communities and land resources equally deserve the same protection. I applaud Congressman Arcuri for his commitment to the fight to restore the necessary State and Federal oversight regulations to protect all of New York State.”
A. Martin Petrovic, Mayor of Trumansburg, said, “There is no issue that could have as long lasting and devastating environmental consequences to the Finger Lakes and Southern tier region as ‘hydofracking’ gas drilling. Something must be done to protect the natural resources, roads, our way of life and stunning natural beauty of our region. Actions are needed to protect us, most notably would be for Governor Paterson to withdrawn the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement written by NYDES in 2009. I commend the efforts of all to accomplish this task and for Representative Arcuri in supporting these efforts.”
Below is the text of the letter sent to Governor Paterson requesting the withdrawal of the draft SGEIS.
Honorable David A. Paterson
State Capital
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Paterson:
We, the undersigned, strongly support safeguarding the environment, public health and natural resources of the Catskills, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions that overlay the Marcellus Shale formation, potentially the largest natural gas reservoir in America. That is why we write to request you to withdraw the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement released on 9/30/09 by your Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
High-volume "slickwater" hydrofracking has been proposed to recover Marcellus Shale gas on an unprecedented scale, but you required DEC to update its 1992 Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) prior to issuing new horizontal drilling permits. The goal of that Supplemental GEIS (SGEIS) reportedly was "to ensure that all environmental impacts from drilling are addressed."
The Draft SGEIS is based on one critical, bedrock assumption: DEC's 1992 GEIS adequately safeguards against: "impacts on water quality; impacts of drilling in sensitive areas, such as Agricultural Districts, areas of rugged topography, wetlands, drinking water watersheds, freshwater aquifers and other sensitive habitats; impacts caused by drilling and production wastes; impacts on land use; socioeconomic impacts; impacts on cultural resources and impacts on endangered species and species of concern."
A total of 270 oil and gas spills is posted at www.toxicstargeting.com. These uncontrolled releases caused fires, explosions, massive pollution releases, contaminated drinking water sources, home evacuations, tainted farmland and widespread threats to wetlands, streams, ponds, aquifers and other "sensitive receptors." Many of these DEC-reported problems have exceeded cleanup standards for decades.
DEC's own data document systematic, on-going failures to prevent oil and gas drilling pollution impacts or to clean them up. It is imperative that DEC resolve those regulatory shortcomings prior to issuing new drilling permits. Otherwise, the City of New York's reservoirs, other critical water supply sources and the environment of the Marcellus region as a whole could become irreparably contaminated.
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DEC Commissioner Fired After Criticism of Layoffs Goes Public
ELMIRA-- New York's chief environmental officer was fired, after a memo critical of layoffs became public.
Governor Paterson's office confirmed the firing of State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis, who's led the agency since 2007. The governor's office instructed the DEC to cut another 209 workers by the end of the year.
But after an undated, unsigned memo from the agency warned cuts would slow down natural gas development, endanger the environment, and curtail economic development, Commissioner Grannis was fired.
The ouster surprised a lot of people. Our media partner, the Star-Gazette, put a copy of the memo on its website. In it, the DEC asks Paterson to reconsider layoffs. A lot of people wonder how the agency will protect the environment with a smaller staff.
The memo states:
“Further staff reductions may result in potential serious risks to human health and safety and environmental quality.
“All the meat has been stripped from the bones, and some of the bones have disappeared.
“Cuts to our minerals division will mean fewer staff available to review applications and oversee activities related to natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.”
Environmental watchdog Walter Hang has criticized Grannis and the the DEC's oversight of Marcellus Shale drilling. But Friday, he praised Grannis as an environmental champion, and a serious loss to the agency.
“He had told me he had been in a big fight with the governor to oppose across the board cuts,” said Hang.
Grannis seems to have lost the battle with the lame duck administration. Local candidates hopeful for a seat in the new legislature say the future of Marcellus Shale development hangs in limbo.
Democrat Pam Mackesey wants a moratorium on drilling. Her Republican opponent Tom O'Mara is sticking to what he's said before: Leave drilling to the experts.
“The DEC didn't have to go through any other process. As it stands right now, they could start issuing permits tomorrow. And so, it's a terrifying prospect,” said Mackesey.
O'Mara said, “Just because we're seeing a change at the top, that doesn't mean that that's gonna affect the daily process of professionally reviewing.”
The DEC referred all questions to the governor's office, where a spokesperson declined to give a reason for firing Grannis.
Public Hearing on Broome County Gas Drilling Lease
This was the scene last month's EPA gas drilling hearing in Binghamton, Thursday night it was a much quieter picture as the public gave their opinion on the county becoming the lead agency that will review a generic lease for oil and natural gas drilling.
Thursday only one man sat behind a table, representing the Broome County Legislature, to hear the public's thoughts.
An earlier bid fell though but the county has made some changes this time around and is moving forward.
"It has taken out some areas that many people feel are more valuable because of geology," said Scott Kurkoski, Attorney, Joint Landowners Coalition, N.Y.
But the plan still contains valuable property to the community.
"Many of the public properties that are being considered for gas leasing are next to schools, churches, residential ares, parks, wet lands and even public water supply wells," said Walter Hang, President of Toxic Targeting.
Many expressed their fear over the quality of their drinking water
"We look all around the universe looking for water on planets. that is the one this we can tell about a planet. This is the one planet, so far, that has water.the is the one. We can't not destroy it. we have 1/3 of the planets fresh water in this state and in the Great Lakes," said David Fry, BU Junior.
Despite water pollution in Dimock, Pennsylvania that state environmental regulators blame on gas drilling, industry supporters insist water isn't at risk.
"Sixty years of hydro-fracking and no evidence what so ever of ground well contamination in all those million wells," said Kurkoski.
There were even differing opinions on whether the county is capable of leading a project like this.
"The Broome County Legislature is in no way prepared technology wise or legally to conduct this incredibly complicated review," said Hang.
But one attorney believes Broome County is ready to lead.
"We really commend our county on its efforts. our county is more educated about this issue that any other in the state," said Kurkoski.
Students at BU listen to anti-hydrofracking panel
There's been so much talk about hydrofracking in the Southern Tier, but for the most part, students have been left out of the conversation. Monday night was their chance to hear about the issue from some notable names. Our Carmen Perez attended a forum at Binghamton University and has more from the newsroom.
VESTAL, N.Y. -- Monday was a unique opportunity for students to get up to date on the gas drilling debate. About 400 people came out to listen to gas drilling opponents speak their mind on the issue.
Some may have come to Monday night's panel just to see him...
"I love Mark Ruffalo so I want to see him in person," one student said.
But Mark Ruffalo came to spread a message. As a resident of Sullivan County, he is on the front lines of the natural gas drilling debate.
"This is a serious issue that a lot of people don't know about and when they are educated on it, they seem to really see clearly on it," Ruffalo said.
And students agree. Organized by campus environmental groups, the information session was aimed at getting their fellow peers in on the discussion about hydrofracking, one that, for the most part, has been left out of.
"It is such an important issue and the magnitude the extent of the effect on our clean water and students' clean water is tremendous and students do not realize that," said BU student Seth Litwack.
"I don't agree that they should do it and I want to learn even more about it," said BU student Sonia Moreno.
Speakers are hoping that by educating students, they will be inspired to action.
"It is their future. It is their environment. So they have got to get much more knowledgeable about what is at stake," said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeted President.
Now you may have noticed the panel was made up of all anti-drilling speakers. That's because the session was organized by student environmental groups opposed to natural gas drilling.
Hydrofracking Drama Gets Hollywood Boost
The drama of the natural gas saga in the Southern Tier can often seem like something out of a movie, and tonight someone out of a movie added another scene to the screenplay.
"All I'm saying is if we're going to do this, let's do it safely, because once the cat's out of the bag, there's no getting it back in," said actor Mark Ruffalo.
Mark Ruffalo has starred in Hollywood hits such as 'Shutter Island' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' but his latest, ongoing role has been as an anti-drilling activist.
"I live in Sullivan County, this is my home, I'm not an actor who decided to do this because I want a hobby," Ruffalo said.
Ruffalo joined other opponents of hydro fracking at Binghamton University for a forum on the issue, which aimed to inform the public, and mainly students about what they say are the dangers of drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
"To have somebody so familiar speak about something that is important to everybody, I think that will make a difference," said BU senior Ben Williamson.
Some students may have been star struck, but say the celebrity support shows this environmental issue affects everybody.
"Whether you're famous, whether you're a millionaire, whether you're poor, whether you're middle class, whether you're a plumber, whether you're a lawyer, environmental issues affect the entire population," said Chiara Zaccheo.
And Ruffalo says sharing his thoughts with students is important for the future, because they will be the ones making the decisions regarding the issue in years to come.
Decisions that will affect those he cares most about.
"This is my life, these are my children, and I'd always intended for them to live on this farm through their generation and generations after that," Ruffalo said.