extremely concerned about natural gas drilling in New York State

Dear Governor Cuomo,

I am extremely concerned about natural gas drilling in New York State, especially in regards to the use of hydraulic fracturing. I live in Vestal, which is directly adjacent to areas in PA where hydrofracking is taking place. We have a ring-side seat for negative impacts, including drinking water contamination, stream and river contamination, dumping of flowback fluids without proper treatment, increased road deterioration due to heavy truck traffic, vehicles accidents, and declining property values with difficulties selling homes or securing financing. Some of these issues, including truck traffic, difficulties obtaining financing on properties that have leases or are adjacent to leased properties, and flow/quality issues with the Susquehanna, already impact us here on the NY side of the border. The recent New York Times articles illustrate the problems the gas industry has created in regards to wastewater treatment, including radioactivity, and the dangers to drinking water in PA. That is only one danger among many that has come to light not only in PA but also in other states where hydrofracking is being used.

We are fast approaching the July 1 date from Governor Paterson's executive order. So much new information and scientific study has come in since the comment period for the DSGEIS, I believe that at a minimum the scope of the DEC's work should be expanded. Please open a comment period of at least 30 days for the public to identify additional issues, such as the handling of wastewater, and establish technical advisory and concerned citizens committees to help the DEC with revision to the expanded draft SGEIS. Part of the work should be to look at whether it is even feasible to use a generic environmental impact statement; perhaps each potential site needs its own specific environmental review. There are many issues that need updating from the 1992 GEIS, including dealing with wastewater treatment, injection wells, and effluent limits.

The issue of unconventional gas extraction in New York brings so many questions and issues to mind. What would this level of industrialization do to large swaths of upstate? What are the cumulative impacts? Why is an industrial site - that, even when it does not have accidents, causes light, noise, and air pollution, truck traffic, habitat destruction, large consumptive water use, transport and storage of hazardous chemicals, and ground tremors equivalent to a small earthquake - allowed in areas zoned residential or agricultural? How can it be legal for a landowner and a drilling company to deprive the neighbors of the right to peaceful use of their own land and home and to diminish the neighbors' land value, ability to sell, and ability to refinance? What happens to farmers, including organic farmers, near drilling sites? Will customers still buy their products? Will tourists still come to the Finger Lakes and its vineyards with drilling sites and truck traffic disturbing the landscape?

How can it possibly be legal that some water systems are afforded greater protection than others? The many people who use individual water wells have as much right to state protection as the people in the large cities. The natural world is also due to be protected. Clean water is the most precious substance in the world and we need to recognize that and protect it.

Should New York State be pursuing fossil fuel extraction at all? The EPA recently hugely increased its projections of the amount of methane that escapes during the extraction process and Dr. Howarth at Cornell has been leading research which concludes that unconventional gas extraction is likely no cleaner than coal when the entire life cycle of the fuel is computed. Another Cornell professor, Dr. Ingraffea, who is a specialist in rock fracture mechanics, has lectured extensively about the dangers of the proposed levels of hydrofracking in the Marcellus. Research from SUNY-Buffalo has focused on the uranium bonding within the Marcellus shale. Instead of pursuing gas drilling, should we put our efforts into bringing green energy to New York? Is the land that is being leased for drilling appropriate for wind or solar energy production instead? Or for growing non-food crops that can be used to make biofuels? Binghamton University is near completion of design of a thin cell solar cell that uses only common earth elements. Can we combine that with Corning flexible glass technology to make next generation solar cells for use in New York State and for sale across the country and internationally? How can we make progress on smart grid technology and conservation efforts? What about getting serious about building recharging stations for electric vehicles? These and other efforts could bring permanent green jobs to New York and not put us in a fossil fuel boom-bust cycle.

We need your leadership to protect our environment and move forward in a green, sustainable way. I look forward to your response on this vital issue.

Sincerely,
Joanne C