Tourism vs Energy Extraction

www.catskillcitizens.org

“Slam Bam, Thank You Ma’am”

Shale Gas Drilling Will Come and Go Without Regard to the Protection of our Precious State

The Facts:

• The tourism industry is critical to the long-term health and diversity of New York’s economy; it is sustainable, steady, and long-term.

• Shale gas drilling may bring a short-term boom, which will be followed by a long-term bust, with the substantial risk of contaminated water, an industrialized landscape, infrastructure destruction, and failing health.

• Gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale will gut the tourism industry in treasured areas, including the Catskills, the Finger Lakes, and surrounding areas.

• Water contamination may destroy our world-renowned trout streams — no more anglers.

• Water and land pollution may dramatically reduce our wild game populations – no more hunters.

• An industrialized landscape will destroy natural beauty – no more bird watchers, autumn leaf peepers, cross country skiers, hikers, kayakers, antique shoppers, second home market.

• Water and land contamination may destroy our organic farms, our vineyards and our new growth industry, agri-tourism.

• New York State estimates that every $1 generated directly by tourism indirectly generates $7 for the State’s economy; while the minimal analysis in the draft SGEIS estimates that every $1 generated directly by the Oil & Gas industry generates only $1.40 for the economy.

• Tourism creates more jobs than gas drilling; tourism is a more labor intensive industry, compared to the Oil &Gas industry, which is about 10 times more capital intensive than the average American industry. Moreover, tourism creates more local jobs, while oil and gas relies on a small, transitory workforce from out-of-state. In particular, the tourism industry is critical to the Catskills, generating 15% of total employment.

• Respected research points to the fact that fossil fuel extraction destroys economic diversity and increases long term poverty rates.

Don’t let Gas Drilling Destroy A Critical Industry

Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Loves New York and Values our Touri