WAMC: NY Communities Challenge Gas Drilling (2011-12-16)

WAMC: NY Communities Challenge Gas Drilling (2011-12-16).

(WAMC)The controversial practice of Hydraulic Fracturing has opened a Pandora’s Box of legal questions and challenges – the first lawsuit in upstate New York challenging the right of local governments to ban gas drilling (and ultimately, hydrofracking) had its first hearing this week in state court – Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

Madison County Court, in Central New York, heard arguments for and against Otsego County dairy farmer Jennifer Huntington in her challenge of the town of Middlefield’s gas drilling ban… Huntington owns the Cooperstown Holstein Corporation Farm. She notes that by the time the Judge makes a decision, New York State could already have permitting rules in place for hydrofracking. Lawyers have until January 20th to submit any additional documents. Huntington says the Middlefield ban is so comprehensive that it will not allow any drilling – even a conventional vertical well with no hydrofracking involved. She says drilling would not interrupt or inconvenience normal dairy farming activities.

Binghamton Attorney Michael Wright affirms a motion for summary judgment has been filed on behalf of Huntington and the corporation she owns, seeking to have Middlefield’s legal ban on all oil and gas drilling activity overturned. Town officials could not be reached for comment. A judge heard similar arguments last month in the Tompkins County town of Dryden. A drilling ban is now being considered in Binghamton.

Farther west, in Schuyler County, locals packed the Hector town hall this week asking that a ban or moratorium against hydrofracking be enacted – their action has shaken local government to its core. All of New York is watching Hector and Middlefield – meantime, Colorado and Texas adopted rules Tuesday that require oil and natural-gas companies to disclose the chemicals they inject underground during the fracking process. Arkansas and Wyoming have previously adopted frack-fluid disclosure rules. New York state has also proposed new rules. Congressman Maurice Hinchey says its time for a change.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Revised Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, which will help regulate the gas industries use of the hydraulic fracturing method for retrieving gas from the Marcellus Shale formation, is open to public comment until January 11th, after which time New York could begin issuing drilling permits.


© Copyright 2011, WAMC

BC First Nations Unite To Ban Export Of Tar Sands Oil | Care2 Causes

BC First Nations Unite To Ban Export Of Tar Sands Oil | Care2 Causes.

Enfield residents speak out on hydrofracking_11-30-11

Shaleshock Media : Enfield_11-30-11.

1-Intro: Enfield Residents Speak Out on hydrofrackingThursday, December 01, 2011 1:02 AM

Part 1 of 3 Enfield Board Seeks Input on Fracking Ban The Enfield Town Board heard residents’ opinions about enacting a ban on hydrofracking at a public meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2011 at the Enfield Elementary School. Over 200 showed up and 74 spoke. The meeting was called by the board to hear from residents on all sides regarding a ban or moratorium, and related issues such as road and aquifer protection. Only two spoke in opposition to a ban. This follows a November 17th meeting at which attorneys strongly recommended that the Town enact a ban or a moratorium before the State begins issuing drilling permits, perhaps as soon as early in 2012. According to Town attorney Guy Krogh and Community Environmental Defense Council attorney David Slottje, the Town faces both financial and environmental risks if the Board fails to act quickly. A ban would offer time to enact local laws protecting the Town’s highways, to map the aquifer that supplies water to most of the residents, to identify other critical natural areas, and to await the results of numerous scientific studies now underway to investigate health and safety concerns. Once permits are issued, the attorneys warned, the Town could not enact a ban or moratorium without exposure to gas company lawsuits seeking compensation for lost revenues, perhaps totaling millions of dollars. A coalition of Enfield citizens has presented the Town Board with a petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 residents and landowners urging the Board to ban high volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing. Although 44% of the land in Enfield is under lease to the gas companies, 28 large landowners and leaseholders were among those who signed the petition. At the Board’s last two meetings, numerous residents spoke about potential adverse impacts on agriculture, public health, the environment, and the rural nature of the Town. Currently in New York State 76 municipalities are moving toward or have enacted bans or moratoria. Locally bans are already in place in Danby, Dryden, Ithaca, and Ulysses, and under consideration in Caroline where candidates supporting a ban won resounding victories in the November elections.Media files Shaleshock-1IntroEnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking368.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound, 2.1 MB) Shaleshock-1IntroEnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking438.mov (QuickTime Movie, 37.3 MB) Shaleshock-1IntroEnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking756.mp4 (MP4 Video, 18.9 MB) Shaleshock-1IntroEnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking882.m4v (MP4 Video, 23.7 MB)2-Speakers 1-30: Enfield Residents Speak Out on hydrofrackingThursday, December 01, 2011 1:20 AM

Part 2 of 3 Enfield Board Seeks Input on Fracking Ban. Video by Cris McConkey. The Enfield Town Board heard residents’ opinions about enacting a ban on hydrofracking at a public meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2011 at the Enfield Elementary School. Over 200 showed up and 74 spoke. The meeting was called by the board to hear from residents on all sides regarding a ban or moratorium, and related issues such as road and aquifer protection. Only two spoke in opposition to a ban. This follows a November 17th meeting at which attorneys strongly recommended that the Town enact a ban or a moratorium before the State begins issuing drilling permits, perhaps as soon as early in 2012. According to Town attorney Guy Krogh and Community Environmental Defense Council attorney David Slottje, the Town faces both financial and environmental risks if the Board fails to act quickly. A ban would offer time to enact local laws protecting the Town’s highways, to map the aquifer that supplies water to most of the residents, to identify other critical natural areas, and to await the results of numerous scientific studies now underway to investigate health and safety concerns. Once permits are issued, the attorneys warned, the Town could not enact a ban or moratorium without exposure to gas company lawsuits seeking compensation for lost revenues, perhaps totaling millions of dollars. A coalition of Enfield citizens has presented the Town Board with a petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 residents and landowners urging the Board to ban high volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing. Although 44% of the land in Enfield is under lease to the gas companies, 28 large landowners and leaseholders were among those who signed the petition. At the Board’s last two meetings, numerous residents spoke about potential adverse impacts on agriculture, public health, the environment, and the rural nature of the Town. Currently in New York State 76 municipalities are moving toward or have enacted bans or moratoria. Locally bans are already in place in Danby, Dryden, Ithaca, and Ulysses, and under consideration in Caroline where candidates supporting a ban won resounding victories in the November elections.Media files Shaleshock-2Speakers130EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking118.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound, 42.6 MB) Shaleshock-2Speakers130EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking423.mov (QuickTime Movie, 731 MB) Shaleshock-2Speakers130EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking910.mp4 (MP4 Video, 266 MB) Shaleshock-2Speakers130EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking455.m4v (MP4 Video, 347 MB)3-Speakers 31-74: Enfield Residents Speak Out on hydrofrackingThursday, December 01, 2011 1:20 AM

Part 1 of 3 Enfield Board Seeks Input on Fracking Ban. Video by Cris McConkey. The Enfield Town Board heard residents’ opinions about enacting a ban on hydrofracking at a public meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2011 at the Enfield Elementary School. Over 200 showed up and 74 spoke. The meeting was called by the board to hear from residents on all sides regarding a ban or moratorium, and related issues such as road and aquifer protection. Only two spoke in opposition to a ban. This follows a November 17th meeting at which attorneys strongly recommended that the Town enact a ban or a moratorium before the State begins issuing drilling permits, perhaps as soon as early in 2012. According to Town attorney Guy Krogh and Community Environmental Defense Council attorney David Slottje, the Town faces both financial and environmental risks if the Board fails to act quickly. A ban would offer time to enact local laws protecting the Town’s highways, to map the aquifer that supplies water to most of the residents, to identify other critical natural areas, and to await the results of numerous scientific studies now underway to investigate health and safety concerns. Once permits are issued, the attorneys warned, the Town could not enact a ban or moratorium without exposure to gas company lawsuits seeking compensation for lost revenues, perhaps totaling millions of dollars. A coalition of Enfield citizens has presented the Town Board with a petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 residents and landowners urging the Board to ban high volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing. Although 44% of the land in Enfield is under lease to the gas companies, 28 large landowners and leaseholders were among those who signed the petition. At the Board’s last two meetings, numerous residents spoke about potential adverse impacts on agriculture, public health, the environment, and the rural nature of the Town. Currently in New York State 76 municipalities are moving toward or have enacted bans or moratoria. Locally bans are already in place in Danby, Dryden, Ithaca, and Ulysses, and under consideration in Caroline where candidates supporting a ban won resounding victories in the November elections.Media files Shaleshock-3Speakers3174EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking731.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound, 44.4 MB) Shaleshock-3Speakers3174EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking423.mov (QuickTime Movie, 766 MB) Shaleshock-3Speakers3174EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking248.mp4 (MP4 Video, 290 MB) Shaleshock-3Speakers3174EnfieldResidentsSpeakOutOnHydrofracking238.m4v (MP4 Video, 377 MB)

Alfred passes moratorium on hydrofracking in town – Hornell, NY – Hornell Evening Tribune

Alfred passes moratorium on hydrofracking in town – Hornell, NY – Hornell Evening Tribune.

Assemblywoman Lifton’s Amicus Brief in Anschutz vs Town of Dryden

index.pdf (application/pdf Object).

Guest Viewpoint: Home rule must protect from perils of fracking | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com

Guest Viewpoint: Home rule must protect from perils of fracking | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com.

Dryden defends hydrofracking ban in court – YNN, Your News Now

Dryden defends hydrofracking ban in court – YNN, Your News Now.

Debate on Fracking: Was Syracuse Right to Ban the Controversial Natural Gas Drilling Process?

Debate on Fracking: Was Syracuse Right to Ban the Controversial Natural Gas Drilling Process?.  Amy Goodman, Democracy Now  Nov. 4, 2011

  • Debate on Fracking: Was Syracuse Right to Ban the Controversial Natural Gas Drilling Process?

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    Ny_fracking_rally_webWe’re broadcasting live from Syracuse, which recently became the third city in New York state to ban the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The Syracuse Common Council voted unanimously last week to ban fracking within city limits. They also voted to limit where wastewater from the fracking process can be stored. Fracking is controversial because it injects millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals deep into the earth in order to break up shale rock and release natural gas. Many feel this extraction process raises a myriad of human health and environmental issues. Supporters of fracking say it has led to an exponential increase in gas production and has not been harmful to either the environment or human health. To find out more about the issue of fracking, we host a discussion with three guests: Kathleen Joy, Syracuse Common Council majority leader, who led the city’s efforts to ban hydrofracking; Don Siegel, professor of earth sciences at Syracuse University; and Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper with the Council of Chiefs of the Onondaga Nation. [includes rush transcript]

In Village’s Fight Over Gas Drilling, Civility Is Fading – NYTimes.com

In Village’s Fight Over Gas Drilling, Civility Is Fading – NYTimes.com.

Syracuse bans fracking – NewsChannel 9 WSYR

Syracuse bans fracking – NewsChannel 9 WSYR.