Cornell Energy Conference March 31-April 2 – mary.beilby@gmail.com

February 2, 2011

Cornell Energy Conference March 31-April 2 .

Cornell Environmental Law Society 2011 Energy Conference

Gas Drilling, Sustainability & Energy Policy: Searching for Common Ground


Location: Cornell Law School, Myron Taylor & Anabel Taylor Hall, Ithaca, New York
Here are the video streams for all but the opening keynote and first panel in Anabel Taylor Hall.  We hope to have those available in the future.  Note that the below links are unedited.  For example, “Saturday Panels” includes all events for Saturday in one continuous stream.  But you can forward to any portion of the day.
Thursday Evening Community Discussion
Friday Afternoon G90 Panel
Saturday Panels
—

Description: The conference will explore the legal, scientific, and business perspectives on Shale Gas Development and hydraulic fracturing (“hydrofracking“).  This issue has ignited a fierce battle over energy and the environment in New York State.  Eight fast-paced and interactive panels will use natural gas drilling as a lens to explore national energy policy, the global energy market, and the integral role the law must play in creating energy security and ensuring a sustainable future.  The conference brings together over 45 distinguished speakers from Cornell University and around the country working in law, science, business, and government from all sides of the energy debate.

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Marcellus Shale drilling waste OK for area landfills – Chambersburg Public Opinion

February 1, 2011

Marcellus Shale drilling waste OK for area landfills – Chambersburg Public Opinion.

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FOX 40 WICZ TV – Stormy Meeting Among Gas Drilling Factions [1/27/2011] – News, Sports, Weather, Contests and More – Binghamton, NY

January 29, 2011

FOX 40 WICZ TV – Stormy Meeting Among Gas Drilling Factions [1/27/2011] – News, Sports, Weather, Contests and More – Binghamton, NY.

Thursday night economist and Delaware County landowner Dr. Jannette Barth drilled a crowd of local residents at the Vestal Public Library on what she says are startling facts about gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

Dr, Barth finds that natural gas drilling isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be and says it’s not the way to go for economic relief.

“Gas industry type things like fossil fuel extraction industries
usually cause a short term boom followed by a long term bust so if you’re concerned about the long term steady growth in a region gas drilling may no be the answer,” says Dr. Barth

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State of the Union reaction: natural gas is not clean energy | EARTHblog

January 26, 2011 1 Comment

State of the Union reaction: natural gas is not clean energy | EARTHblog.

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Tompkins Co. Road Protection Ordinance Public Hearing Jan. 31, 2011

January 24, 2011

Public Information Meeting January 31 on Proposed Road Preservation Law
 
Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the County’s proposed road preservation law at an information meeting on Monday, January 31, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the first-floor conference room of the County’s Old Jail office building, 125 E. Court Street, Ithaca.
 
The meeting, sponsored by the Legislature’s Government Operations and Facilities and Infrastructure Committees, will provide information about the proposed local law that would amend the County Code to regulate certain heavy commercial or industrial uses of County roads with the potential to cause road damage.  At its February 1 meeting, the Legislature will conduct a public hearing on the proposed road preservation law.
 
The proposed amendment focuses on any temporary commercial or industrial activity that generates “high frequency, high impact truck traffic”—traffic to or from a single project site generating more than ten truck trips per day for more than three days in a week, involving trucks with a gross weight that exceeds 20 tons, as could occur in activities such as timber harvesting, mining, and natural gas drilling.  The law would establish procedures of posting notice on county highways that could be affected by such temporary projects, a permitting system for those seeking exemption for vehicles that provide essential local pick-up or delivery, and bonding to ensure that the condition of County roads, shoulders, and related highway structures is not adversely affected by such truck traffic.
 
The Legislature delayed scheduling of the public hearing to allow additional time to inform commercial entities and other users about the proposed local law before the hearing is held.  Anyone who wishes to learn more about the proposed law is invited to attend the information meeting January 31.
 
The draft local law is available for review at the County Legislature’s web site at
http://meetings.tompkins-co.org/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=2308 (Under “Attachments,” click on “Lla-11.”)
 
Media Contact:  Michael Lane, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 844-8313 or 844-8440.
 
– END -propos
 
——
Marcia E. Lynch
Public Information Officer
Tompkins County
125 E. Court Street
Ithaca, NY  14850
Tel: 607-274-5555/Fax: 607-274-5558

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Natural Gas Blast, Fires Disrupt Life in Ohio Town Jan 24, 2011

January 24, 2011

Natural Gas Blast, Fires Disrupt Life in Ohio Town   By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: January 24, 2011

FAIRPORT HARBOR, Ohio (AP) — Built-up pressure in natural gas lines led to a house explosion in an Ohio town Monday morning, caused a series of fires and prompted a brief evacuation order for the village of about 3,000 people.

A dozen or more fires were reported in Fairport Harbor, a tiny harborfront village situated along frozen Lake Erie, about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland. Only two fires were still burning by late morning and were under control, said Tom Talcott, deputy chief of the fire department in nearby Mentor.

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Watkins Glen LPG Storage Jan 27, Ithaca

January 20, 2011

ANNOUNCING:  Informational Meeting on

 

Storing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

near Watkins Glen:  Questions and Answers

Presentations by

  • Thomas Shelly, Chemical safety and hazardous materials specialist
  • Peter Mantius, Journalist on business and finance, now with DCBureau.com

 

Human Services Building, 320 W. State Street, Ithaca, NY

Thursday, January 27, 2011,  7:00 – 9:00 pm

 

A company is proposing to store Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in salt caverns in the town of Reading, 2 miles from Watkins Glen.  How does this process work and what are the environmental and safety concerns?  Learn more at this informational meeting.

 

Finger Lakes LPG Storage is seeking approval from NY DEC to store up to 88 million gallons of LPG (propane and butane) in salt caverns near the western shore of Seneca Lake.  The facility, straddling Route 14 south of the 14A junction, would include

  • Connection to an existing interstate pipeline
  • Constructing a 14-acre lined surface pond on the hillside above Seneca Lake, with a capacity to hold 2 million barrels of displaced brine
  • Storm water control structures
  • Compressors
  • Construction of a new rail and truck transfer facility
  • LPG storage tanks
  • Office and distribution buildings

 

The salt caverns, currently brine-filled, were created by U.S. Salt and Cargill’s mining operations.  To make space for the LPG, some of the brine would be pumped out and placed in the surface pond.  As the LPG was needed on a seasonal basis, it would be shipped out by truck and rail.  The brine would be moved between the surface pond and the cavern as needed.

 

There are many questions about safety of this operation, including protection of Seneca Lake as a source of drinking water, possible migration of gases during storage and/or transport, and impact of trucking and rail cars carrying LPG.

 

The DEC determined that the project could result in enough adverse impacts to require an environmental impact review.  The review process grants the public the right to raise questions and make comments.  Those comments must be received by the DEC by January 31. Comments can be sent by e-mail to the NY DEC to: David Bimber, Deputy Regional Permit Administrator, at dlbimber@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

 

This event is sponsored by Social Ventures and Shaleshock Action Alliance.  Contact Sara Hess for questions.  Sarahess63@yahoo.com

 

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Cuyler Forum on Gas Drilling Feb. 28, Fire Hall

January 17, 2011 2 Comments

The Cuyler Forum on Gas Drilling Monday, February 28th, 2011
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
at the Cuyler Firehouse on Rte. 13

Presenter: Brett Chedzoy,Schuyler Cooperative Extension
Panelists:  Joe Heath, Esq., Mary Jane Uttech, Stan Scobie

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Legal Rights of Local Governments Jan 27, 7pm Norwich

January 17, 2011

LEGAL RIGHTS of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Home Rule vs. DEC’s Regulatory System  LegalGasForum Draft 1

PANELISTS:
Former Law Professor, Mary Jo Long, is experienced in Constitutional, Administrative, and Municipal Law. Professor Long, an attorney for more than 30 years and an elected member of the Afton Town Board, helped Afton pass its new “Concentrated Heavy Traffic Road Law”
AND
Attorney, Helen Slottje, of Community Environmental Defense Council, works alongside municipalities and community groups seeking legal protection from the threats posed by industrial style gas extraction. In particular, CEDC focuses on sustainable development and the human rights to clean water, clean air and a healthy environment.
NOTE: Please park on the street; in Hayes Street or County Office Building parking lots, NOT in Church parking
7 PM
Thursday,
January 27
United Church of Christ
11 W Main St,
Norwich
Part of The Fourth Thursday Speakers Series sponsored by
C-CARE: Chenango Community Action for Renewable Energy
For more information contact Chris at 334-6095 or Ken at <ccare@frontier.com>

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Chris Burger at Lake Como Jan 22, 2-3:30pm

January 16, 2011

HYDROFRACKING
 
How will it impact people who enjoy the outdoors: hunters, fishermen, hikers, snowmobilers, cross country skiers?

An Afternoon with Chris Burger*

 Lake Como Inn, Jan 22, 2-3:30pm

A presentation on Marcellus Shale Gas, covering history of how gas is formed and extracted, and how the build up and gas extraction process impacts our outdoor activities.

You might want to come early to snowshoe or ski the beautiful trails in nearby Bear Swamp State Forest.  Then buy some of Al’s soup or chili to warm you up back at the Lake Como Inn.

 Sponsored by the Tri-County Skaneateles Lake Pure Water Association

For more info and future events in the Skaneateles Lake watershed  fivetownwatershed.wordpress.com
Questions?  msmenapace@gmail.com

*Chris  Burger owns Horizon Enterprises; is Co-founder and Chair of the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition; and is a member of: the Broome County Government Gas Drilling Education Committee, the Center for Civic Engagement , the NYS Sierra Club Gas Task Force,  NYS Council of Churches Public Policy Commission, and the Southern Tier East Regional Development Strategy Committee.

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