Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County
August 19, 2010
July 20, 2010
Most local Assembly members oppose fracking moratorium legislation Press Connects Aug. 21, 2010
Moratorium Passes NYS Senate 48-9. Still needs Assembly passage and Governor’s Signature Aug. 4, 2010
Press Connects Coverage Aug. 4, 2010
Is the Tide Turning? Aug. 5, 2010 Peter Mantius has been doing a semi-regular column called “Marcellus Watch” in the online Odessafile-News Of Schuyler County for well over a year. http://www.odessafile.com/features-Mantius11.html
Aug 1 Update on NY State Moratorium Campaign:
Word is that the NYS Senate will vote on a one year moratorium on horizontal drilling permits when they return to Albany this Tuesday (Aug. 3). Call our officials in Albany and tell them to stand up to the corporate bullies. We need them to do everything they can to build and maintain support for the moratorium in the face of this threat to our water and public health.
Senate Majority Leader John Sampson 518-455-2788
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver 518-455-3791
Governor David Paterson 518-474-8390
Senator James Seward, 518-455-3131 (Our Senator)
Let’s make sure that New York sets a new standard for the country—one that puts our water and our future ahead of oil and gas company profits.
Wed, 07/28/2010 – 6:00pm
In New York State, the pressure is building for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Last Wednesday, folk icon Pete Seeger and actor Mark Ruffalo joined health and environmental advocates to call for legislation that would delay fracking until next year and buy more time for a growing movement to raise awareness about the dangers posed by the gas extraction method. Lawmakers in both parties have come out in support of the bill, which may reach the floor in coming days.
The issue gains urgency in the wake of yet another fracking site explosion. On Friday two workers were killed when a gas well in Indiana Township, PA caught fire. The incident occurred the day after an EPA hearing south of Pittsburgh drew over a thousand people, many of whom shared their own stories of water contamination, sick livestock, and worsening health problems.
Now all eyes are on Albany. Today the New York State legislature went back into session for what might be the last time until after the fall elections. The Sweeney/Thompson bill (S8129B/A11443B), which would impose an 11-month moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, has bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly, but the leadership of both chambers has stalled in bringing this crucial legislation to a vote.
This may be our last chance to stop fracking in New York State. If the Sweeney/Thompson bill fails, the Department of Environmental Conservation could begin issuing fracking permits as early as August. We can’t let that happen!
We face a steep challenge; oil and gas corporations are increasing the pressure on legislators in an effort to defeat the moratorium. As the Times Herald-Record reports today, the industry has devoted more than $1 million this year to lobbying the Governor and Legislature, with $350,000 spent just since May.
Gas corporations are pinning their hopes on politics as usual, but we’ve come too far to let the industry stop us now! The wind is at our backs, but we need to make our voices heard in this final push to get a bill passed.
Petition to Senator Sampson to Pass Fracking Moratorium Needed by July 28, 2010
July 20th Senate Press Conference with Pete Seeger
Fax to all NYS Senators to support Moratorium on Drilling http://issuu.com/StopOIL_NYC/docs/senator
Rally to Protest Broome Co. Legislature from Leasing County Property — July 13, 2010.
Time is running out to place a moratorium on gas drilling in NY. We need your help in this last week of the legislative session to get it done. New York officials want to site tens of thousands of new gas wells from the southern Catskills to Lake Erie using the controversial technique – hydraulic fracturing or “fracking “. Other states that have embraced this form of drilling have experienced contaminated water, polluted air, and negative human health effects.
Just last week, a gas well explosion in Penfield, Pennsylvania spewed a column of contaminated fluid and methane 75 feet in the air for 16 hours before it could be controlled. Failure to avoid this catastrophe was blamed on the same technology responsible for the tragic oil spill in the Gulf: a faulty blow out preventer.
Do we really want to bring this flawed process to NY?
Please tell the legislature to support a statewide moratorium on drilling until we have all the necessary science and information to move forward.
Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is studying the environmental impacts associated with fracking. But the EPA findings will only be available after drilling starts in NY. The findings of the EPA study could profoundly inform the way drilling is approached in NYS so that we may avoid catastrophic environmental impacts in the future.
Let your Assembly member and Senator know that no drilling permits should be issued until the findings of the EPA report are in and the best safe guards are in place. Click here to send an e-mail to your state representatives.
Thank you for all your efforts,
Roger Downs
Conservation Program Manager
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
P.S You can spread the word about this issue by sharing this alert with your friends and family and by posting it to your Facebook and Twitter.
If you would like to be further involved in this crucial issue please visit our website.
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July 5, 2010
Letter from Broome Legislator, Mario Nirchi, on the Lease Deal
— On Sun, 7/25/10, Nirchi, Mario MNirchi@co.broome.ny.us> wrote:
From: Nirchi, Mario MNirchi@co.broome.ny.us>
Subject: RE: Drilling in Broome County
To: “Sally Motyka” smotykat@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, July 25, 2010, 10:53 AM
Sally,
The drilling for natural gas in New York State is regulated by the DEC and horizontal drilling in the Marcellus Shale will resume once the state lifts its moratorium. The leasing of county owned land and the use of county roads is under the County Legislature’s control. Read more of this post
May 15, 2010 1 Comment
“Shale Oil Drilling and the Environment: “…The U.S. has been called the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. Supporters say it’s a step toward a cleaner energy future. But a new HBO documentary raises environmental and health concerns. The risks and rewards of drilling for natural gas…Guests Mike Soraghan, reporter for E&E Publishing, which publishes Greenwire and Energy & Environment Daily. Josh Fox, director of the HBO documentary “Gasland.” C. Boyden Gray, founding member of the Energy Future Coalition, former White House counsel to Pres. George H.W. Bush, U.S. Ambassador to the EU and special envoy for Eurasian energy diplomacy. John Hanger, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection…” ” (Audio, The Diane Rehm Show WAMU NPR)- http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-06-21/shale-oil-drilling-and-environment
Sundance awarded “Gasland” on HBO Monday, June 21st 9pm- Watch scedule for future showings.
House party toolkit now available:
Gasland HBO House Party Toolkit is now available –
DO SOMETHING
At the end of every screening, Josh is asked what can be done to stop this destructive practice. Here are three actions you can take right now: 1. Call your Representatives<http://noimpactproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e900b2672b92c75d70ec2209c&id=d57c486014&e=5e6b3e0e6e> and tell them to pass the FRAC Acthttp://noimpactproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e900b2672b92c75d70ec2209c&id=9aef883e09&e=5e6b3e0e6e> 2. Write a Letter To The Editor of your local paper, but first visit the Environmental Working Group to learn the facts<http://noimpactproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e900b2672b92c75d70ec2209c&id=8869d157f2&e=5e6b3e0e6e> about fracking 3. Got a neighbor considering signing a lease? Give them a copy of OGAP’s Oil and Gas At Your Doorhttp://noimpactproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e900b2672b92c75d70ec2209c&id=fbad644015&e=5e6b3e0e6e> and invite them to a screening of Gasland.
Will New York Rebel Against Fracking? NY Times Green Blog on Gasland.
May 9, 2010
Washington Post. Sept. 12, 2010. BP: Multiple companies contribute to Gulf spill. By David S. Hilzenrath
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Hell Has Come to South Louisiana
Oil-spill health risks under scrutiny
WASHINGTON — The federal Minerals Management Service gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico without first getting required permits from another agency that assesses threats to endangered species — and despite strong warnings from that agency about the impact the drilling was likely to have on the gulf.
May 6, 2010
PA DEP press release on cause of Clearfield Blowout 7-13-10
Hazards of drilling not always underground. 6/21/10 http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/hazards-posed-by-natural-gas-drilling-not-always-underground-1.857452
Pittsburg Post Gazette; Accidents bring calls to suspend shale drilling
Clearfield, PA well blowout summary 6/6/10
“Natural gas spews from well: “…Natural gas and brine water are leaking from the 36H well near S.B. Elliott State Park in Lawrence Township, EOG Resources, Inc. Vice President and General Manager Gary Smith and Clearfield County Emergency Management Deputy Director Jerry Pollock announced at a brief press conference yesterday…”We are assessing the situation at this time. The well is producing natural gas and brine water that has been contained to the well site.”…” ” (The Progress News, PA)- http://www.theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=22720
“Marcellus blowout sprays gas in Clearfield County: “…There are no homes within a mile of the site, and crews dug a trench to stop chemicals in the water from entering groundwater, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection…” ” (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, PA)- http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_684495.html
“Marcellus shale well shoots gas into sky for hours: State to probe cause of accident in Clearfield County” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)- http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10156/1063381-455.stm
“Sen. Casey offers help after well blowout: “…Following a natural gas well blowout in Clearfield County, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), offered his help to state officials to aid in the cleanup and highlighted the need for new regulations to ensure that drilling is done in a way that provides greater protection for Pennsylvania…” ” (The Progress News, PA)- http://www.theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=22726
May 4, 2010
Save the Date!
FL-LOWPA / FLI Regional Marcellus Shale Symposium
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Scandling Center Vandervort Room
Registration at 8:00 am
Program starts at 8:30 am
Presentation Topics Include:
Introduction to Marcellus Shale Drilling – What is this all about?
Economic Considerations
An Industry Perspective
A Regulatory Perspective
Landowner Leasing and Property Rights
Panel Discussion: Views and Perspectives from the Region
Presenters will include representatives from Cornell University, NYS DEC, US EPA, Penn State University, Norse Energy, Attorney General’s Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Yates County Task Force, Shale Shock and many other groups from NY and PA!
Registrations are now being accepted. Visit http://fli.hws.edu/marcellus/June10_Registration%20Form.pdf
Kristy LaManche
Finger Lakes – Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance
(FL-LOWPA)
Program Coordinator
3481 South Street Road
Marcellus, New York 13108
(315) 673-7148
April 30, 2010
On April 22, the Cortland County Legislature approved a petition asking NYS leaders to ban hydrofracking pending further independent scientific assessment to determine the risks associated with hydrofracking. Text of county resolution 4-22-10
April 30, 2010
Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County (GDACC) founded in Nov. 2009 to educate themselves and the community about gas drilling, received a SUNY Cortland Civic Engagement Leadership Award on April 29, 2010 in recognition for Outstanding Service to the Community. Citation
