Zoning Changes required for fracking
December 6, 2014
Preble Takes a Stand
March 14, 2014
A model for other Cortland Co. towns? There are actually over 200 NY towns/cities/counties that have imposed bans or moratoria on various aspects of fossil fuel extraction, production, transportation and infrastructure. Except for very specific bans on selling municipal water and processing fracking waste at the Cortland’s municipal treatment plant, this is the first ban in Cortland County and one of the most comprehensive state-wide. This ban is based on the town’s comprehensive plan and on a revision of the zoning code, local and external legal and technical consultation and extensive official and citizen participation.
Preble’s ban recognizes that the threats to its agricultural and rural character extend far beyond the drilling of gas wells because explosive fossil fuels require massive industrialization–pipelines, storage facilities, surface transportation by trucks and rail, compressors, etc. Even if the NY hydrofracking ban remains in place, the fossil fuel infrastructure will continue to expand.
Concerns go beyond “worry” about water contamination, explosions, health dangers, economic boom and bust and destruction of existing economies. Research from PA, CO, TX and other heavily industrialized fossil fuel production areas is providing proof that these impacts are real and significant. This week’s fatal gas main explosion in New York City reminds us that continuing to rely on fossil fuels and our aging infrastructure is a dead end.
NY County Legislators on banning drilling waste.
March 6, 2014
County legislators from New York talk about their decision to prohibit the procurement, acquisition, storage, handling, treatment, processing, application or disposal of all treated or untreated oil and gas drilling waste byproducts in their respective counties.
Fractracker maps of NY bans and moratoria
December 24, 2013
There have been numerous updates to our hydrofracking bans and moratoria map in the past weeks, including bans in Meredith (Delaware County), Hartwick (Otsego County), Butternuts (Otsego County), Lafayette (Onondaga County) and Moravia (Cayuga County). Here’s the map http://www.fractracker.org/map/ny-moratoria/. For an interactive map with pop-up windows and links to legislation passed by many towns, go here: http://maps.fractracker.org/latest/?appid=68f3de3fc2a1462aaf700fff5ec0ab47
The persistence and endurance of this movement to safeguard environmental and human health in New York State is showing and growing. As always, please let me know if we’ve overlooked any towns that have passed prohibitions, or are actively working on them.
GDACC 
