Today is the last day for public comment on the DEC's guide to oversee natural gas drilling in NYC-- scroll down just a bit for link and info from the good folks @ Environmental Advocates of NY on this; use their link to comment now!...
[Go to http://eany.convio.net/site/R?i=-50i_gP1zH7AlOQ6xLDMBQ.. to send your comments before it's too late and the comment period has closed-- today!!!]
860 folks in our region already signed on to my http://www.PetitionOnline.com/NoDrill -- sign on now if you haven't yet...
[...and-- don't forget toll-free number for Governor/NYS Legislators too-- (877) 255-9417!...(pass it on)]
[recall-- resolution on this passed overwhelmingly in our County Legislature earlier this month; see:
http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Legislature/ResolutionsPDF/209388.pdf ]
[scroll down a bit to see humorous but infotaining update Jim Miller of http://www.BraveNewFilms.org !]
From my http://www.PetitionOnline.com/NoDrill ; http://www.petitiononline.com/airwater ...
"Enact Assemblymember Jim Brennan's proposed two-year moratorium legislation (formerly A.11527) on gas drilling in NY to protect groundwater from dangerous chemicals-- as the Sierra Club, Riverkeeper, Natural Resources Defense Council, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, The Wilderness Society, and Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy all called for in late July-- "a moratorium until all the comprehensives issues get looked at in their entirety”-- after the Governor’s office announced it had directed the DEC to prepare an updated generic environmental impact statement. According to Catskill Mountainkeeper, "The effects of drilling on the Catskill environment have the potential to be devastating. Carcinogens that accompany deep drilling also have the ability to penetrate our water supply-- a water supply that provides drinking water to NYC through aqueducts connected to the Catskill Watersheds. Perhaps the most devastating effects of drilling will be the endangerment of the natural beauty of this region, and the carbon emissions that come with the further use of fossil fuels.
Dr. Theo Colborn, author of "Our Stolen Future" has discussed the health impacts of gas drilling to humans, wildlife and domestic animals in areas of gas drilling. She has shared with listeners the truth behind the industry claim that they only use sand, water and soap in the drilling process. She has exposed the chemicals they actually use and the extreme heath dangers of these chemicals. Research has documented that 91% of these chemicals are hazardous to health as result of being skin and sensory organ toxicants, respiratory toxicants, gastrointestinal and liver toxicants, neurotoxicants, kidney toxicants, cardiovascular and blood toxicants, immunotoxicants, carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, wildlife toxicants, developmental toxicants and endocrine disruptors. Historically, these chemicals have not been properly handled, causing air and ground water pollution. As air and water are mobile-- this affects us all."
[see PetitionOnline.com/NoDrill; CatskillMountainkeeper.org;
Midhudsonnews.com/News/July08/29/gasdrill_mor-29Jul08.html;
www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A11527]
From http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/10/watchdog_new_york_state_regulation_of ...
[my ol' buddy Walter Hang joined Amy Goodman on Democracy Now on all this Nov. 10th]
"The New York-based Toxics Targeting went through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s own database of hazardous substances spills over the past thirty years. They found 270 cases documenting fires, explosions, wastewater spills, well contamination and ecological damage related to gas drilling. Many of the cases remain unresolved. The findings are contrary to repeated government assurances that existing natural gas well regulations are sufficient to safeguard the environment and public health. The state is considering allowing for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale watershed, the source of drinking water for 15 million people, including nine million New Yorkers."
Finally-- as long as you might get state legislator folks on the phone-- let both Dem and GOP state legislators know (along with Paterson) that they need to be http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/10/watchdog_new_york_state_regulation_ofputting much more time, energy, emphasis, and funding into great new energy initiatives like PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy loan program which allows municipalities all across NYS (even counties) to opt in)-- instead of gas-drilling!...
(see: http://www.r8ny.com/node/150010 ; Babylon, Berkeley, Boulder, Binghamton, many other communities have moved far ahead of us in Dutchess; join 31 other Dutchess folks signed on for this here-- at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/SOLAR ...and see http://www.LIGreenHomes.com for the miracle the Town of Babylon has been putting in place there-- exactly the type of program I've been raving about since early 2008, when I first learned of the similar miracle program put into place vis-a-vis http://www.CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org in Mass.; and started Independent Dutchess Energy Alliance:
see: http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2009/03/our-bright-idea-growin-brighter-and.html !]
Joel
242-3571/876-2488
http://www.DutchessDemocracy.blogspot.com
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Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:00:18 -0500 (EST)
From: "Katherine Nadeau, Environmental Advocates of New York "
Subject: Last Call: Submit Your Comments to Protect New York from the Dangers of Natural Gas Drilling
Without strong rules and regulations-- and the staff to enforce them-- natural gas drilling could poison New York's drinking water.
New York is home to some of the cleanest drinking water in the country, but draft
rules that allow natural gas drilling near drinking water sources could poison our water and endanger our families.
Bowing to pressure from the natural gas industry, New York is poised to ram through a weak plan to oversee drilling that could contaminate our water, expose families around drilling sites to toxic chemicals, and destroy pristine landscapes in the Southern Tier and Catskills.
The public comment period ends on December 31st, so it's critical that you write today. Go to http://eany.convio.net/site/R?i=SNOXRvnghDXnGWJwNRX8IQ.. to protect New York's drinking water from natural gas drilling.
In other parts of the country, a drilling method called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" has poisoned wells and spilled toxic chemicals into waterways and across landscapes.
Now the natural gas industry is champing at the bit to drill in New York.
This fall, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation released a draft guide to oversee fracking. The draft contains many critical flaws:
* It doesn't protect our families from toxic chemicals used to drill wells.
* It doesn't safeguard against the withdrawal of the huge amounts of water required for drilling. Between 2 and 8 million gallons of water for each well.
* It doesn't include a big picture analysis of how natural gas drilling will impact our air, water, land and communities.
* It doesn't include regulations to protect New York's natural resources.
* Last but not least, regardless of what's in the guide, New York State doesn't have the manpower to oversee this booming industry.
The public comment period ends on December 31st. Go to http://eany.convio.net/site/R?i=-50i_gP1zH7AlOQ6xLDMBQ.. to send your comments before it's too late and the comment period has closed.
ACT NOW AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS! We need to protect New York's
precious drinking water from the dangers of industrial drilling.
Thank you.
Katherine Nadeau
Water & Natural Resources Program Associate
Environmental Advocates of New York
Go to http://eany.convio.net/site/CO?i=zZZfMYJ38g-_7aGCh6z36oTL-wRDgj6k&cid=0 to unsubscribe.
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Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:03:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Miller of Brave New Films
Subject: Tell Gov. Paterson: DO NOT GAS NY!
Tell Governor Paterson:
Do Not Gas NY!
ACT TODAY: Tell the Governor not to make New York's clean drinking water a holiday gift to the gas drilling industry
Top 10 reasons Governor Paterson should tell the DEC to withdraw the gas drilling rulemaking.
10. Because tapwater shouldn't be flammable.
9. Because Exxon isn't going to respect you after they Frack you.
8. Because Ithaca is still gorges.
7. Because if it's good for Halliburton, it's gotta be bad for us.
6. Because "clean natural gas" is neither clean nor natural.
5. Have you been to beautiful upstate Saudi Arabia lately?
4. Because toxic sludge isn't good for you.
3. Because a handful of fracking carpetbaggers shouldn't hold New York's drinking water hostage.
2. Because 230 toxic chemicals is not a cocktail I want to drink.
1. Because "I Love New York."
Our friends at Agit-Pop and Earthworks alerted us to an important issue in New York that we thought you should know about.
As you know, Brave New Films usually covers national issues but what may happen next year with the Marcellus Shale formation drilling in New York is irresponsible.
We are sending out this message on behalf of our friends, and as a native New Yorker I am asking you to:
Tell Governor Paterson: Do Not Gas NY!
You have until December 31st to let your voice be heard on this matter. This e-mail is only going to our NY supporters and it is important for the Governor to hear from his constituents about this matter.
The NY Department of Environmental Conservation is poised to adopt a rule that WILL NOT protect NY's surface and groundwater from gas drillers. Real protection is needed so that NY's drinking water is not affected.
TAKE ACTION! -- Send Governor Patterson a letter. Click here to tell him that New Yorkers don't deserve gas drilling toxics in their drinking water. Tell him to require the DEC to scrap their existing proposal and start over from scratch.
As always, thank you for your support!
Jim Miller
Executive Director
Brave New Films
Click here for more information
INSTRUCTIONS:
Go to the DoNotGasNY.org
At PAGE BOTTOM, enter your ZIP CODE. Only New Yorkers are eligible to take part in this alert.
Read the sample letter at page bottom and edit. Customized letters have greater impact.
Click "Send Your Message" to send your letter to your Governor Paterson.
To ensure delivery of our emails, please add info@bravenewfilms.org to your address book.
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