Media Statement

November 21, 2017

Livingston Manor, NY – Earlier today the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Assemblywoman Gunther announced that the state will invest up to $50,000 in an Army Corps of Engineers study examining flood control and community preparedness in Livingston Manor. In response, Catskill Mountainkeeper issued the following statement, attributable to Ramsay Adams, Executive Director.

“Livingston Manor has been waiting for years for the Army Corps of Engineers to step up and address our persistent flooding issue. As climate change begins to impact our own hometown, making storms more dangerous and severe, New York’s commitment to lead on this issue is incredibly welcome. We look forward to working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and Supervisor Rob Eggleton to address the flooding in a way that makes our community more prepared while protecting our waterways and wildlife. We thank Governor Cuomo, DEC, and Assemblywoman Gunther for their quick response to the October 30, 2017 flood, and their commitment to funding and addressing this problem.”  

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Fifteen Counties Included in NEW Solarize Project

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY – Today marks the beginning of a new, first of its kind community solar Solarize campaign from RenewableNY. With an exclusive focus on supporting and expanding community solar--solar farms that deliver energy to owners or subscribers throughout a given area--the campaign will run in 15 Mid-Hudson Valley and Southern Tier counties. This is the first Solarize program to focus only on community solar and to operate on a scale this large in New York, and anyone can learn more and sign up at renewableny.org. 

Catskill Mountainkeeper Commends Governors’ Vote for Fracking Ban

Livingston Manor, NY – Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, along with the Governors of Delaware and Pennsylvania, comprising a majority of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), announced that they voted in favor of a resolution to issue draft regulations that will permanently ban hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas in the Delaware River Basin. 

We WON Our Day in Court!

Constitution Pipeline Loses Initial Round in Federal Case

Catskill Mountainkeeper Congratulates Cuomo Administration, DEC and Coalition Partners, calling VICTORY! 

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2017 Livingston Manor, NY – Today, Constitution Pipeline lost a federal case challenging the NY DEC’s refusal to grant the project a water-quality certificate for the $685 million project, which had previously received federal approvals. Represented by Earthjustice, Catskill Mountainkeeper had intervened in the case with two other groups to help DEC defend its denial.

Liberty, NY: 7.10.17 - A free ride program is giving Liberty residents a reliable way to get to the Liberty Farmers’ Market at 119 N. Main Street. Market Ride, a collaborative effort of C.A.C.H.E., Catskill Mountainkeeper, Sullivan Renaissance, and The Liberty Networking Group, will begin operating on Friday, July 14^th. The initiative was conceived to allow those without reliable transportation access to fresh, local food. “Without a car, something as simple as shopping for groceries becomes a real burden”, said Walter Stein, Executive Director of C.A.C.H.E., the organization providing a van and drivers for this effort.

Assembly Holds Up Their End on Climate Change
Catskill Mountainkeeper Commends Passing Climate and Community Protection Act
Senate Continues to Kick Bill Down the Road

Statement on the passage of the Climate and Community Protection Act by Wes Gillingham, Associate Director, Catskill Mountainkeeper

Statement from Ramsay Adams, Executive Director, Catskill Mountainkeeper.

Today President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement. This is a reckless international disgrace. Change begins at home, which is why Governor Cuomo's executive order is so critically important.  Making it state policy to reduce emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and directing all state agencies to develop implementation plans in the next nine months is the perfect place to start. New York's economy is huge - our GDP was $1.405 trillion in 2014 making it one of the largest in the world. Climate policy here will help drive policy nationally.

Even as we laud today's bold moves, there is always more to be done. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to pass legislation to compliment this order and ensure home rule supersedes any weakened national environmental policies under this administration.

Today, Catskill Mountainkeeper joined with 182 organizations in four states to tell the Delaware River Basin Commission to ban fracking in the watershed.  

As our own Wes Gillingham said, “New York State banned high volume fracking because of the overwhelming scientific evidence of its threats—especially those to public health. The Delaware River Basin Commission must do the same. This is the only course to protect our water, air, health and communities—it’s one that Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf supports, one that New York’s Governor Cuomo has implemented, and we urge all of the commissioners to follow their lead.”

Read the full release and letter here.  And watch Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Wolf commit to supporting a fracking ban in the watershed here (h/t to our friends at Food & Water Watch for capturing the moment on video).

December 17,2016--The following statement is attributable to Ramsay Adams, Executive Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper

Under pressure from the oil and shipping industry, the U.S. Coast Guard is considering a proposal to establish 43 new anchorages for oil barges along the Hudson River from Yonkers, NY to Kingston, NY. These anchorages would serve the oil industry by creating an outlet for dirty oil arriving by rail into the Port of Albany, and would dramatically increase oil transportation along the Hudson River.