From the River Reporter: Sign the Catskill Mountainkeeper petition telling President Biden and United States Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to keep “bomb trains” carrying highly explosive liquefied natural gas (LNG) out of our communities. 

Transporting LNG by train is extremely dangerous—just 22 rail cars carrying LNG contain the energy equivalent of a nuclear bomb. These trains expose residents to air pollution and bring volatile, explosive cargo within throwing distance from families’ homes. The margin for error when transporting LNG by rail is paper thin, and even the slightest accident would result in tragedy.

Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Fiscal Year 2024 

Executive Budget Testimony 

Joint Legislative Budget Hearing, Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees

Testimony Overview 

Mountainkeeper’s testimony today covers the funding for the Catskill Park and implementing the Catskills High Use Advisory Group (CAG) recommendations, establishing and capitalizing a Climate and Community Protection Fund, supporting the Climate Jobs and Justice package, supporting sustainable agriculture, continuing support for our state’s Forest Preserves via the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), endorsing strong staffing at the Department of Environmental Conservation, passing the Birds and Bees Protection Act (BBPA), and Route 17 expansion. 

LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL GROUPS OPPOSE MISGUIDED PLAN TO EXPAND ROUTE 17 FOR 50 MILES THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY AND THE CATSKILLS

Transportation officials need to go back to square one and develop a plan that fits the needs of the communities, addresses climate, environmental and  justice concerns, and tackles the real infrastructure needs in the Route 17 corridor

Hurleyville, NY - “Our organizations are speaking with one voice, calling on Governor Hochul and state transportation officials to reconsider the Route 17 widening plan and to develop a new plan that truly meets the needs of our communities, addresses the climate crisis, and deals head-on with the real infrastructure needs in the Route 17 corridor,” said Ramsay Adams, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working with the Administration to develop a blueprint for the Route 17 corridor that becomes a model for the rest of the state and the nation on how to improve and upgrade critical infrastructure that addresses the  real environmental, climate and social impacts of such large projects.”

Click 'Read More' to view the full February 2, 2023 press release.