What’s Behind The Headlines?
This week Governor Cuomo announced that the state is “restarting” the regulatory process that would create the rules under which high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) could proceed. When asked why the state would be doing more work and undertaking a health impact review, he answered that “it will be a stronger review to withstand a legal challenge." Contrary to indications last week that he was likely to back away from fracking, the Governor strongly stated this week, “there is no step back.” It’s unfortunate that the Governor has framed the need for a health review as a legal defense issue rather than as a critical element necessary to protect the public health. None-the-less, now is the time for Governor Cuomo to demonstrate he has a high level of concern for the public’s health by elevating his current plan for an internal health review to hiring an independent entity to lead a comprehensive and rigorous Health Impact Assessment (HIA).
Read moreWhy New York Needs a Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment of Fracking
On Thursday September 20, Joseph Martens, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the DEC will do a review of the potential public health effects of fracking. He said, “only after this evaluation is completed will a decision be made about whether to permit high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York…
Read moreJuly 18, 2012 Action Alert: Fracking – There is a Viable Alternative
But First We Need to Stop It
Mark Z. Jacobson giving the Keynote at Barnfest 2012[/caption] Mark Z. Jacobson, director of Stanford’s Atmosphere/Energy Program mesmerized hundreds of Mountainkeeper supporters at last Saturday’s Barnfest with a doable plan to forgo fossil fuels and convert the globe to sustainable renewable energy by 2030. Based on the findings of the research he did with Mark A. Delucchi, UC-Davis researcher, he said, “there are no technological or economic barriers to converting the entire world to clean, renewable energy sources....
Read moreJune 26, 2012 - Action Alert: Is Fracking Coming To New York?
Last week Governor Cuomo announced on WGDJ radio in Albany that “we don’t have a hard date, but it will be done shortly”, signaling that the state will adopt a policy on fracking soon. This statement comes days after the Governor’s office leaked a plan to the New York Times (in which Mountainkeeper was quoted) that would allow hydrofracking permits in Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Chemung and Steuben counties near the Pennsylvania border and would give local communities a say in whether or not gas wells would be drilled (Listen to Ramsay Adams interviewed on WBAI NYC Public Radio). Our response to the Governor’s plan was swift and strong. Mountainkeeper immediately convened a meeting of the top environmental groups in the state and together we organized a press conference and rally in Albany on June 20th....
Read moreNew Study Predicts Frack Fluids Can Migrate to Aquifers Within Years
Major news outlets such as Bloomburg News, Business Weej and Propublica are reporting on a game changing peer reviewed study commissioned by Catskill Mountainkeeper that ppredicts frack fluids can migrate into aquifers, directly contradicting the claim by the gas industry that these toxic chemicals will stay underground forever...
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Part of our worldwide effort to halt climate change and why we need to ban fracking and adopt a renewable energy policy
When you are fighting against fracking you are part of a larger global effort to wean the world off fossil fuels and move us toward using renewable energy sources so that we avert catastrophic global warming. You are fighting the same fight as those who are trying to stop mountaintop removal in West VA, the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar-sands oil (whose extraction and refining produces up to 30 percent more greenhouse gases than conventional oil) and dangerous nuclear power...
Read moreFracking with Propane
The Gas Companies’ Latest Tactic to Bring Fracking to New York State
Our lawyers have advised us that New York law does not permit fracking with LPG because given its significant risk of adverse environmental impacts any application to use it would first require its own supplemental-generic or site-specific environmental impact statement. It is unfathomable that the state would consider allowing a process that forces explosive liquid propane gas underground under high pressure without first doing the proper environmental review.
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Help Keep the HIA in the Budget
Don’t Let the Governor Get Away with Taking the Fracking Health Impact Assessment Study Out of the State Budget
Last night New York State released a final draft of the section of the budget that should have included a Health Impact Assessment Study on fracking, but despite the study’s inclusion in the budget submitted by the Assembly, it was absent from the final version. This flagrant omission prompts us to ask the question, “Does the Governor really care about our health?” These actions are particularly egregious in light of the medical evidence that is coming out warning about the dangers of fracking...
Read moreCelebrate and Support our Area Agriculture by Attending These Exciting Upcoming Events!
Catskill Mountainkeeper is pleased to support the following agricultural programs and events that are being presented by our partner organizations. They include workshops for farmers and landowners on evaluating land for agricultural use and increasing land access for farmers, informational sessions for producers on how to better market your products, training for garden educators, and a workshop series on how to get the most out of your organic garden. Please come out to join us in supporting these fun, informative, and important efforts. Land Access Workshop Series for Farmers and Landowners Wednesday, March 21 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
eCenter, 5-1/2 Main Street, Delhi Thursday, March 22 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Duggan Community Center, 3460 State Route 55, White Lake Landowners and farmers are invited to the Catskills FarmLink Introduction to Evaluating Land for Agricultural Use & the Basics of Land Leasing workshops being held in Delaware and Sullivan Counties on March 21 and 22. Catskills FarmLink is an online land access resource, connecting farmers looking for land with property owners interested in maintaining a viable working landscape. The workshop addresses two commonly asked questions: 1.) How do I evaluate my land for agricultural use, and 2.) How do I develop a land lease? A presentation by Dale Dewing, field crop educator and Watershed extension team leader with Cornell Cooperative Extension, will focus on how to evaluate land for agricultural use. In a panel discussion of landowners and farmers on lease agreements and food and farm law expert, Jason Foscolo, will provide guidance and examples of personal experience with land leases. Additional workshop details are available on the Catskills FarmLink website. The workshops are free to attendees and RSVP is requested, as space is limited. To RSVP for the workshop or for a free legal consultation with Jason Foscolo LLC, email [email protected] or call Sonia Janiszewski at 914-720-1020.