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.

Statement by Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper Project Director at July 18, 2016 Protest

"Seneca Lake and the Catskill Mountains are connected by a pipeline. We are also connected by beautiful surroundings and by communities that have hope for a better future I love where I live! This storage facility here at Seneca Lake would be connected to the Millennium pipeline, which runs through the western Catskills on its way east and south to the CPV gas-fired power plant in Orange County that is now under construction. Two new compressor stations are proposed along the Millennium pipeline located near my home -- plus another connecting pipeline coming directly from the gas fields in Susquehanna county PA."

June 16, 2016

Livingston Manor, NY – The New York State Assembly extended the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit Program to the Catskills and Hudson Valley Wednesday night, a move that will encourage film production in the region and foster economic growth. Mountainkeeper and our members have been strong advocates for the legislation. On March 21^st, 2016 we submitted a letter to the Governor requesting the expansion of the Tax Credit to the Catskills and Hudson Valley that was signed by over 30 entertainment professionals including Chevy Chase, Natalie Merchant, Debra Winger, Mary-Stuart Masterson, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bowermaster and Aidan Quinn. 

April 5, 2016

Groups Rally to Save NYS from FERC
Ask Governor Cuomo to Protect NYS Water by Denying Required Water Quality Certificate for Constitution Pipeline

Albany, NY—Groups from across New York State – and beyond – rallied at the State Capitol today against the bias of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for fracked gas infrastructure projects. They asked Governor Cuomo to use the State’s authority under the Clean Water Act to stand up to FERC by denying the 401 water quality certificate for the Constitution Pipeline.

March 10, 2016

Hurleyville, NY - To boost film production outside of New York City, the 2013-14 State Budget included language to create an additional 10% film tax credit for “Upstate” counties. However, bizarrely, Hudson Valley counties, including Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, and Dutchess, were not considered “Upstate” for the purposes of the credit and have been unable to tap into this lucrative economic development opportunity. 

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, I,WF-Forestburgh) has introduced legislation (A.9415) to include Hudson Valley counties in the 10% Empire State Film Production Credit program.

WHO: Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Michael P. Hein, Ulster County Executive, and Ramsay Adams, Executive Director, Catskill Mountainkeeper 

WHAT: Promoting film production in the Hudson Valley with the additional 10% Empire State Film Production Credit Program 

WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 3:30 pm

WHERE: Hurleyville Arts Centre 219 Main Street, Hurleyville, New York 12747

Please rsvp to Allison Horan at the Monticello office, 845-794-5807, or [email protected]

                                                             ###

Contact: 
Ramsay Adams
845-439-1230

Allison Horan
845-820-2922

March 1, 2016

Yesterday Governor Cuomo urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to halt all construction on Spectra’s controversial Algonquin Incremental Market Expansion (AIM) Pipeline while the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Department of Health (NYSDOH), and Department of Public Service (DPS) perform an independent safety risk assessment. The four agencies sent a letter to FERC requesting that “FERC stay and reconsider its prior determination to grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity to ensure that the health and safety of all New Yorkers is adequately protected.”

Catskill Mountainkeeper strongly supports the Governor in this action. The AIM pipeline, opposed by many local communities and their elected officials, would have disastrous effects on New York State, surrounding areas, and the planet. It would bring toxic fracked gas through New York communities, threaten the Indian Point Nuclear Facility, and exacerbate climate change, wreaking havoc on communities and the environment throughout the construction process.  

“We are especially encouraged by the joint agency approach to the independent safety risk analysis,” said Jessica Roff, Programs Manager for Catskill Mountainkeeper. “We hope this signals the administration’s understanding that all fossil fuel infrastructure decisions have wide-ranging implications that go well beyond just energy access or environmental impacts. That, in fact, a comprehensive and cumulative assessment of such decisions is necessary, and that to perform an appropriate assessment  the government must consider public health, safety, and environmental issues together. We will be watching the process closely to see how the agencies implement this incredibly important task.”

Contact:  Jessica Roff, Catskill Mountainkeeper 202-321-0020

February 18, 2016

Legal filings by, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Clean Air Council, Delaware Otsego Audubon Society, Riverkeeper Inc., Sierra Club, Stop the Pipeline and NY Attorney General Eric Schniederman appear to have temporarily prevented tree clearing in New York while the DEC continues to review water quality permits.  “FERC stated in its recent Order that the Company “cannot cut vegetation” prior to receiving ALL federal authorizations,” said Anne Marie Garti, an attorney associated with Stop the Pipeline and volunteering with the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic.  “Allowing the pipeline company to cut trees along 25 miles of the route before New York State makes a decision is a tragic example of FERC operating outside of the law.”

Contract loggers working for the Williams Pipeline Company have already cut 100-foot swaths of trees in over nine miles of forest along the Pennsylvania pipeline Route.  Of particular concern is the Holleran family’s North Harford Maple Syrup Farm, in New Milford, PA.  The tree felling will obliterate the core of their business-- 1,670 linear feet through their sugar bush that is currently outfitted with spiles and collection lines for syrup production. Many supporters of the Holleran family are gathering daily at the site where the cutting is to take place. On February 10, logging crews and representatives of Constitution tried to access the property, calling the Pennsylvania State Police for assistance. After talking with Megan Holleran the police refused to intervene to allow tree felling. But, it is uncertain how long this reprieve can last.

"Our family has owned this property for generations that includes maple trees that we tap for a family maple syrup business, North Harford Maple," said Maryann Zeffer, resident of the property and co-owner." But when the gas companies came in they lied to us about their intentions. Now they are trying to bully us into building their pipeline across our property. All we want is for them not to cut our trees and harm our business. At the very least they should have to wait for full approval for the entire pipeline before they get to cut our trees. They do not have that approval now."

On February 5^th, the Sierra Club and Clean Air Council filed a motion for a stay of tree cutting until pending lawsuits against FERC’s larger permitting review are settled. It is uncertain if such a stay will be granted. 

“Governor Cuomo and  DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos can put an end to this broken FERC process by denying the 401 water quality certificate right now,” said Roger Downs, Conservation Director, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, “The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a State is authorized to deny this certificate even after FERC has approved a project, particularly when there is overwhelming evidence that there will be chronic violations to the Clean Water Act as a result of the project.”

The groups ask Governor Cuomo to be a true climate leader by stopping the pipeline project now.

“The New York DEC warned FERC from the start that the construction of the Constitution Pipeline would be problematic to water resources and forested ecosystems – but that concern fell on deaf ears,” said Wes Gillingham, Program Director for Catskill Mountainkeeper.” Governor Cuomo should push back on the rubberstamped permits and premature tree cutting approvals by denying the 401 water quality certifications now. He can protect our water from this flawed pipeline proposal.  It’s the right thing to do.”

Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper  (845) 901-1029

Roger Downs, Sierra Club (518) 944-0992