Kathy Nolan, MD, for the Poughkeepsie Journal — Those who don’t learn from history generally repeat it.

That’s what worries me as we continue to learn more about neonicotinoid pesticides or “neonics,” the nicotine-like chemicals that are now the most used insecticides nationwide. Specifically, I’m haunted by the echoes of our unfortunate history with DDT—the long-banned neurotoxic insecticide whose multigenerational harms to wildlife and people we are only still beginning to appreciate.

Kathy Nolan, MD, is Catskill Mountainkeeper's Senior Research Director, president of the Physicians for Social Responsibility, New York Chapter, a member of the Ulster County Legislature, and a pediatrician. Read her full opinion piece at the Poughkeepsie Journal.

From the Times Union: SAUGERTIES — With more than 500 campsites in the U.S. and Canada, no one knows camping better than Kampgrounds of America. Now, the world’s largest camping company is hoping to tap into the growing glamping market with Terramor Catskills, a 77-acre wooded property in Saugerties near the town border with Woodstock. But the project is not without controversy.

From the Capitol Pressroom: Catskill Center for Conservation and Development Executive Director Jeff Senterman and Catskill Mountainkeeper Katherine Nadeau discuss new recommendations designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Catskill Park.

From the Times Union: HUNTER — A report released by a governmental advisory group suggests the 700,000-acre Catskill Park must be managed more intensively to deal with the deluge of new visitors since the beginning of the pandemic.

Over the past few years, Catskill Mountainkeeper has focused on educating folks about the increasing number of visitors to the Catskill Park each year, and highlighting the impacts this influx has on Park lands and resources. But did you know that the number of annual visitors to the Catskill Park has more than doubled since 2012? And in 2021, the park welcomed more visitors than the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone combined!

Final Report Recommendations Build on DEC’s Ongoing Efforts to Promote Sustainable Recreation, Diversity, and Protection of the Park’s Natural Resources

The Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group (CAG) submitted its final report on promoting sustainable recreation in the Catskill Forest Preserve to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos. Comprised of stakeholders with expertise in local government, recreation, natural resource protection, business and tourism, and other priority areas, the CAG was tasked in October 2020 with providing recommendations to DEC on how to address critical issues associated with increased public use of Catskill Park resources in order to protect these areas in the short term, as well as for future generations.

Delaware River Watershed - Delaware River Frack Ban Coalition organizations  denounced the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) adoption of amendments  to its regulations on December 7, 2022 that will allow the importation into the Watershed  of wastewater produced by fracking and will allow the export of water from the Delaware  River Watershed to support fracking operations elsewhere. 

In a "no contest" plea Coterra, formerly Cabot Oil and Gas, is being held accountable for ruining Dimock PA residents’ lives and contaminating their water

Montrose, PA - Officials from Coterra Energy appeared at the Susquehanna County Courthouse today to plead no contest to 15 criminal charges. Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Associate Director, issued the following statement in response....

Midhudson News, November 27, 2022 - HURLEYVILLE - “Burial sites are sacred places; they hold beloved and revered ancestors’ remains, as well as culturally significant funerary items,” said Katherine Nadeau, Mountainkeeper deputy director. “They’re located throughout New York State, wherever Native peoples gathered together, and many are unmarked, leaving them vulnerable to developers backhoes, looting, and desecration.” Click Read More to see the full piece.

By Joseph Abraham, MONTICELLO –– ..Wes Gillingham, Associate Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper, challenged [Hughes Energy Chief Executive Officer] McSpedon’s answer to the Assemblywoman’s question, believing the problem lies in a lack of information, calling  a lot of what Hughes was saying “misleading.” Furthermore, Gillingham claimed that the DEC has continually asked Hughes Energy for more information and that the company has yet to submit an Environmental Impact Statement for their proposed project in Roxbury, Delaware County. Click "read more" to read the full piece.