Why Fallsburg Should Ban FRACKING...Uhhhh....No Insurance!

The Price Anderson Act makes it impossible for any American homeowner to get insurance to cover losses from a nuclear accident at places like Entergy's trouble plagued Indian Point nuclear reactors that sit atop an earthquake fault.  Well, seems that the insurance industry is not going to wait for Congress (as in do nothing but squabble) to pass similar legislation denying property/home owners from getting insurance for harm done from the process of Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing.  Nationwide out of Ohio has announced that they WILL NOT COVER DAMAGES caused by this dangerous extraction method:

The Columbus, Ohio-based company's personal and commercial policies "were not designed to cover" risk from the drilling process, called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Nationwide spokeswoman Nancy Smeltzer said Thursday. 

The process injects chemically treated water into wells to fracture shale thousands of feet underground and release trapped gas or oil. There are rich shale deposits in parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and elsewhere. 

Health and environmental groups claim fracking can contaminate drinking water. The gas industry says it's safe if done properly. Nationwide said risks involved in fracking operations "are too great to ignore" and apply to policies of commercial contractors and landowners who lease property to gas companies.

Do we the citizens want to believe an industry KNOWN TO LIE when they say it is doubtful they will be drilling in our community (at least right away), and do we really want a drilling/mining process allowed in our community when we CANNOT GET INSURANCE to cover damages...like the natural gas accident that blew a house off of its foundation earlier this week?

Contact your elected officials in Fallsburg supporting a ban on Hydraulic Fracturing withing the geographical footprint of Fallsburg.

Governor (Frack Me Now) Cuomo Trying To Fast Track Allowing Fracking in New York...Sign Petition to Ban Fracking

Make no bones about it...Governor Cuomo has fracked gas on his hands, frack money in his pockets, and rosy red lips from kissing to much gas ass...he is trying to force through fracking regulations that fall far short of protecting our communities, and we in the Anti-Fracking Camp are trying to stop him and the (un)Natural Gas industry that has spent tens of millions of dollars here in New York on FALSE ADVERTISING...propaganda that is.

Ban Fracking-Protect Our Water and Resources

You can help in the fight by reading the latest press release from "Food and Water Watch" clicking on the link and signing the petition, then taking the link to this article and emailing it to your friends...BETTER YET, put the link to this article up on your Facebook Page....we need to reach 150,000 signatures and have just 6 more days to reach our goal.

PRESS RELEASE

Sign the petition to Ban Fracking Now! We are just shy of our goal to deliver 150,000 signatures to our legislators on May 3rd.

After attending the Senate Fracking Forum in Albany yesterday, I thought it essential to reach out to you at this critical time. Despite the proliferation of questions regarding health and safety, Governor Cuomo's administration is poised to finalize regulations that would allow fracking in New York, and we must stop it! Will you add your name to the letters urging our elected officials to support a ban on fracking?

My colleague, Eric, sent the below email to you back in February asking for you to take action. Since then, many legislators have stepped forward in support of legislation to ban fracking; yet others are still under the impression that we would be able to regulate this mess. How can we regulate a process that still poses more questions than answers?

Regulations aren't free. They cost the public money and they tie up government personnel. Wouldn't it be better to invest in a clean energy future and Ban Fracking Now?

We are organizing several events around the state where we will be delivering petition signatures to our elected officials on May 3rd. Please take moment to sign the letters to our elected officials urging them to support a ban on fracking in New York:
http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8617

Thanks for taking action,

Corinne Rosen
New York Organizer
Food & Water Watch

FRACKING Ban on Agenda for Town of Fallsburg Board Work Session Tomorrow Night, April 16th

Why Fallsburg MUST Ban Fracking...would you want this for your children?

 Stuff Happens...too often with fracking.

Just a heads up for all those within the "Town of Fallburg" geographical footprint...Fracking is on the agenda, and I will be asking the town to consider passing a complete ban on the industry practice known as Hydraulic Fracturing. I would encourage all those opposed to fracking to find the time to be there...Fracking is on the agenda at exactly 6 PM.

Below is text of the presentation:

Members of the board for the town of Fallsburg, attending members of the public, I am here tonight asking you to amend our zoning rules and regulations to ban Hydraulic Fracturing and its various and assorted related activities within the geographical footprint of the town of Fallsburg.   Some folks, including members of this board, in my opinion would see such a ban as un-necessary, their belief based upon natural industry studies that claim our area of Sullivan County is not likely to see fracking due to the shallow nature of the Marcellus Shale in our immediate area.

Simply stated, not likely is a very ambiguous phrase with enough room to drive a fleet of trucks filled with contaminated fracking fluids through, and at some point, the Natural Gas industry will do exactly that in some way, shape or form if we as a community do not take the steps necessary now to protect ourselves, our community, our environment, and our fresh drinking water supplies.  

The industry is spending tens of millions of dollars in what amounts to a propaganda campaign.  They promise hundreds of thousands of jobs, they promise us cheap energy, and most importantly, they promise us that the job will be done right.  

First, there will not be hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the jobs created will not see hundreds, let alone thousands of Sullivan County citizens hired...the industry has a funny way of counting, used what could be called fuzzy math in calculating how many jobs will be created…if a local diner starts using say natural gas, the industry would want to claim that the job of dishwasher was a job created as a result of their industry.  If there is a major explosion at a well pad that causes serious injuries to someone, and that someone going forward required home health care, the Natural Gas industry will say even that accident CREATED JOBS.

Cheap energy?  We all know the basic rule of supply and demand.  The natural gas industry is getting government at all levels to hand out our tax dollars in the name of Natural Gas and cheap energy, the state of Pennsylvania as example doling out almost $50 million to communities to change over their fleets to Natural Gas…well, as the demand begins to rise, so will the price, and it will not be too far down this path before we are paying $4.00 a gallon for Natural Gas, just as we pay $4.00 a gallon now for gasoline.  In the not so long haul, cheap fuel/energy promised by those wanting to frack our communities is a myth.

They promise the job will be done right.  Fact is, much like the waste from the nuclear industry, the Natural Gas industry does not know what to do with their own wastes, literally billions upon billions of gallons of chemically contaminated and radioactive water.  Right now, they want to either A) inject it into the ground…problematic from several standpoints including a belief by some including the Ohio EPA that said injection is causing earthquakes, or B) they want to haul the water off too local sewage treatment plants for treatment, then have said water dumped into our rivers and streams.

A simple Google search will show all of us numerous examples of problems with fracking…what you will find is three things that stand out.

1.        There are a lot of accidents, from well blow outs, faulty valves, too busted lagoons that were meant to hold the contaminated water.  There are numerous examples of contaminated wells, and for  every accident, every contaminated water supply, the industry in every case claims it is not responsible, is not the guilty party.

2.       Lots of excuses as everyone in the industry wants to blame it on someone or something else.  It was human error, it was an equipment malfunction, it was MOTHER NATURE!

3.       Lots of attorneys, who acting as Natural Gas industry hired guns look at ruined communities and say, “PROVE IT WAS US”.

The big question seems to be, can the natural gas industry extract all the gas that is supposed to be in the Marcellus Shale, and do it safely.  Their own industry experts admit that Hydraulic Fracturing is not without risk…which brings us to the central point of why I am asking this board to ban fracking.  We as a community cannot afford those risks, nor can we afford the costs should fracking come to our community.  Furthermore, our own laws as written make it apparent that Natural Gas drilling and its associated industrial acts and process does not fall into the town of Fallsburg land use plans, and not passing a ban on fracking should raise the question, “Are those elected officials sworn to uphold our town laws and to protect our citizens derelict in their duties”?

The Town of Fallsburg Zoning Code as adopted in Article 1, Section 310-1.2 specifically instructs the town in sections A-E, charges the towns elected officials and employees with the following duties and responsibilities:

To preserve the character and rural scenic beauty of the landscape and protect this gateway to the Catskill Forests from inharmonious and destructive uses of land; (emphasis added)

Create an orderly pattern of growth by encouraging concentration of new residential development (emphasis added) in areas that can conveniently be serviced with public facilities and discouraging intensive residential development in areas of difficult accessibility that would involve excessive costs for road improvements, road maintenance, school bus transportation and utility installation;

Regulate population density to reflect the desired character of the Town;

Prevent intrusion of incompatible uses into residential areas, by establishing proper standards for improvements in new residential developments and preserving, protecting and enhancing natural beauty wherever possible; (emphasis added)

Provide for open spaces and to preserve the natural and scenic qualities of lands; (emphasis added)

Furthermore, the town of Fallsburg Zoning Code in Chapter 141 Fresh Water Wetlands in Section 141-1 specifically instructs the town, charges the town’s elected officials and employees with the following duties and responsibilities: 

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the protection, preservation and conservation of the freshwater wetlands within the boundaries of the “Town of Fallsburg”, pursuant to and in accordance with all of the proceedings, concepts and definitions set forth in Article 24 of the Environmental Conservation Law and Title 23 of Article 71 of such law relating to the enforcement of Article 24, as such law may from time to time be amended.

Everything about hydraulic fracturing runs contrary to these charges you as a board have been given, and changing our zoning rules and regulations to ban FRACKING would in fact fit harmoniously into the towns stated goals as relates to land use in our geographical footprint.  Furthermore, though it is freely admitted that our town does not have the right to regulate the industry, two recent court decisions have shown that we and every community in the state of New York do have the right to REGULATE LAND USE, and a ban on fracking in Fallsburg would be exactly that…regulating land use.  Moreover, for various reasons, now is the time to pass such a zoning ordinance into law.

1.        My own investigations lead me to believe that right now there are no lands in our community with Natural Gas leases (using horizontal hydraulic fracturing) on them.  This means passing a bill now banning fracking rather than later when and if there would be leases eliminates the towns worry that they could be subject to a takings act…this point was discussed with an attorney with the “Natural Resources Defense Counsel”

2.       When and if it is proven by the Natural Gas industry that they can extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale safely, and without contaminating our air, water and land, the town could consider changing the ordinance that bans fracking, but it is prudent right now for us to take steps to protect ourselves…it would be too late down the road if we found out fracking was coming to our community to take such protective measures.

3.       Passing such a ban would send a clear signal to the world that Fallsburg cares more about clean water, a pristine environment, breathable air and people’s health than it cars about the profits of companies like Cabot Oil, Exxon and Chesapeake Energy, and that in turn has the very real chance of seeing truly green businesses and industry giving us a closer look when they are looking for a new community in which to locate their business.

Fallsburg has nothing to lose in passing such a ban on fracking, but everything to lose if this board fails to pass such a ban, and months or a couple years later Hydraulic Fracturing finds its way into our community.  Therefore, I am asking you to pass the ban on fracking I am requesting on behalf of all those citizens opposed to Hydraulic Fracturing in our community, and am asking you to use the frame work included in this document.  

If anyone has questions, will do my best to answer them.

Proposed Amendments to Town of Fallsburg Zoning Ordinance

The Town of Fallsburg Zoning Ordinance is herby amended as follows:

1.       Section (insert proper section) Definitions is amended by adding new definitions to read as follows:

“Natural Gas” shall mean any gaseous substance, either combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarified state at standard temperature and pressure condition, and/or gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or other hydrocarbons.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration” shall mean geologic or geophysical activities related to the search for natural gas, petroleum or other subsurface hydrocarbons including prospecting, geophysical and geologic seismic surveying and sampling techniques, which include but are not limited to core or rotary drilling or making an excavation in the search and evaluation or natural gas, petroleum, or other subsurface hydrocarbon deposits.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Materials” shall mean any solid, semi-solid, liquid, semi-liquid or gaseous material used in the exploration or extraction of natural gas.

“Natural Gas Exploration and/or Petroleum Production Wastes” shall mean any garbage, refuse, cuttings, sludge, flow-back fluids, produced waters or other discarded materials, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material that results from or is associated with the exploration, drilling or extraction of natural gas and/or petroleum.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Extraction” shall mean the digging or drilling of a well for the purposes of exploring for, developing or producing natural gas, petroleum or other subsurface hydrocarbons.

“Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Support Activities” shall mean the construction, use, or maintenance of a storage or staging yard, a water or fluid injection station, a water or fluid gathering station, a natural gas or petroleum gathering line, venting station, or compressor with the exploration or extraction of natural gas or petroleum.

2.       Section (insert proper section) is amended by adding a new section (insert proper section) to read as follows:

            Section (insert new section code here) Prohibited Uses

A)      Prohibition against the Exploration for or Extraction of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum.

No land in the Town of Fallsburg (and it geographical/governmental outlaying footprint) shall be used: to conduct any exploration for natural gas and/or petroleum; to drill any well for natural gas; to transfer, store, process or treat natural gas; or to dispose of natural gas exploration or production wastes; or to erect any derrick, building or other structure; or to place any machinery or equipment for any such purposes.

B)     Prohibition against the Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Materials.

No land in the Town (and it geographical/governmental outlaying footprint) shall be used for:  the storage, transfer, treatment and/or disposal of natural gas and/or petroleum exploration and production materials.

C)     Prohibition against the Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Wastes.

No land in the Town shall be used for: the storage transfer, treatment and/or disposal of natural gas and/or petroleum exploration and production wastes.

D)      Prohibition against Natural Gas and/or Support Activities.

No land in the Town shall be used for natural gas and/or petroleum support activities.

3.      These amendments shall take effect upon adoption and publication as provided by law.

EPA Declares Dimock PA Water SAFE to Drink...NOT SO FAST

The (un)Natural Gas industry must be plugging holes with lots of dollars at the EPA...the big news that had the FRACKING industry cheering was that the contaminated water in Dimock, Pennsylvania was safe to drink, and that much hullabaloo had been made of nothing...industry insiders were quick to deliver their public "We told you so's" and that was the end of it right?  First, lets be clear...what the EPA said was:

"The Environmental Protection Agency said it did not find significant contamination in well water serving 11 Pennsylvania families who feared that natural gas drilling had polluted their well."

PAY ATTENTION FOLKS...did not find SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATION....hmmmm...does this mean they FOUND CONTAMINATION, and if so how much and of what kind?  More importantly, did what they find present any short or long term health risks to people now being told to DRINK IT DAILY?  Read on.

NOT SO FAST...seems that the EPA's public assurances don't quiet jive with the water test results being given to the homeowners faced with ruined water supplies...in fact, if anything the PRIVATE RESULTS given to the property owners seem to validate every claim they have made about contaminated drinking water wells.  Lets address some of the citizens worries compared to EPA's FALSE PUBLIC CLAIMS.

1.  Elevated levels of Methane...IE, think Gasland and flaming facets.  

The EPA has publicly stated that the water in Dimock wells is safe...by what standards.  The tests results given to well owners privately show levels over THREE TIMES HIGHER than allowable levels...from report:

"...water samples contained dangerous quantities of methane gas"

This finding by the EPA actually confirmed some of the agency's initial concerns as well as verifies the complaints raised by Dimock resident, so one has to ask the question, who is being PAID OFF AT THE EPA, and why are these citizens with poisoned explosive water wells being abandoned, thrown to the wolves...lets keep in mind that one woman's drinking water exploded as a result of CABOT's negligent drilling practices...I know, Cabot is going to say PROVE IT.  Of course, they were quick to MUTATE the EPA claims to their benefit with this EMAIL quote sent to the news media:

"Pleased the drinking water meets all regulatory standards."

Giving Cabot Oil the ceremonial one fingered salute before continuing on.

Consider this from ECO Watch:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 3 office issued a press release on March 15 implying that Dimock, Pa.’s water has been given a clean bill of health. In the same statement to the press, EPA admitted that several families still have arsenic and methane in their water, but the news headlines are already proclaiming that the water in Dimock is safe. 

Independent testing has found that 11 Dimock families’ water is contaminated with explosive levels of methane, as well as heavy metals, radioactive material and fracking chemicals like ethylene glycol—commonly known as antifreeze.

The private results given to home owners does get worse...seems that EPA's public assurances of Dimock water being safe to drink run contrary to the actual test results provided to homeowners that show:

"wells contained dozens of other contaminants, including low levels of chemicals known to cause cancer and heavy metals that exceed the agency's "trigger level" and could lead to illness if consumed over an extended period of time."

Can the EPA explain this to those opposed to FRACKING?  For just how long a period of time can these citizens drink this water before becoming ill?  A week, a month, a year?  If drinking, cooking and bathing in this water over an extended period of time of say weeks and months is going to make the people SICK, is the water actually SAFE?  Again, can the EPA please explain this to us uninformed simple folk in the audience? 

To my own elected officials here in Sullivan County New York, to my elected officials in Fallsburg...with these kinds of findings by the Federal Government that obviously cannot be trusted, with an industry that continues to stack lie after lie on top of propaganda and falsehood, why are you NOT PASSING ANTI FRACKING ZONING ORDINANCES?  We here in Sullivan County to not want to find our communities being another Dimock Pa. and you have the ability to stop it from happening.

Fractoid News Blog Articles Being Consolidated On This Blog

Greetings Readers:

Sometimes in life, consolidating one's efforts, streamlining our work makes a lot of sense. For that reason, I am doing just that. As many of my faithful readers know, I have worked on various and assorted other blogging projects, and some of them have suffered as I have tried to serve, as it were, two masters.

As example, I have been the editor of both "Mountaindale NY News", and "Mountaindale After Dark", and simply stated, just do not have the necessary time to give both of these blogs the time effort and commitment they both deserve, so I am stepping down/resigning from "Mountaindale NY News" effective immediately, concentrating all my time and efforts on making "Mountaindale After Dark" the kind of blog that Mountaindale, Sullivan County and the surrounding Hudson River Valley deserve.

Another project I had started was the "Fracktoid News" blog, and if truth be told, though I have been posting articles on Fracking for months, that blog has languished in obscurity since May of this year simply because I have not had the time needed to give it the attention it so richly deserves. For that reason, I am importing to "Mountaindale After Dark" all the fracking articles from that blog so that the materials and information there can be read and disseminated from one location going forward...I am proud to be called and "Anti Fracker" and will continue my efforts on this important environmental issue, feel the best way I can be effective in those efforts is to centralize everything here where I routinely post articles in opposition to Hydraulic Fracturing in NY's Marcellus Shale.

If there are people in the Anti Fracking movement interested in taking over Fractoid News, please email me privately or leave yor email address in comments below this article and I would be happy to discuss transferring ownership of that blog to your organization, as well as the Twitter account of @fractoidnews and a Yahoo email associated with both properties.

Hopefully, when I post my last article to the Fracktoid News blog, all of my followers from there will come over and bookmark us here at "Mountaindale After Dark".

Wednesday "News on the Run"...Editorial on Fracking

sniffle, sniffle, sneeze...I have a told and (as the commercial would say) need some stuffy, sneezing, coughing so I can rest medicine. Coffee tastes good, and peeking out my window, looks like a bit of a dismal day out, but there is some good news...no snow pellets. It is wet, damp, nippy, spitting and nasty out...a good day to just stay inside with my cold and give the house a complete cleaning for Christmas Day. Speaking of Christmas, I will be putting up a post on Christmas Eve that has links to all of my own favorite Christmas songs on You Tube, and hope all of our readers will find these beautiful songs a great addition to your own celebrations.

Editorial:

Last week the US EPA came out with a preliminary report which in part says a water aquifer out in Wyoming is most likely contaminated with chemicals from fracking...those in favor of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling (Encana) have taken to the airwaves trying to tarnish both the report, and the agency. Additionally, these industry shills have tried to convince Americans that even if the findings are born out to be true, the report should in no way have any effect on their desires to drill in the rest of the nation because the underground conditions in Wyoming are far different than anywhere else, with the fracking there taking place at shallower depths than in the rest of America.

Fact...the only difference a far greater depth will make in the end line results (contamination of our water sources) is the time it takes for those contaminants to reach our aquifers and underground fresh drinking water supplies. Once you crack/fracture a rock, boulder or stone, it will continue to crack until said stone or boulder or rock formation splits into two or more pieces. Thus, it is not a matter of IF these cancer, birth defects, health risk causing chemicals reach our fresh drinking water supplies, but a question of when they reach and contaminate our fresh water supplies. What the Natural Gas Industry is counting on, is being able to get in and get out before that contaminate is found out.

Hydraulic Fracturing is the biggest CON GAME to come along in decades, and it is the people of rural America who are being asked to pay a horrible price in the name of Natural Gas company profits. As example, the Energy Secretary (DOE, who cannot be trusted, have no interest in protecting our environment) likes to trot out the lie, "at current usage rates, the Natural Gas play here in America will last at least 110 years". Lets explore this myth.

1. There is much lobbying going on in every state capital, and in Washington DC to greatly increase the consumption rate of Natural Gas. As example, lobbyist for the Natural Gas industry convinced Pennsylvania officials to give the industry $50 million of our taxpayer dollars to help the industry built Natural Gas stations along the interstate, and to give grants to municipalities to convert their fleets to natural gas. Both of these actions aimed at greatly INCREASING current rates of consumption.

2. By some estimates, as much as 60 percent of the Natural Gas plays here in America have been sold to foreign companies...the largest player being China's state owned CNOOC. In short, this means the lions share of America's natural gas will be shipped overseas...which would explain why it is that most Natural Gas companies are investing their own capital into building large plants to liquify the natural gas, load it onto ships to be sent offshore (just like our jobs) to China and other countries such as India, while our tax dollars are being used to increase domestic supply and demand, which in turn will DRIVE UP PRICES, making Natural Gas just as expensive as the petrol we now put into our cars.

These two realities change the whole argument. Ask yourselves a question, "Are you willing to risk your family's health, your community's property values and fresh drinking water supplies for a gas play that will last fifteen years or less? Oh, I am sorry Chesapeake Energy, Exxon and Cabot, is that an inconvenient truth you would prefer not to speak upon? are we in rural America not supposed to realize that the DOE, our government and the Natural Gas industry refer to this Natural Gas Energy as a TRANSITIONAL ENERGY source...curious here...what are we transitioning to? Add to this the fact that the lions share of this transitional energy source is promised to China and India, and that fifteen year energy supply actually represents only a seven and one half year energy supply here in America...barely enough supply for you to pay off that new Natural Gas burning car they want us all to go out and purchase based on say a 60 month car loan.

"We need to consider the depletion rate of these rigs, which is surprisingly 60% in one year! It means a gas well uses up its own supplies after 2 years of time!"

The natural industry, and even our own government are spending tens of millions of advertising dollars telling us it is our patriotic duty to allow fracking in our communities. We are told these natural gas reserves locked in such places as the Marcellus Shale will allow America to break our dependence on Foreign oil...if this were true, then why are there no laws stipulating that said Natural Gas reserves if mined from under our lands are for DOMESTIC USE ONLY? If these reserves are meant to break us of our dependence on foreign oil, why are companies like Exxon, Chesapeake Oil, Cabot and others being allowed to sell off their plays to foreign companies owned fully by foreign governments?

The underground aquifer in Wyoming WAS CONTAMINATED by Hydraulic Fracturing chemicals, and waters in other states including Pennsylvania have been contaminated by Hydraulic Fracturing chemicals, and by well pad accidents. Our fresh drinking water supplies will be contaminate, the question being when, not if. Our government, the DOE, and the US EPA know this...is it why Congress under the direction of Dick Cheney exempted this industry from the regulatory requirements of both the Clean Water and Clean Air acts. The industry knows this as well, and it is why they want to GET IN, suck out the gas and be gone before the contamination of our waters is noticed so that they can hide behind their attorneys and say, "Was not us. and even if it was, PROVE IT".

New York's DEC is in the process of approving regulations by which FRACKING will be regulated...the rules are inadequate, and the department does not have the manpower to enforce them even if they were adequate. The only solution for the state of New York that protects citizen health, and our clean water supplies is an OUT RIGHT BAN OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING in our state, rather than simply banning it in a few protected areas. Locally, both the Town of Fallsburg and Sullivan County should be passing local zoning laws that FORBID FRACKING in our communities.

Articles You Should Read

Fracking rules to be more stringent Youngstown Vindicator By Karl Henkel Ohio plans to scrap some fracking regulations in lieu of more- stringent rules, but some antifracking advocates remain skeptical about the proposed changes. Ohio Legislative Service Commission Final Analysis of Sub. ...

Fracking may test water law Independent Online Asked what international reports on fracking had been studied by her department, she said technical papers and reports “have also been consulted” from Canada, Europe and Australia – in addition to the US – where hydraulic fracturing for shale gas ...

Earthquakes, Water Pollution and Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions? Fracking ... FXstreet.com The last decade has seen a sustained campaign by the hydraulic fracturing ('fracking") industry against its critics, as the fracking industry in the US alone was worth an estimated $76 billion in 2010 and is projected to grow to $231 billion in 2036 if ...

Sullivan County, State of New York Risk Our Water For China?

I have in previous articles alleged that Natural Gas companies like Chesapeake Energy, Conoco Phillips and Exxon have no interest in ending America's reliance on foreign oil, have no interest in providing Americans with a cheap source of fuel for their cars. If one follows the money, two basic facts were clear...before the Marcellus Shale here in New York has been radically drilled, many companies were selling huge stakes to foreign countries (CHINA), and while getting politicians to give huge subsidies to the industry, these companies are using their own money to invest in very large expensive LNG EXPORT facilities to send our Natural Gas abroad (CHINA...CNOOC).

China, India 'to lead natural gas demand'

Gulf Times - ‎8 hours ago‎

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson sees “very strong future demand globally” for natural gas, which he said, will be the “fastest growing” among fossil fuels until 2040.

Which should beg the question, should Governor Cuomo, the NYDEC be risking our environment, our water, our health here in New York so that companies can export said natural resource to China? The reality of these large and expensive LNG EXPORT facilities pokes a huge hole in the propaganda that the Natural Gas industry has been feeding us...truth be told, they have NO INTENTION of getting America off of foreign oil, and if truth be known, they know that Natural Gas is not going to be the cheap alternative fossil fuel they keep touting to us, and to states like Pennsylvania who this year approved $50 million in subsidies for things like governmental vehicle fleet change over to Natural Gas.

Rich Gordon of Gordon Energy Solutions, a research firm in Overland Park, Kan., estimated that since 2005, domestic and overseas operators have spent $135 billion securing shale gas acreage in the U.S.

Start doing the math people, look at where the gas is REALLY GOING TO GO, and ask yourselves the all important question, "Are you willing to risk your health, your safe drinking water supplies for China? How many acres of land do companies like Chesapeake Energy already have the rights to drill under? How many acres in addition to the ones they own will the state of New York allow them to drill without buying rights through forced pulling?

Fact is, our Natural Gas that is SUPPOSED TO GET US OFF FOREIGN OIL is already leaving America, and in a BIG WAY. LNG exports rose sharply to 42.4 billion cubic feet the nine months ended Sept. 30, up from 34.5 billion cubic feet for all of 2010, and these Natural Gas companies want to rape our lands, spoil our safe drinking water supplies to get at the Marcellus Shale Gas for one reason, and one reason only...EXPORT. We need to tell Governor Cuomo to BAN FRACKING in New York, but we also have to cut this industry off at the knees by opening up a second front on the regulatory front...DOE FOLKS....and... the (FERC) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We can stop them from getting Federal Government permission to EXPORT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. We need to be filing comments and objections ON EVERY PERMIT REQUEST...this is a WAR TO SAVE OUR WATER. The real BATTLE LINE!

NYDEC Hydrofracking Hearing One BIG Dog and Pony Show

Wanted to hold off on this article until the hearing down in New York City was held yesterday. If I were to adhere too Thumper's sage advice, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" this article would end right here. The natural gas industry, and the New York DEC should both be ashamed of themselves.

I arrived at the Sullivan County Community College campus a little after ten in the morning, the rain pouring from the sky in buckets. First thing I noticed, was the Natural Gas Industry had spent a LOT OF MONEY trying to stack the deck at the hearing, thinking one might guess that might makes rights. They had a white event tent set up, had BUSED IN scads of bodies, and were feeding them all breakfast. There was a portable bill board truck parked in a highly visible fashion shouting out their propaganda for all to see. Parking my car, got my camera and starting taking pictures until several large burly UNION MEN said, "You're not welcome ASSHOLE". As Snagglepuss used to say, "Exit stage right even", and that is exactly what I did, snapping a few more pictures before retreating to the safety of my car.

Sure some will want to know how it is that I knew these men were union men...first, that has for decades been a tactic employed by large corporations at hearings of this nature. They routinely use union members who are beholden to them for a paycheck to create artificial support of their positions. Secondly, one of the union members at the public hearing was at this hearing, and he told me flat out he was there because his UNION told him to be there...privately, this man is against fracking, but at the hearing, he was there to be a supporter of Hydraulic Fracturing because he was ordered to be. Can hear some of you going WTF...even worse, every regulatory agency in America sworn to protect human health and the environment knows this too be true, but they turn a blind eye to the reality in front of their eyes, and let these Union workers provide statements of support that become a part of the PUBLIC RECORD...perhaps that explains why said hearings NEVER TAKE SWORN STATEMENTS.

I parked my car in a more appropriate space, and made the hike to the hearing in the pouring down rain, wrongfully assuming that once at the building I could come in out of the rain...WRONG. Even though there was a perfectly good and dry building there in front of all of us, and even though the hearing was in a theater that had a SEPARATE SET OF DOORS, the DEC did not want any of us inside the building...so, they had a large police presence BLOCKING THE DOOR, making all of us stand outside in a TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM for almost two full hours, finally letting all of us drown rats into the building at just after noon.

Even worse...which most of us did not know until we were inside the building, is that the NYDEC had DELIBERATELY CHOSEN a auditorium that only sat 250 people. Imagine standing in line in torrential rain for over two hours only to be told, "Sorry, you cannot go into the auditorium, as we are at capacity...HOW CONVENIENT.

In the meantime, some shrew from the NYDEC came outside and selectively started giving out cards...if you were fortunate enough to receive one of these cards, you were (supposedly) guaranteed a chance to make a comment on the public record at this hearing. They had figured out just how many people they would be able to hear in the three hour afternoon hearing, and handed out cards based on that number...problem is, once the hearing started, once all the public officials were heard, once some more public officials showed up later, but allowed special privileges, it became obvious that not everyone who had been given a card was going to get a chance to speak. Something was going to have to give, including FAIRNESS...the person in charge of the cards started doing some shuffling of the deck, started some picking and choosing as they selectively started choosing who the last speakers would be, leaving the rest on the table, our voices silenced.

How do I know this...I was one of those tossed aside, one of the voices who would not be heard from in the afternoon session. Seeing what was going on, I went out into the hall to make a formal inquiry with the staff...I was told, "Sorry, but we just are not going to be able to get to everyone, but you can submit written comments instead if you would like."

I made what I thought was a reasonable suggestion...since I filled out the card, since I stood out in the rain for almost two hours to have that chance, wouldn't it make sense to let the 26 of us who stood out in the rain be the first speakers at the EVENING HEARING? They found that totally unacceptable, told me that the evening session was a completely SEPARATE HEARING, and if I wanted to speak at that session, I needed to go back outside (in the rain) and stand online again, get a NEW CARD, fill it out and then and only then could I have a second chance to speak.

Now, while we were having this discussion, another member of the staff had run off and showed back up with a POSSE of uniformed officers who SURROUNDED ME IN A VERY MENACING MANNER, one of they tapping me on the shoulder and suggesting it might be wise if I took the NYDEC direction, and went outside to wait in line in the rain. I had made no threats, had not used a single vulgarity, yet found myself surrounded by some six GUN WIELDING POLICE OFFICERS, some of them I am sure equipped billy clubs and mace...I excused myself, and went outside into the rain to wait for a SECOND CHANCE to fill out a card so that my voice could be heard.

In the hearing itself, several things became very clear.

Despite their best efforts to stack the deck, it was obvious that those supporting Hydraulic Fracturing were out numbered...they had succeeded in having ten from their side first in line, so once the politicians had spoken, they got to speak their voice first. Funny thing though...the ANTI's (that is the label assigned us by those in the Natural Gas industry) actually had our concerns expressed quite eloquently by the elected officials...all but one of them making it very clear that they OPPOSED FRACKING, end of story.

Those that spoke in favor of fracking all had very vested interests in seeing Hydraulic Fracturing moving forward here in New York...to a one, they were either landowners who had already sold out to the industry, and were waiting to reap the financial benefits, or they worked in the industry.

Those who were landowners had pretty much one rally cry, "Frack Baby FRACK" and one could almost see Sarah Palin leading the chant after wrapping herself in the red, white and blue. The industry folks were very dull and droll, delivering canned remarks all aimed at seeing the document under review GREATLY WEAKENED, their primary coal to greatly decrease or even eliminate the set backs that do not go far enough in protecting our water and environment.

The judge was an anorexic looking woman of pursed lips who seemed to spit her words out at us, relishing in her authority. Even though she works for the DEC, regularly interacts with other departments in the DEC, dines with them, stays in the same hotels with them, she went to great lengths to present herself and her department as being fully independent, and capable of making a unbiased decision on all the facts as presented to herself, and her staff...question there Ms. Judge lady, "If, as your words stated, you are so unbiased how is it that you never once told us to behave when the Pro Hydraulic Fracturing members in the audience made noise or applauded, but always called our side on the carpet when we did the same?"

For the record, this same unbiased adjudicator of the facts not only corrected and chastised one side, but went so far as to bring in the police to remove one of our sides members for doing nothing more than dozens of Pro Hydraulic Fracturing citizens had done throughout the hearing...so much for unbiased.

It was obvious that most people at these hearings are opposed to fracking, or oppose it until it can be done safely. It was obvious that everyone, including all but one politician want a comprehensive assessment done...something we should as stakeholders be entitled too, but something both the DEC and the Natural Gas industry are opposing...uhhh...curious here why the DEC and the industry would opposed a study that would show us the FULL PICTURE? Could it be, that by compartmentalizing the entire process, by segregating the various and assorted risks you can find a way to justify allowing FRACKING, but by doing a comprehensive study, showing New Yorkers the FULL AND TRUE COSTS of the entire process you know that drilling WOULD NEVER OCCUR in the Marcellus Shale? Come on Ms. Judge Lady, you can tell me, I promise to keep it a secret....who paid you and the DEC off? We know they have bought Governor Cuomo off, and guessing here that a backroom deal has been struck between the DEC and the Natural Gas industry as well.

In the evening hearing, one of the first speakers was an industry paid hack by the name of Tom who spoke in favor of weakening the already weak regulations. I would strongly encourage every elected official in Sullivan County to contact YNN. Get a copy of the video, and listen to this mans opinions on our county. His words alone should convince you that FRACKING SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED IN OUR COUNTY....Tom is a MAJOR PLAYER in the Hydraulic Fracturing industry, and he made it so very obvious how much he LOATHES Sullivan County. He is the poster child for the Pro Hydraulic Fracturing crowd, was surrounded by his cronies, and if you listen to his words made ON THE RECORD, it should be pretty clear that they want to drill our county AT ALL COSTS, but hold NO RESPECT FOR US...is that what we really want?

In the end, it was a typical DEC dog and pony show. They had and have no real interest in hearing our concerns, and will put no weight in them when the decisions is made(whoops...that's right, the decision has already been made). They hold these hearings as window dressing, it allows them to assuage their own guilt, allows them to pat each others backs as they smile and say,"See, we gave the little people their chance to be heard, now, lets go back to our hotel and order steak on the taxpayers dime."

In BREAKING FRACKING NEWS...another victory for OUR SIDE!

Take Action!

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

On what was supposed to be the last day of public comment hearings on the Draft SGEIS, the Cuomo Administration's plan for fracking New York, it was announced that the deadline for submitting written comments on the Draft will be extended by another month, until January 11th.

This is our third big win in a month. Just a few weeks ago DEC Commissioner Martens announced that the DEC probably wouldn't be able to begin issuing drilling permits in 2012, and just last week the Delaware River Basin Commission temporarily dropped plans to adopt drilling regulations for the Basin.

All these delays are undoubtedly a response to the widespread and increasingly vocal opposition to fracking, but they are also evidence that even the highest levels of government are beginning to wake up to the unprecedented risks posed by high-volume fracking. Shortly before the DRBC cancelled plans to vote on regulations, Delaware Governor Jack Markell released a powerfully worded letter that made it clear he's unwilling to jeopardize the drinking water supplies of the residents of his state.

Please Help Ban Wide Spread Fracking in New York State

September 1, 2011



We've gained an additional week in our campaign to ban fracking in New York and we need to use it. Hurricane Irene delayed the Department of Environmental Conservation's release of its draft environmental impact statement, which could open large portions of our state to fracking. Sign the petition to Governor Cuomo to ban fracking now!



Fracking is a method of drilling for natural gas that involves injecting millions of gallons of water, sand and toxic chemicals into dense rock. Fracking is a threat to our drinking water, health, communities and environment. Over 3,000 New Yorkers have already signed the petition, but we want to get to 5,000 before we deliver the petition. Will you add your name to our petition asking Governor Cuomo to ban fracking?



We know that there are alternatives to natural gas, but there are no alternatives to water. To convince Governor Cuomo, we need to build a strong movement of people demanding that he stand up to the oil & gas industry. Will you help send a message to Governor to ban fracking in New York?

Sign today to ban fracking.



Stay tuned for more, and thanks for taking action,

Use Gas Industry's Wealth AGAINST THEM...GET THEIR FREEBIES!

The Natural Gas industry, even our own government are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on what could be described as America's GREATEST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN as they try to shape the general public's perceptions and expectations when it comes to Natural Gas, Hydraulic Fracturing, and the DAMAGE that will result from its wide spread use.  Well, it is time we in the Anti-Fracking camp start SPENDING SOME OF THEIR MONEY!  If you start looking around, you will find out that many Pro_Natural Gas Groups (funded by A) the natural gas industry and/or B) our TAXES) are willing to send you out a lot of FREE STUFF....now I know we do not really WANT THIS STUFF....but, every time one of us receives a freebie from their side, we are DEPLETING THEIR WAR CHEST in this fight.

As example, yesterday I received a nice hand written note with not one, but two bumper stickers from Energize WV.  Letterhead stationary and envelope...the time to write the note, put everything in the envelope cost them at least a few bucks...not much, but what if we started doing that in the THOUSANDS, and hitting multiple sites to collect their freebies?  Another example...Pro Natural Gas shill American Clean Skies (their whole entire board is made up of Oil Industry board members, and 20 million has been steered their way) is so anxious to get their answer to Gasland out into the hands of the public, they sent me a FREE CD COPY OVER NIGHT DELIVERY!

If you know of industry FREEBIES, leave us a comment with their name!

OMFG...Corbett Cronies THROTTLE FREE SPEAK....Deny Anti Frackers Voice At Committee Hearing

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this damning video is priceless...seems that the Pro-Natural Gas folks inside the Pennsylvania Governor's office will stop at nothing to silence those opposed to Natural Gas Fracking. Sure if I told you that the governor instructed staff to have two sign up sheets...one inside the room for PRO NATURAL GAS FOLKS, and one outside for ANTI FRACKERS (who were not allowed in to sign the other sheet), and told you that they then called up folks from the FIRST LIST ONLY, you would say I was a conspiracy nut...well, watched the video, and you decide. FACE IT FOLKS, WE ARE BEING RAIL ROAD'ED TO HELL ON A FRACK HIGHWAY.

Severely INJURED Workers Suing Chesapeake Energy

Seems two workers injured in a serious fire on February 23rd are suing  Chesapeake Energy...what is interesting, is the facts that come out when you start looking for different versions of the news.  In the short story below, it's OK...lawsuit for injuries, basic negligence case right?  But then look at the second article from a different news source, and you see much more SERIOUS CHARGES are being claimed that should alarm all environmentalists, as well as all those who are supposed to regulate the industry...specifically, a charge of EVIDENCE TAMPERING has been brought again Chesapeake Energy.

Article Version One

AVELLA, Pa. — Two workers injured in a fiery explosion during testing at a natural gas-drilling site in southwestern western Pennsylvania are suing the drilling firm and two subcontractors.

The Observer-Reporter in Washington, Pa. says 50-year-old Richard Lancaster, of Sardis, Ohio, and 36-year-old Frank Lancaster, of New Martinsville, W.Va. filed the suit in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, W.Va.

The men were working for a trucking firm that is not being sued, and are blaming Chesapeake Appalachia for the fire at the well near Avella, about 25 miles west of Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has said the driller failed to properly manage flammable byproducts before the Feb. 23 fire in which five 500-barrel storage tanks of the liquid condensate ignited, but has yet to say if fines are warranted.

A Chesapeake spokeswoman declined comment. Article Source

More Than Just an Eye Sore...LAND RAPER

Article Version Two...more serious charges highlighted in RED.

Injured workers sue driller
By Scott Beveridge, Staff writer
Observer-Reporter
April 28, 2011

AVELLA, PA -- Two workmen who were severely injured in a massive Feb. 23 fire at a Marcellus Shale natural gas well site near Avella have sued the drilling company, claiming it was negligent in allowing flammable vapors to ignite at the site.  As we said, basic claim of being negligent...but READ ON.

Attorneys for victims Frank Lancaster and Richard Lancaster also claim the driller, Chesapeake Appalachia, removed critical evidence after the fire at the Joseph Powers well site, West Virginia court records indicate. The lawsuit further claims the fire was a result of "lax government regulation" in Pennsylvania over the Marcellus Shale industry. The problems with oversight have "created an environment where drillers believe they can disregard commonly accepted industry standards and risk the health and safety of workers and local communities without accountability," the lawsuit states.  Article Source

Removal of EVIDENCE!...wonder if they also removed evidence of wrong doing at the well pad blowout last week? Even more DAMNING...a charge LEVELED RIGHT AT GOVERNOR CORBETT who is trying to tie the hands of his DEP inspectors behind their backs.