Welcome
Gas Drilling
Awareness for Cortland
County
All wealth flows from the environment, not the other way.
Humans have a very hard time with this concept.
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Next GDACC Meeting--
Sunday, Dec. 7th, 2014 5:00 pm at SUNY Downtown, 9 Main St. Cortland, NY
New Pipeline Website: http://stop81pipeline@wordpress.com/ (inactive 11/14)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Northeast EVENTS CALENDAR
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Local Events
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For Immediate Release-Statement From Gas Free Seneca
Contact-Joseph M Campbell, DC (607)769-4639 muchado2@gmail.com
Yesterday, Wednesday, October 29, 2014, 10 area residents were arrested at the gate to Houston, TX based oil and gas corporation Crestwood Midstream for blockading the access gates to their proposed LPG and methane storage facilities. Included in their number, the protestors included Dr. Sandra Steingraber, author and biologist, 86 year old Roland Micklem, Master Sergeant Colleen Bolland-US Air Force (retired), 76 year old mother and grandmother Jeanne Judson and her son Patrick and 6 others.
These ordinary citizens are taking the extraordinary step of putting their bodies on the line to protect Seneca Lake and the Finger Lakes from this out-of-state corporation whose only goal is to develop gas storage as quickly and cheaply as possible, and who are receiving a blank check from the agencies responsible for overseeing these projects. The rubber stamp of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has already approved the expansion of fracked methane storage against the wishes of those of us who call this place home.
Ironically, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State DEC announced an Issues Conference at almost the exact time that those 10 people were getting hauled away.
Why do regular citizens take these extreme steps? When they feel that they are being ignored after years of trying to work within the system by runaway agencies like FERC, when DEC continues the permitting process after independent experts have pointed out the flaws in this misguided project, when our elected officials ignore our pleas, then out of a sense of frustration and helplessness they feel this is their last resort.
A contingent of local business owners, scientists, doctors and others went to our nation’s capital, Washingon, DC, a week ago and met with staff for US Senators Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tom Reed. We presented compelling arguments that these projects should be denied and we pleaded with them to intercede on behalf of their constituents with FERC. Our pleas have been falling on deaf ears for nearly 3 years now. Even though Congressman Reed has publicly stated that the Finger Lakes Region is too valuable a resource to allow hydro-fracking within its watershed, he has been silent on the gas storage project that carries the very same dangers with it. It’s time that our elected representatives in Washington stand up for the residents of the Finger Lakes Region and tell Crestwood that this is not a place for massive industrial gas storage.
Over 240 local and regional businesses and thousands of local residents have joined a coalition opposing Crestwood’s plans to industrialize our region putting the vibrant and growing winery and agri-tourism based economy we have here at risk. An independent study found that the risk of a serious or extremely serious catastrophic accident happening with this type of gas storage over a 25 year period is more than 40%. One incident like the catastrophe in Hutchinson, KS in 2001 would tarnish the brand of the Finger Lakes for generations.
Recognizing this, 13 municipalities in the Finger Lakes, including 4 counties, numerous Townships and the City of Geneva and Village of Watkins Glen have passed resolutions opposing Crestwood’s plans, most unanimously and across party lines.
We don’t want to take that risk so that an out of state corporation with no ties to the Finger Lakes and with zero liability in case of a catastrophic accident can take their profits back to Houston, TX, leaving us to clean up the mess.
We call on Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tom Reed to step up, speak out, and help their constituents keep the Finger Lakes safe from heavy industrial gas storage.
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Comments Needed on DEC Air Monitoring Review
Annual ambient air monitoring network review
http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20140521_not0.html
Full text of the plan
We should submit comments on this. There is virtually no monitoring in the Southern Tier counties that are likely to be hit hardest if Cuomo approves fracking. Relevant to current and proposed compressors, pipelines, power plants, transportation hubs, etc. Monitoring in Central NY is limited to East Syracuse and Camp Georgetown. We should insist that monitoring start IMMEDIATELY, so that damage can be tracked. DEADLINE JUNE 20, 2014
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NYS Draft Energy Plan: Comment Period Extended
Share this: TinyURL.com/2014NYSDraftEnergyPlanThe comment period has been extend on the Draft NYS Energy Plan.
PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT TODAY!
Main site: http://energyplan.ny.gov/Get a copy of the plan: http://energyplan.ny.gov/Plans/2014.aspx- Volume I
- Shaping the Future of Energy [PDF]
- Shaping the Future of Energy [Printer-Friendly PDF]
- Volume II: Technical Appendix
- End-Use Energy [PDF]
- Sources [PDF]
- Impacts and Considerations [PDF]
- Supporting Documents
Critique by Keith Schue: “More Gas than Teeth”:
http://allianceforagreeneconomy.org/sites/default/files/Schue-talking-points.pdfEASY! Submit 22 sample letters from Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy:
(You can make changes and add your own comments)
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5952/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16887Make a comment via New Yorkers Against Fracking
(PLEASE USE THIS METHOD for accurate tracking of responses):
http://nyagainstfracking.org/comment-on-the-proposed-new-york-state-energy-plan/
Official Site: make a comment: http://energyplan.ny.gov/Process/Comments.aspxIthaca Forum on the Energy Plan:
- Volume I
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Latest Updates
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- Tues., Feb. 18, 2014 6:30 PM – “Can Your Town Ban Fracking? The Law and Politics”
Attorneys Deborah Goldberg and Joe Heath
Southern Tier Independence Center, 135 E. Fredrick St., Binghamton
- Mon., Feb. 24, 2014 7 PM – Sandra Steingraber vs. John Holko debate
(Ecologist, Author, founder of NYAF) vs. John Holko (Officer, Lenape Resources, IOGA).
Chamber Hall, BU
Marcellus and Utica Shale Potential in New York State
Oct 30, 7pm Cornell Univ.
Video Coverage
Informational Meeting on I-81 Pipeline held Sept. 23 at Center for the Arts, Homer NY
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Fracking Update April 2014
LEASE INFORMATION FOR
LANDOWNERS
DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY AN
EXPERIENCED ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WORKING WITH
GDACC
Video of Leasing Workshop Mar. 2013 in Norwich
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Video
of Jan 10th Assembly Hearing on Hydrofracking
Regulations
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“This Assembly Believes
Hydrofracking Does More Harm Than Good.”
Debate at SU Nov. 30, 2012 Video
Archive
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Remember to put Governor Cuomo on your
speed-dial!
That way, wherever you are, you can
call 518-474-8390,
choose option 3 to talk with his assistant, and give your
passionate “elevator speech” of the day.
It’s exciting to express a slightly
different aspect every day!
:)
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PUBLIC OPINION POLLS
ON HYDROFRACKING
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DEC’s
Preliminary Revised Draft SGEIS-Selected Comments and
News
Sign the Coalition Letter to Governor
Cuomo to Withdraw RD
SGEIS
WHAT
YOU CAN DO ABOUT
HYDROFRACKING
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Donations by check can be made directly to Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County.
For tax deductible donations, which are used specifically for educational projects,
checks should be made payable to
“Sierra Club Foundation” with “Finger Lakes Group” in
the memo line.
All checks can be mailed to
GDACC; PO Box 5151; Cortland, NY
13045
We provide speakers/presentations
for local groups on leasing, economics, environmental, agricultural
impacts of industrial gas drilling.
Contact us at gdacc.cortland@gmail.com
Find
Us on Facebook
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Thank you, Thank you so much for all your information. I am using the letter you wrote to Chesapeake and I so appreciate it. Again thanks for all your hard work in keeping us informed.
I asked my rural town in NY if we had any areas zoned for heavy industry. The reply was no. We have three areas zoned for light industry. Do I need to do anything else to protect my town from hydraulic fracturing.
Andi, There are several people in Cortlandville who are interested to circulate petitions to ask that the town make explicit within their zoning code that they exclude heavy industry. You can email me at scohen3@twcny.rr.com and I will put you in touch with Ray Dunnigan and others who have an interest in assuring that the town does not allow heavy industrial activity such as mining/gas drilling/hydrofracking. Thanks for taking an interest in assuring the community is protected. Sheila Cohen
I am writing to you from Bulgaria and in the name of thousands of Bulgarians regarding the upcoming ecological disaster in our country.
In the middle of June 2011 our government granted a five-year permit to the U.S. company Chevron to carry out shale gas exploration in the most fertile part of our country – “Dobruja”, for 30 million euros. There is much evidence that the technology of exploration and extraction of shale gas is very controversial and it can damage the environment. We are trying to organise ourselves via facebook – so far we have formed a group of about 10 000 enthusiasts – in order to inform the Bulgarian population about the dangers of exploration and extraction of shale gas.
Our request is: We know that there are a lot of people in the US that are harmed by the hidraulic fracturing consequences How about if we coordinate our activities , record them and give them to medias for broadcasting IN BOTH OUR COUNTRIES SIMULTANEOUSLY?It is ever increasingly difficult to overcome the obstacles of our famous bureaucratic machine, as well as the pessimistic attitude of some fellow Bulgarian citizens, fed up with the statements of the Bulgarian Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, and a group of biased scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Science. According to them, the exploration of shale gas is safe and no different than the exploration of oil and natural gas, and the extraction itself doesn’t represent any danger to the environment. Of course, there are many other specialists who are saying the opposite, but they are given no publicity, which doesn’t surprise us at all.
Our Facebook group’s page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ecobg/
For contacts: dokumentalni2@gmail.com or facebook.
With regards,
A Bulgarian Civil Movement, which wants to preserve the beauty and integrity of our country’s nature.
I appreciated the sample letter for sending and canceling a gas lease. I am using it to cancel our lease; however, I find one item lacking in this web site and similar web sites. You tell us to get a good attorney that is familiar with gas leases, but you don’t list any on your site. I attended Joe and Mikes’ seminar in Summer Hill and they recommended it as well, but again no particular names given and Joe stated he certainly wasn’t looking for more work. It does no good to Google for them you get news items and very few names. Why don’t you provide a list of attorneys that handle gas leases (writing and canceling them)? If you’ve got a listing here you’ve managed to bury it where I’m having trouble finding it. Thanks for all the information.
I want to thank everyone that helped to build this site and for the sample letters on canceling a lease. I received wonderful news today in the mail…I received my lease termination notice that had been filed in the county clerk’s office. I was overjoyed. A great burden has been lifted from my family. When we signed the lease we’d never heard of hydrofracking and foolishly assumed that any drilling would be a traditional well. I know now that there were questions that should have been asked and weren’t. I only hope that more people in New York come to realize that even though the offer of big bucks is tempting, a pristine country side is more important. Thank you for everything.
From http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/205.html:
“Oil, gas and solution salt mining wells are economically important in New York State ….
“….In addition, the Division protects the correlative rights of mineral owners and ensures that oil and gas reserves are developed such that a greater ultimate recovery can be achieved. This is accomplished through well spacing and compulsory integration.”
This isn’t conservation of the environment, it’s collusion with drilling companies. Were real returns/gains locally to be realized-you could ALMOST explain away the evil. But there’s not even that. For all the whining about an economic opportunity that could be squandered, the people involved have already proven how they handle economic opportunity. It would be a net loss for us and the environment, an incredible gain for them. I say the law should be the more you make off a drilling, collection, storage, processing, operation, the closer you have to live to the site.
A POWERFUL WAY TO FIGHT FRACKING
Welcome to REAL NYS – Responsible Associated Landowners of New York State
As a landowner in NYS, please join the movement to protect your land, home, livelihood and family from the impacts of fracking.
You can learn more by checking Our Mission and Our Work at: http://realnys.com
As the battle continues over fracking, the gas companies claim that they represent a majority of landowners. We beg to differ. We are sure there are many more landowners who believe that our land is worth protecting from industrialization and that we are, first and foremost, stewards for our land. We refuse to be bullied into trading short-term energy profit for long term environmental and community destruction.
Won’t you join us?
Visit the site, go to the join us! page and add your land to the list/survey so we can show the government, politicians and gas industry that we stand together, united in our commitment to keep our lands frack-free. All property, in every part of NYS, and of every size should be included.
And please, spread the word by forwarding this message to everyone you know in NYS. Help us change the conversation about gas drilling. Let us show the world how much New York’s landowners love their land. Thank You!
Please Forward
Thank you GDACC for doing what you are doing to help protect Cortland County. Can anyone please give me an accurate number of the percentage of Cortland County (preferably by village/town) that has been leased for drilling?
Thank you!