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Contact Administrator Enck
04/13/2011

UPDATE: 12/30/09 With just one day left in the public comment period for the Marcellus Shale draft SGEIS, Region 2 of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested DEC to make major, fundamental revisions to its proposal. I believe this will make it extraordinarily difficult for DEC to adopt a final version of its draft in the near future.

WOW, THANK YOU REGION 2 ADMINISTRATOR, JUDITH ENCK!

EPA made some sweeping suggestions:

"While protecting the New York City watershed is important because of the millions of New Yorkers who rely on this drinking water supply, we also have concerns about water quality impacts throughout the state. Just because fewer people rely on upstate water sources does not imply that these supplies are not also worthy of protection."

"In conclusion, EPA believes that NYSDEC has prepared an informative dSGEIS on hydrologic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale. However, we have concerns regarding potential impacts to human health and the environment that we believe warrant further scientific and regulatory analysis. Of particular concern to EPA are issues involving water supply, water quality, wastewater treatment operations, local and regional air quality, management of naturally occurring radioactive materials disturbed during drilling, cumulative environmental impacts, and the New York City watershed. EPA recommends that these concerns be addressed and essential environmental protection measures established prior to the completion of the SEQRA process (emphasis added).

Contact Judith Enck, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Administrator, to thank her for safeguarding New York's environment and public health.

When you reach out to Ms. Enck, contact us so we can maintain a record of outreach and share your comments like the ones below.
07/08/2011

Dear Judith Enck,

Thank you so much in your efforts to ensure that Region 2 is not contaminated by the devastating environmental results of fracking. Though most of the people of New York State already feel the cons of fracking outweigh the pros, our state senate neglected even to vote on any fracking legislation this session. I am hoping that Gov. Cuomo will protect his constituents, rather than his campaign donors, by at least extending the current moratorium, re-classifying fracking waste as hazardous, and refusing to accept out-of-state fracking waste. Below is the letter that I just sent to him, and copied to Joe Martens of the DEC.

-- Alice Z
06/28/2011

I have written to you on several occasions on the subject of high volume, slick water, hydrofracturing shale gas extraction. I am writing yet again to request that you urge Governor Cuomo to provide at least 30 days immediate public comment to identify additional issues that might be included in the forthcoming draft SGEIS scope for hydrofracking. Also, I request that you expand the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater. Furthermore, I ask that you establish Citizens and Technical Advisory Committees to help the DEC revise the draft SGEIS. Please require individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracking permits, "GA effluent limitations" for hydrofracturing, deep well and wastewater treatment, as well as updating the DEC's 1992 draft GEIS which is now woefully out of date.

It's not enough to comment on the previous regulations because they did not address air impact, cumulative impact, or health impacts of this type of gas drilling. The citizens of NYS need to see those studied EXTENSIVELY before releasing the SGEIS. The health and safety of the water, air, soil, environment, and most importantly, the citizens of this state depend on it.

I am hoping that you will finally see the wisdom in taking a slow and careful look at this process, especially in the light of recent revelations about the overblown, even fraudulent predictions on the part of industry regarding the extent of the reserves and economic rewards from extracting the natural gas.

Sincerely,

Elisa E
06/28/2011

Dear Ms. Enck,

I write to you today to request that you provide at least 30 days
immediate public comment to identify additional issues that might be
included in the forthcoming draft SGEIS scope for hydrofracking.
Also, I request that you expand the scope of the draft SGEIS to
include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling
wastewater. Furthermore, I ask that you establish Citizens and
Technical Advisory Committees to help the DEC revise the draft SGEIS.
Please require individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracking
permits, "GA effluent limitations" for hydrofracturing, deep well and
wastewater treatment, as well as updating the DEC's 1992 draft GEIS
which is now woefully out of date.

It's not enough to comment on the previous regulations because they
did not address air impact, cumulative impact, or health impacts of
this type of gas drilling. The citizens of NYS need to see those
studied EXTENSIVELY before releasing the SGEIS. The health and safety
of the water, air, soil, environment, and most importantly, the
citizens of this state depend on it.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Swami T
06/28/2011

I write to you today to request that you provide at least 30 days immediate public comment to identify additional issues that might be included in the forthcoming draft SGEIS scope for hydrofracking.

Also, I request that you expand the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater. Furthermore, I ask that you establish Citizens and Technical Advisory Committees to help the DEC revise the draft SGEIS.

Please require individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracking permits, "GA effluent limitations" for hydrofracturing, deep well and wastewater treatment, as well as updating the DEC's 1992 draft GEIS which is now woefully out of date.

It's not enough to comment on the previous regulations because they did not address air impact, cumulative impact, or health impacts of this type of gas drilling. The citizens of NYS need to see those studied EXTENSIVELY before releasing the SGEIS. The health and safety of the water, air, soil, environment, and most importantly, the citizens of this state depend on it.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Rena C
06/28/2011

As a voting resident of New York State and a concerned citizen I am requesting your support and active influence to secure the following without delay:

A minimum of 30days immediate public comment to identify additional issues that must be included in the draft SGEIS

Expansion of the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater

Establish Citizen and Technical Advisory Committees to help the DEC revise the draft SGEIS

Require individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracking permit, “GA effluent limitations†for hydrofracturing, deep well injection and wastewater treatment as well as updating DEC’s 1992 SGEIS.

It is not enough to comment on the previous regulations because they did not address air impact, cumulative impact or health impacts.

WE need to see these studied extensively before releasing the SGEIS.

Respectfully submitted.

Maryl M
06/16/2011

Dear Ms. Enck,
Hydrofracking is a very serious thing that may happen in New York. Please could you support providing at least 30 days immediate public comment to identify additional issues that must be included in the draft SGEIS scope;

expanding the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater;

Establishing Citizens and Technical Advisory Committees to help DEC revise the draft SGEIS;

and requiring individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracturing permits, "GA effluent limitations" for hydrofracturing, deep well injection and wastewater treatment as well as updating DEC's 1992 GEIS.

Thank you, Jim K
04/22/2011

Dear Governor Cuomo, EPA REgional Administrator Enck, DEC Commissioner Martens, and Mayor Bloomberg,

I am deeply concerned with the potentially catastrophic environmental damage that horizontal hydrofracturing could cause in New York State.

I therefore urge you to:

Provide at least 30 days public comment ASAP to identify additional issues that must be included in the draft SGEIS scope;

Expand the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater;

Establish Citizens and Technical Advisory Committees to help DEC revise the draft SGEIS;

Require individual EIS reviews for horizontal hydrofracturing permits, "GA effluent limitations" for hydrofracturing, deep well injection and wastewater treatment as well as updating DEC's 1992 GEIS.

Sincerely,

Paul Z
04/22/2011

Dear Ms. Enck & Commissioner Martens:

I am writing to you to urge you and the State of New York to proceed with caution in your regulation of natural gas drilling here.

We are currently waiting for the revised Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS), and it is very important that the public have enough time to review the document and to respond in public hearings around the state, particularly in places where the drilling will be most intense.

I also would like for this SGEIS to contain very strict regulation of wastewater, an area that was missing from the previous draft of it. This is a really important and health/life-threatening part of natural gas drilling, and cannot be ignored.

Thank you for your work on this issue.

Sincerely,
Katherine Halton
Danby Town Board
04/13/2011

Dear Administrator Judith Enck / DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens,

As a deeply concerned resident of upstate New York I would like to request your support of the following key points regarding hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale:

Expanding the scope of the draft SGEIS to include additional concerns, notably how to manage gas drilling wastewater;

Establishing Citizens and Technical Advisory Committees to help the DEC revise the draft SGEIS;

Providing at least 30 days public comment ASAP to identify additional issues that must be included in the draft SGEIS scope;

Requiring individual EIS review for horizontal hydrofracturing permits, "GA effluent limitations"for hydrofracturing, deep well injection and wastewater treatment as well as updating DEC's 1992 GEIS.

I sincerely hope I can count on your continued support to protect the environment of our beautiful state and public health of its people.

Regards,

Patricia V