Binghamton Mayoral Candidate Environmental Issues Questionnaire: Teri Rennia

Environmental issues are major concerns for many voters in the Binghamton mayoral race. This questionnaire is being sent to all official mayoral candidates.
Please answer the following questions as soon as convenient and no later than 10/16/13. Your response will be publicly released.

Thank you for your consideration.

Benjamin Perkus

Chair, New York Residents Against Drilling (NYRAD)

Marcellus Shale Hydraulic Fracturing

Binghamton is located in the portion of New York's Marcellus Shale formation where natural gas extraction has been proposed using high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). In 2008, New York State adopted a de facto moratorium on shale HVHF pending adoption of comprehensive public health and environmental safeguards pursuant to a Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) proceeding. To date, New York has not adopted a Final SGEIS and shale gas extraction has not been permitted.

1. Do you support continuing New York's HVHF moratorium until a Final SGEIS has been adopted? Yes or No: YES

Additional Comments:
In the autumn of 2012, Governor Cuomo declared that no Final SGEIS would be adopted until after Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav R. Shah completes a "review" of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Final Draft SGEIS. Dr. Shah's review has received extensive criticism due to its technical inadequacies and because it has been conducted without a) any written public notice, b) opportunity for public review and comment or c) public hearing to receive input from interested parties.

2. Do you support halting the DOH review until the proceeding requires formal public participation? Yes or No: YES

Additional Comments:
Dr. Shah's DOH review was intended to be "informed" by three outside investigations that reportedly were the first comprehensive health impact studies ever undertaken. Two out of the three studies (Geisinger, U Penn) have not actually gotten underway due to inadequate funding. The third study by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency will not be completed until at least 2016.

3. Do you support requiring DOH to undertaking a comprehensive Public Health Impact Study to resolve all shale fracking concerns once and for all?
Yes or No: YES

Additional Comments:
The New York Times reported on 6/13/12 that Governor Cuomo is considering permitting Marcellus Shale HVHF on a demonstration project basis in limited areas of the Southern Tier while prohibiting HVHF in all other areas of New York.

4. Do you support Governor Cuomo's "demonstration project" proposal that would permit Marcellus Shale gas fracturing only in the Southern Tier?
Yes or No: NO

Additional Comments: I would not support allowing fracking in the Southern Tier on a limited “demonstration basis.” I am not sure if the Governor officially proposed this as a policy or if was just floated as a trial balloon. I am also unsure if a proposal like this would even survive a legal challenge.

5. Do you have concerns about the urban impacts of shale fracking? If so, what specific safeguards would you put in-place to protect Binghamton from urban shale fracking impacts?

Yes, this is why I supported the City of Binghamton’s 2 year moratorium that was ultimately struck down by the courts. I have concerns about the impacts that fracking would have on our City. I’m concerned about the impacts on: our housing stock and availability, infrastructure, law enforcement, and local County health department, to name just a few. I would work with our state representatives to make sure that if drilling is permitted an urban impact fee be assessed for every well to help mitigate these unfunded costs.

Brownfields and Toxic Dump Concerns

Binghamton, like many northeastern cities, has inherited a legacy of abandoned industrial, commercial and residential properties with toxic contamination hazards. These underutilized properties are often in economically blighted areas. Investigating and remediating tainted properties can lead to redevelopment opportunities that benefit surrounding neighborhoods.

6. What specific efforts do you propose to undertake to clean up and redevelop brownfields and toxic dumps in Binghamton?

If elected I intend to continue to expand partnership opportunities with the State, along with partnering with Broome County and the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council to market some of our brownfield sites for re-development for a variety of purposes.

During my time on City Council I have worked with the State to remediate an abandoned dry cleaner site on Binghamton’s Westside. There is now a house built on the remediated property. We also worked with a private developer to remediate a brownfield site near the heart of our downtown. This remediation was followed by new construction of a student housing complex. This project, along with others, was instrumental in helping to revive our downtown business district.

We have also seen brownfield redevelopment in the Charles Street Business Park. There is currently a Brownfield Opportunity Initiative where the City is partnering with the State to remediate and market for re-development large areas of the First Ward, former home to several abandoned previous manufacturing facilities. If marketed successfully, this re-development has the potential to bring large scale economic revival to a very important district within the City.

7. Do you support the "polluter pays" principle that holds property owners and operators strictly liable for hazardous waste and petroleum remediation costs? Yes or No: YES

Additional Comments:

8. Please discuss additional environmental concerns or goals that you propose to address if elected mayor of Binghamton. Please be specific.

Rising energy costs and climate change are two of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Binghamton has already experienced many climate extremes in the last decade and set new local records for flooding and number of summer days over 90 degrees.

In 2011, I voted for the City of Binghamton’s Energy & Climate Action Plan, which identifies 51 actions to accomplish a reduction in emissions by 25% by 2025. Currently, we have only instituted less than a third of this plan.
If elected, I will make sure that we fully institute these polices to help combat climate change, focus on flood preparation and prevention, as well as several other pressing community needs including job creation, affordable housing, environmental health, and general quality of life issues in our neighborhoods.