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Fracking Health Campaign
Activists who want to keep the state's moratorium on fracking are pressuring the governor to open the state's health review of the drilling practice open to the public.
They also came armed with maps showing current toxic sites and locations of uncapped wells in New York State to argue the d-e-c hasn't been able to properly regulate conventional drilling. State DEC commissioner Joe Martens said his department won't set forth fracking regulations before the health review is finished.
"It is being undertaken completely in secret. There has never been a single piece of paper released to the public about the scope of the Department of Health review, about how it is being undertaken," said Walter Hang of Toxics Targeting.
"New York state had a great record and that's why we didn't have to recreate the wheel? Well it's clear we have to recreate the wheel especially for an industry that is far more intrusive than vertical drilling," said Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan.
The DEC says complaints regarding potentially leaking wells have proven to be from wells drilled before environmental regulations were put in place or were from naturally occurring sources of contamination. New York will miss a deadline tomorrow to release a set of fracking regulations. But Martens has said he can issue fracking permits after the health review is done, if the review finds the health concerns have been adequately addressed.
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Push for public comment on fracking review
Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A coalition letter against Hydraulic Fracturing is circulating the area and asks for public participation on the Department of Health's review.
The letter to Governor Cuomo wants to see the "DOH's Review of the Public Health Impact on High Volume, Hydraulic Fracturing" put on hold until there is opportunity for public feedback.
"And if he does not give us what we've requested so respectfully, he's going to continue to absorb tremendous criticism, again not just from local government officials but senior leadership in the Assembly and the State Senate," said President of Toxics Targeting Walter Hang.
Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan was joined with the President of Toxics Targeting and a representative of New York Residents Against Drilling.
More than 1,500 citizens signed the letter that was released on Sunday.
"We hope that he (Gov. Cuomo) will be guided by our very respectful coalition letter to open this entire proceeding up to public participation. This is the most important environmental issue for the Southern Tier in a generation," Hang said.
Toxics Targeting is an environmental data services company that provides online interactive maps of known or potential toxic sites, some from traditional gas drilling.
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Coalition writes governor a letter against fracking
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Hydrofracking opponents continue to push for public participation in the state's ongoing health review of the procedure.
Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan was joined by other coalition members Tuesday to announce the details of a letter that is being sent to the Governor. It has gained more than 1,500 signatures from environmental and civic groups, as well as scientists, physicians and other citizens.
The letter requests that Governor Andrew Cuomo put the Department of Health Review on hold, pending formal public participation and other revisions.
"There has never been a single piece of paper released to the public about the scope of the Department of Health review, how it’s being undertaken, what the critical issues are. There has been no public disclosure or public notice in any way about that entire proceeding," said Walter Hang, President of Toxics Targeting.
Toxics Targeting also announced the release of a new interactive map on the company's website. President Walter Hang says the map allows citizens to identify health and environmental threats that could be made worse by fracking.
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Fracktivists Push for Public Input
There should be public participation allowed into New York State's health assessment on fracking.
That's according to a group of scientists, doctors, politicians, farmers and other residents. They have sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to put the State Health Department's review on-hold. Walter Hang, of Ithaca based Toxics Targeting, says the review needs to have formal written notice of what it involves. He also says it should allow for 30 days of public review and comment. And, there should be at least one public hearing.
Walter Hang says, "The final SGEIS must not be adopted, that entire proceeding has to be put on hold until these public participation requirements are completed. The last thing is we want to make sure that critical concerns that have been excluded from the proceeding are addressed."
Hang says those include the state not adequately addressing 650,000 known and potential toxic sites. And, thousands of abandoned gas and oil wells. Toxics Targeting has created an interactive map where you can see those areas of concern. It can be found at maps.toxicstargeting.com.
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