What Can Anyone Do?

4-2-10

Here are four ways you can have a positive effect on the gas drilling crisis in New York – today!
1Call on the New York State DEC to withhold its final report on gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing until the EPA completes its new study
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a comprehensive research study to investigate the potential adverse impact of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health.  This study will specifically revisit their widely criticized 2004 report that concluded that hydraulic fracturing did not pose a threat to drinking water.  In announcing the study EPA spokeswoman Ernesta Jones said that the 2004 report did not address many conditions that are common today such as drilling in shale, and fracturing horizontally up to a mile underground which requires five times more chemical laden fluid than vertical drilling.
2 Tell the Legislatures of all of the Counties in the Catskill to Protect County Lands
    At a meeting at the Public Works Committee in Monticello on March 11, Sullivan County legislators passed a resolution stating that fracking “shall not be allowed on property owned by Sullivan County until potential and environmental impacts are identified and addressed.”
They cited a long list of potential negative impacts including the financial
burden to taxpayers for monitoring water quality, the impact on local roads from  increased truck traffic and the threats to health and the environment.
3 Commend the New York State Comptroller for filing resolutions for gas companies
to disclose the dangers of hydraulic fracturing to their stockholders
   State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli filed resolutions with five gas drilling companies insisting that they inform their stockholders
of the risks of fracking and explaining the policies the companies might adopt to
minimize the risk of contamination of water, soil and air due to fracking.
4 Donate now to help Catskill Mountainkeeper combat the major marketing push
by the gas developers.