Over 12,000 citizens and organizations wrote comments on the dSGEIS to NYS DEC.
Untallied thousands wrote letters, made phone calls and signed petitions to NYS DEC, Governor David Paterson and government representatives opposing hydro-fracking.
There were no formal DEC Public Hearings on the dSGEIS in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Utica.
Hundreds of farmers and other land owners have leased their land to gas companies without being informed of the use of hydro-fracking technology and its severe consequences.
There is a growing grassroots movement across NYS and the nation to ban hydro-fracking.
Within this context, citizens are creating a Citizens’ Community Forum on Hydro-Fracking.
We have invited a variety of local through federal representatives.
Confirmed Participants (as of January 27th) are:
- Lee Macbeth, Syracuse Watershed Control Coordinator
- Ken Lynch, Region 7 DEC Director
- Dave Valesky, State Senator
- Mark Dunnau, Northeast Organic Farmers Association and Delaware County Farm Bureau
- Local landowners who have signed leases
We are awaiting confirmation from Region 2 EPA, Governor Paterson, State Senator Antoine Thompson and Congressman Dan Maffei.
Representatives will open the event with brief comments. Then there will be time for citizens to voice their concerns.
Concerns will go under the following categories:
- Environmental concerns
- Human Health concerns
- Fossil Fuel versus green, sustainable energy concerns
- Climate Change concerns
- Economic concerns
- Rural, agricultural concerns
What local teenagers have to say about hydro-fracking:
“Hydrofracking isn’t safe. Once the damage is done it can’t be reversed.”
Shay Resnick-Gertz, 8th grader at Manlius Pebble Hill
“I’m worried about what all the chemicals will do to drinking water.”
Hamish Gibbs, 8th grader at Manlius Pebble Hill
“Once the damage is done the earth has to live with it.”
Reena Tretler-Wirth, 10th grader at Fayetteville Manlius high school
“It affects everyone. The future of our environment is in our hands. Government has a responsibility to protect people and make sure this doesn’t happen in New York State. It’s frustrating that so few people know about it and that the people in the government who know about it are doing so little.”
Kate Johnson 10th grader at Nottingham High School