Anti-Frackers Alert

[maryf]

A series of information meetings with the EPA has been "postponed" after having been moved from Binghamton to Syracuse due to any number of reasons.

Frack action, a group out of New Paltz, NY sent out the following notice

The EPA public comment hearings on hydraulic fracturing, and the planned rally Voices from Gasland, have been postponed. The hearings will likely be scheduled for September, although no details are available at this point. This comes after groups organizing a major rally had to scramble when the location was changed from Binghamton to Syracuse with only three days until the hearings were set to begin.

from The New York Times: 8,000 People? EPA Defers Hearing on Fracking

(link to NYT article here: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/8000-people-e-p-a-defers-hearing-on-fracking/?src=mv mf)

Until we find out when the EPA hearings will be rescheduled, New York City residents can mark their calendars for a rally on August 24th to urge the Assembly to pass the NY moratorium. Pennsylvania residents should try to attend GASTOCK, a concert and rally against fracking on August 21st. (see http://www.gasstockconcert.com/ )

We will keep you updated with more info on the EPA hearings and NY moratorium in the coming days.


Claire, Julia, and Susan

Frack Action

They wrote further here:

Below is a statement from a coalition of anti-fracking groups, including Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Earthworks, New York Residents Against Drilling, and Frack Action:
Groups Call on Environmental Protection Agency to Extend Comment Period on Hydraulic Fracturing Study

Current Public Comment Period Set to Expire September 1, 2010—After Public Hearing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the public hearing on a hydraulic fracturing study previously scheduled for Thursday, August 12, 2010 has been postponed to September, 2010 for logistical reasons. While citizens and environmental organizations statewide will participate in the forthcoming public hearings, the EPA is urged to officially extend the public comment period to ensure that all comments are fully considered.

The EPA is conducting a national investigation into the environmental and public health impacts of the gas industry's use of hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas from deep shale deposits. The hearings are scheduled to accept testimony on these issues. Organizations, policymakers, and residents will present testimony on problems with water contamination and human health linked to gas drilling and the need for a comprehensive, effective federal study.

In addition to holding hearings in Upstate New York, where much of the hydraulic fracturing and gas drilling is expected to occur, environmentalists and concerned citizens are calling on EPA to hold hearings in New York City. New York City is home to nearly 19 million New Yorkers whose drinking water supply could be affected if gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing proceeds and whose voices should be heard.

A local ENY journalist friend wrote the following after the move but prior to the cancellation, I had been going to share when I got the cancellation call, then figured the writer's work contained so much valid information that it needed to go out anyway, I have editted it to meet DU's requirements but will share other info there in as time allows, his links are really valuable:

ALERT ANTI-FRACKERS!!!

<snip>

In recent statements, the EPA has embraced industry claims that hydrofracking techniques have been safely used for decades without recognizing the distinction of the new methods and ingredients developed by Haliburton in the 1990s which have resulted in enormous differences in environmental effect.

The towering problem of disposal of the millions of gallons of contaminated waste has been de-emphasized in numerous government summaries, not least of which is the radioactive pollution (or "NORM") which is prompting most facilities not already overburdened by their handling of toxic chemical waste to refuse acceptance of radioactive wastes-particularly in such enormous quantities. In an article for a local publication in June, I was forced by space limitations to deal only very briefly with this troublesome aspect and even those short paragraphs were edited out (but can be seen here- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8687703 . (Thanks, Mary) Short video on topic can be seen here- http://marthaoilfield.blogspot.com/2010/01/martha-reclamation-program-dirty-socks.html ) Indications are that NORM levels project to be a pronounced problem in considerable parts of the Marcellus Shale target area. Anyone reading this who attends the hearing despite its northward bounce may want to insist that this aspect of the situation is not shuffled out of the scope of the study.

A possible problem in that scenario is the hot potato. Responsibility for varying types of radiation tends to be passed quickly through a maze of regulatory filters and agencies. Categories are a sidestep path from NARM, NORM, MTRU, LLRW and UH-OH. (That last one is self-explanatory). Another strong argument for an extended delay of the planned destruction of the countryside and its natural resources is the appalling fact that no clear NORM regulations are in place in New York. Establishing a reasonable system for this under the EPA should be a priority attendant to the study. This should be emphasized.

The slickwater fracking methods are proving to be damaging to an irrational, almost suicidal level. Close examination of the record demonstrates this beyond reasonable doubt. At worse, there are many alternatives of developed and developing approach- from Raytheon’s electromagnetic technology to who-knows-what, coming off the drawing board. What’s the rush?

<snip>
Remember, it’s not just http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEtgvwllNpg It’s the very air we breathe and water we sip. The future of this entire region is very much at stake.

Let the EPA know how you feel.

Regards,

Gary Alexander

Thanks to all involved

[Vincardog]

1. Let the EPA know how you feel. K & R here is a link to contact them:

<http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#contactUs>

[maryf]

3. Thank you so much!!

:yourock: my cynicism keeps me from getting too hopeful about this kind of click action, but your help makes me smile! It's in unity that we will prevail! :)

[Vincardog]

5. Despair is what THEY WANT. Rock on and let them know how you feel. I keep my Congress critter on

speed dial along with the POTUS. Just DO IT.

[maryf]

7. Will do!

I like your spirit! :fistbump:

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. kick nominated thanks n/t

[maryf]

4. thank you! Trying to take your signature's advice :don't panic...

but it's getting to that point!

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. He was the robot Marvin

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams.

Marvin is afflicted with severe depression and boredom, in part because he has a "brain the size of a planet" which he is seldom (if ever) given the chance to use. Indeed, the true horror of Marvin's existence is that no task he could be given would occupy even the tiniest fraction of his vast intellect.

Marvin claims he is 50,000 times more intelligent than a human, (or 30 billion times more intelligent than a live mattress) though this is, if anything, a vast underestimation.

When kidnapped by the bellicose Krikkit robots and tied to the interfaces of their intelligent war computer, Marvin simultaneously manages to plan the entire planet's military strategy, solve "all of the major mathematical, physical, chemical, biological, sociological, philosophical, etymological, meteorological and psychological problems of the Universe except his own, three times over," and compose a number of lullabies. He seemed to find this last task the hardest, and only one, "How I Hate the Night", is known.

[maryf]

8. I read it decades ago...

will revisit soon, :)

[maryf]

9. bump nt.

[maryf]

10. email update...

Good evening -

After months of work organizing the Hydraulic Fracturing Study public meeting in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, August 12 at Binghamton University and subsequently moved to the Syracuse Oncenter Complex Convention Center has been canceled. The Agency now intends to hold the public meeting in upstate New York in September and will announce the date and location as soon as it is confirmed.

EPA was forced to cancel the August 12th meeting following a conversation this morning with the Onondaga County Executive’s office, during which concerns were raised about the ability to complete security preparations for the meeting on such short notice. The last minute change to Syracuse was caused by Binghamton University taking several actions to dissuade EPA from holding the meetings at their campus including increasing the cost from $6,000 to almost $40,000. As plans for the Binghamton meeting unraveled, EPA explored opportunities with Broome County officials in Binghamton, including the convening of the meeting at the Arena. They suddenly and inexplicably pulled out of negotiations with EPA. The Agency searched a 40 mile radius from Corning to Ithaca to Cortland to Oneonta but no options were available for Thursday. The Oncenter was the only viable choice, but Onondaga County officials did not feel they could arrange the necessary security for protecting people and property with ongoing rallies outside the meeting site. EPA respects and understands their decision.

We are extremely disappointed that the cancellation will leave thousands of people on both sides of the issue who had planned to attend this meeting in this inconvenient and difficult position. EPA and its contractors have left no stone unturned in finding a suitable location and we did everything within our control to make the meeting scheduled for August 12 a successful one.

From the beginning, EPA has been committed to ensuring that the public has an opportunity to express their opinions on the study. There are serious concerns about whether the process of hydraulic fracturing impacts drinking water, human health and the environment. To address those concerns and strengthen our clean energy future, EPA announced in March that it will study the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water and would be seeking input from people across the country. EPA has held had three successful meetings in Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where more than 1200 participants attended, and the Agency is committed to holding a similar meeting in upstate New York.

Meeting Registration

The registration website and toll-free phone line are now closed. Registration will begin again when meeting location and date have been decided. Because you registered for the Binghamton and/or Syracuse meeting scheduled for August 12, you will receive an email notification when the new meeting details have been decided and registration begins again. EPA will also be releasing press advisories and updating the Hydraulic Fracturing Study website (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_hydroout.html) with information on the September meeting when details are known.

All those who have registered to speak at or attend the New York meeting should re-register to attend or speak at the September meeting when details of the meeting are announced. Registration for the Binghamton or Syracuse meetings will not be carried over for the September meeting.

The September meeting will continue to be held in three sessions and 100 pre-registered speaking slots will be opened for each session. Pre-registered speaking slots will be assigned to individuals on a first come, first served basis as with the previous public meetings held to discuss the Hydraulic Fracturing Study. Walk-in registration for attendees and those who wish to give verbal comments will also be available on-site beginning one hour prior to the meeting session.

Comments on the Study

EPA continues to accept written comments via e-mail at [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]> through September 15, 2010. Please write "Hydraulic Fracturing Study - Comments" in the subject line of the message. Written comments may also be hand-delivered at the September public meeting or sent to EPA at the following postal address by September 15, 2010:

Jill Dean
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Mailcode 4606M
Washington, DC 20460.

For additional questions on the postponement, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm eastern time (except Federal holidays).

Please note that if you were registered to attend multiple sessions, you may receive multiple copies of this email.

Thank you for your patience and understanding,
Carolyn Gillette

[amborin]

11. K&R

[Starry Messenger]

12. k & r

[Bozita]

13. K&R. bigtime!

[Desertrose]

14. K & R