Fleased DEC Letter
of 2
Transcript of Fleased DEC Letter
-
8/9/2019 Fleased DEC Letter
1/2
PeteGrannis
CommissionerNYSDEC
625Broadway
AlbanyNY
12233-1011
May6,2010
DearCommissionerGrannis,
WeurgetheNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation[NYSDEC]todelayissuingarevised
SupplementalGenericEnvironmentalImpactStatement[SGEIS]onproposedgasdrillingusinghighvolume
hydraulic fracturing until the agency can study and integrate the conclusions of the United States
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency[EPA]'sown reportongasdrilling [proposedbillA10490addressesthis
issue].Inaddition,the1992EISisnotprotectiveandthewholeprocessneedstostartover.Attheveryleast,
areviseddraftSGEISshouldwaituntiltheEPAreportisavailable.Asyouknow,theEPAiscommencinga
comprehensive research study to investigate the potential adverse impacts of high pressure hydraulic
fracturingonwaterqualityandpublichealth.
WecommendtheEPAforrecognizingthattheir2004report,whichconcludedthathydraulicfracturingdoes
notposeathreattodrinkingwater,didnotaddressmanyconditionsthatarecommontodaysuchasdrilling
inshale,andfracturinghorizontallyuptoamileunderground,whichrequiresfivetimesmorechemicalladen
fluidthanverticaldrilling.Weareappalledthattheincomplete2004reportwasusedtojustifyexemptinghydraulicfracturingfromoversightundertheSafeDrinkingWaterAct.
Thereisabsolutelynocrediblereasontofasttracktheproposedhydraulicfracturinggasdrillingprocess.
Gassuppliesareplentiful.TheU.S.EnergyInformationAdministrationsShort-TermEnergyOutlookforecast
statesthatthereareabundantinventoriesofnaturalgasandgasconsumptionisnotontherise.Giventhe
potentialofhydraulicfracturingtopolluteourdrinkingwater,foulourairandspoilourlandandhealth,the
NYSDECshouldmethodicallyreviewallpertinentinformationbeforeissuingitsfindings.
As landholderswho leased their landbefore high-impactgas exploitation was anticipated, weare keenly
interested in ensuring that NYS proceed cautiously. We signed leases based on our knowledge and
expectationrelatedtoconventionalgasdevelopment. Forsomeofus,theleasesweresignedwhenspacing
unitswere640acresandthechangeinlawtoallow40acreunitsisnotwhatwebargainedfor.Noneofus
knewthattheleaseswouldallowtheinjectionoftoxicchemicals.Theindustrialization,watercontaminationandairimpactsassociatedwiththeexploitationofshalegasusinghighvolumehydraulicfracturinghasthe
potential to irrevocably damage the rural NYS landscape and to affect the health of its residents for
generationstocome.
Fleased.org [email protected]
-
8/9/2019 Fleased DEC Letter
2/2
Our concernswere increased by the recent NYSDEC decision to require individual environmental impact
statementsforeachproposedwellintheNewYorkCityandSyracusewatershedareas.Itisclearthatthis
preferentialtreatmentoftwoareasofourstateisanunspokenadmissionthatthedraftSupplementalGeneric
EnvironmentalImpactStatement[dSGEIS]cannotprovideadequateprotectionofthepublichealth.Wewho
liveinotherwatershedareasalsodependoncleanwaterandweneedthesameprotectionofourwater.
WeimploreyoutoconsiderthefinalconclusionsoftheEPA'snewresearchstudybeforedevelopinganew
draftSGEIS.ThewritingofthisnewdraftshouldtakeintoconsiderationtheresultsoftheEPAsreport,aswellasthe14,000commentsreceivedbyNYSDEConthedSGEISissuedinSeptember2009.Inaddition,the
newdraftshouldbesubjecttopublicreviewandcommentbeforeitisimplemented.
Respectfully,
EllenZ.Harrison,Director
OnbehalfofFleasedanditsmembers
Cc:
DavidA.PatersonNewYorkStateGovernor
JudithEnckEPARegionalAdministrator
CharlesSchumerUnitedStatesSenator
KirstenGillibrandUnitedStatesSenator
MauriceHincheyUnitedStatesRepresentative
MichaelArcuriUnitedSatesRepresentative
JamesL.SewardNewYorkStateSenator
GeorgeH.WinnerJr.NewYorkStateSenator
MichaelF.NozzolioNewYorkStateSenator
AntoineThompsonNewYorkStateSenator
BarbaraS,LiftonNewYorkStateAssemblywomanRobertSweeneyNewYorkStateAssemblyman
SteveEnglebrightNewYorkStateAssemblyman
AndrewCuomoNewYorkStateAttorneyGeneral
DavidSkorton,President,CornellUniversity
AlbanyTimesUnion
IthacaJournal
