By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-995467.mp3
Loch Sheldrake, NY – Elected Officials joined residents and citizen-activists Tuesday at Sullivan County Community College to give 3-minute statements to the Department of Environmental Conservation about the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on hydraulic fracturing - the controversial process that involves injecting millions of gallons of chemical-laced water into a gas well to free natural gas from dense shale a mile underground. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas attended the hearing and files this report.
A large crowd gathered in pouring rain outside Selig Theater - each prepared to testify for or against hydrofracking. The rain and the turnout at Loch Sheldrake were so heavy that DEC officials opened the doors early and began the hearing ahead of schedule. The proposed regulations would ban fracking in the Syracuse and New York City watersheds.
Those opposed to hydraulic fracturing, like Georgia Asher who drove down from Woodstock, fear the process will diminish the quality of air, water and soil. Noel Van Swol with the Sullivan-Delaware Property Owners Association disagrees - he says fracking will kickstart the lame economy and provide new jobs paying above $40,000 a year. Chris White testified on behalf of Congressman Maurice Hinchey against allowing fracking. Carpenter's Local 279 president James Malcom says organized labor is "pro-responsible drilling" - Like other Pro-frackers, Jeff Heller with the Steuben County Landowners Association, argues that fracking will bring New Yorkers money, jobs and abundant energy.
DEC is taking comment until Dec. 12 on its 1,537-page environmental review and proposed regulations for gas drilling and fracking in the Marcellus Shale, the nation's richest natural gas field, which underlies southern New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia.
At today's final public hearing today in New York City, the Bloomberg administration will express concern about Albany's plans to allow natural gas drilling near upstate reservoirs. City officials believe small earthquakes triggered by fracking, could cause cracks in the concrete lining of tunnels that channel millions of gallons of water to New York City.