Earlier this week, Earthworks released a report criticizing the inspection practices of New York and other states where drilling is occurring. But the folks at Earthworks are not the only ones examining New York’s record of regulatory enforcement of gas and oil drilling. An Associated Press article published yesterday also calls the state’s enforcement efforts […]
fracking
Posted inNews & Opinion
Some fracking stories worth checking out
Over the past few days, several significant news stories about fracking have emerged. In addition to the developments around New York’s review of the technique. Here’s a partial roundup. • A federal judge dismissed state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s lawsuit over fracking regulations for the Delaware River Basin. Schneiderman sued the Delaware River Basin Commission, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Environmental group responds on fracking health study
Yesterday, state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens said that he wouldn’t agree to an independent health study of fracking. (See this post from yesterday for the statement.) Environmental and medical groups have called for such a study. They believe that high-volume hydraulic fracturing, a natural gas extraction technique that the state is reviewing, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
DEC Commissioner won’t agree to independent health study of fracking
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens just released a statement saying that he will not agree to an independent public health study of fracking. Environmental groups along with some municipal officials and medical professionals had called for the study. Martens says that instead, state Health Commissioner Nirav Shah will assess the health […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Elected officials voice opposition to fracking
Over 400 elected officials, including several in Monroe County, have signed on to a letter urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to maintain the de facto moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing. The letter, led by a group known as Elected Officials to Protect New York, says that the current analyses of fracking are inadequate. The state Department […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
ACTIVISM: Fracktivism at work
Before there was such a thing as the environmental movement, Mohandas Gandhi warned of the dangers of industrialization and espoused living in balance with the earth. Fittingly, the Rochester-based institute that bears his name is stepping into the fracking debate. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 21, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Dems back off on climate policy
The Democratic Party of 2012 is less ambitious on climate policy than the Democratic Party of 2008. I’m referring specifically to the party’s platform, which it approved yesterday, the first day of its national convention. It’s available here in PDF and ebook formats. In some areas, the platform makes commendable progress; the call for marriage […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Familiar names in Assembly battle
David Gantt, Jose Cruz, and John Lightfoot will face off in the 137th Assembly District primary.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Fracking fight — state vs. local
Officials in many New York communities have already passed laws to keep high-volume hydraulic fracturing outside of their limits. But the bans and moratoriums have raised a big question: if the state ultimately allows high-volume fracking, will the local protections survive? Ultimately, the courts will decide the matter. In fact, earlier this year a judge […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
NEWS BLOG: A couple of fracking films worth watching
Most people probably think of “Gasland” when they think of fracking documentaries. But really, it’s just one of several good films on the topic. This week, I’ve had the opportunity to watch a couple of them. One of them, “The Sky is Pink,” is a free, short film put together by “Gasland” director Josh Fox. […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
NEWS BLOG: Report says gas industry got first look at proposed fracking regs
The state Department of Environmental Conservation shared parts of proposed fracking regulations with an industry attorney they were released to the public, says an article published this morning in the Albany Times Union. The Times Union article is based on e-mail exchanges between state officials and a law firm working for the gas industry. A […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Critics attack Cuomo’s frack plan
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration has floated a plan to allow high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the deepest parts of the Marcellus Shale. And critics are speaking out. The New York Times reported on the plan last week, crediting anonymous senior Department of Environmental Conservation officials as sources. The plan would allow high-volume hydraulic fracturing in portions […]
