ALBANY, NY (05/16/2012)--In response to a new Siena College Research Institute poll of registered voters in New York State, the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

"Support for fracking in Upstate communities likely to see gas drilling has dropped to historic lows and the gap between fracking boosters and those who oppose dirty drilling has never been wider. New York's leaders take heed: people likely to be impacted by fracking don't want it.

The new Siena poll also shows what the New York Water Rangers already know to be true: the more people know about the risks of fracking, the less likely they are to support it. New Yorkers are educating themselves about the problems fracking has caused across the country and the need for stronger regulations.

The Water Rangers continue to call on Governor Cuomo and his Department of Environmental Conservation to listen to New Yorkers and let science and strong protection of public health and the environment--not industry propaganda--determine if fracking should be permitted in the Empire State."


The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources-water-from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environment New York, Fleased, Natural Resources Defense Council, Otsego 2000, and Riverkeeper. Visit www.CleanWaterNotDirtyDrilling.org to learn more.

ALBANY, NY (05/15/2012)--In response to the release today of a report by the University at Buffalo's Shale Resources and Society Institute, "Environmental Impacts During Shale Gas Drilling: Causes, Impacts and Remedies," the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

"The report's emphasis on fracking's purported economic benefits indicates that it may not be an objective assessment of the efficacy of government oversight of fracking. The report attempts to deflect concerns about the documented dangers associated with fracking by focusing on only one indicator of fracking-related pollution–violations–and drawing rosy conclusions based on that limited information.

The report fails to consider other complex problems, such as those related to wastewater treatment and disposal, public health impacts, degraded air quality, and industrialization of communities, among others, all of which cannot be captured by a review of known violations. While the report reviewed violations that are documented by state regulators in Pennsylvania, a large number of violations are never found, reported, or resolved. It is premature for the authors to presume that problems are declining or would not occur in New York, as scientific understanding of the impacts of fracking is just beginning to emerge and regulations have not been updated to address the current and planned scope of industrial activity."

The New York Water Rangers continue to call on Governor Cuomo and his Department of Environmental Conservation to let science and strong protection of public health and the environment, and not industry propaganda, determine if fracking should be permitted in the Empire State.


The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources-water-from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environment New York, Fleased, Natural Resources Defense Council, Otsego 2000, and Riverkeeper.

Governor Cuomo, NYS Senate Block Assembly Efforts to Study Fracking's Health Impacts

Groups Applaud NYS Assembly for Calling for Fracking Study

ALBANY, NY (03/26/2012)--In response to the release of relevant sections of the state budget for 2012-13, the New York Water Rangers, Frack Action, and Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter released the following statement:

"Based on what we've seen of the state budget, New York's leaders should drop their false rhetoric of studying the science of fracking. By refusing to budget for an independent health impacts assessment, Governor Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Skelos are ignoring the Medical Society of New York, the Academy of Family Physicians, the Nurses Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics District II, more than 250 physicians, scientists, and other healthcare experts and professional associations, tens of thousands of New Yorkers, and dozens of environmental groups who recognize the lack of such a study as a fatal flaw in the state's fracking plans.

The Governor insists that science will determine if New York State allows industrial gas drilling by means of fracking. But failing to study gas drilling's health impacts is another an example of science being ignored as negative heath effects among people and animals living near gas facilities have been documented nationwide, including as close as Pennsylvania.

The Assembly, particularly Speaker Silver, Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Sweeney, and Health Committee Chair Gottfried, deserve praise for calling for an independent study of fracking's health impacts.

It's not too late for our leaders to support an independent study of fracking's health impacts, which must be completed before a science-driven decision can be made about whether gas drilling is permitted in New York."


The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources-water-from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environment New York, Fleased, Natural Resources Defense Council, Otsego 2000, and Riverkeeper.

Water Rangers Echo U.S. EPA Criticisms of NYS Fracking Proposals

 

ALBANY, NY (01/12/2012)--In response to the release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's comments on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's proposals to guide industrial gas drilling called 'fracking,' the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

"Like Congressman Maurice Hinchey and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the US Environmental Protection Agency has identified significant flaws in the state's fracking proposals, particularly inadequate plans to treat hazardous wastewater, questions about unsafe levels of radiation in fracking waste, and the absence of any consideration of the environmental impacts of the infrastructure associated with fracking, such as pipelines and compressor stations. The EPA went so far as to recommended again that the Public Service Commission be made a party to the proceedings to assess and mitigate potential negative impacts.

The Water Rangers, a partnership of environmental and community groups working to protect New York's waters and communities from the dangers of fracking, identified the 'Top 10' Flaws in the state's fracking proposals last year, including the state's failure to analyze health impacts or assess the costs related to fracking. The groups contend that without a hard, unbiased look at such omissions, as well as those referenced by Congressman Hinchey, the DEP and the EPA, Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature cannot responsibly allow industrial gas drilling in New York."

 

 

The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources--water--from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated, and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Environment New York, Fleased, Natural Resources Defense Council, Otsego 2000, and Riverkeeper. For more information, visit www.CleanWaterNotDirtyDrilling.org.