I would like to meet with you and the Council Member in person and introduce you to experts on drilling, contamination, food security, and climate change to inform you further on this. It is a major issue that has people throughout New York City and the State mobilizing. Actually, there's also a nationwide movement against so-called "natural" gas which has gathered much steam after the Powershift09 events (see:  http://www.powervote.org/platform)

A 'natural' gas-related crisis of unprecedented proportions is about to be released upon NYS.

Please remove your support for the current terrible piece of legislation Res. 1850 and instead enter CB 2's Resolution as your own, so it can garner support in the City Council. The CB 2 resolution helps our movements unify the entire state which is very upset about gas drilling. The time is now for us to end extraction of fossil fuels. Scientists make clear that we have to reduce ppm of carbon in the atmosphere to 350 from their current levels of 387ppm. And yet we also know that the major carbon sinks in the world - forests and oceans - are already fully saturated by carbon.

As populations swell, and fossil fuels diminish, oil and gas companies have resorted to using huge volumes of water to extract natural gas. The inevitable increase in costs of fossil fuels will mean that food supplies to our region will become much more expensive. We need to protect and support our region's food security. Yet the massive amounts of water used for drilling comes back from deep in the earth is hazardous and must be specially treated.

These "unconventional" gas wells currently being considered by the state DEP are undergoing a statewide environmental review, which could protect us from turning our clean water into toxic waste.

On Wednesday, Community Board 2 in Manhattan passed a resolution calling for a ban in NYS of this type of drilling. (A copy of their resolution at the end of this message.)

Their position is principled, and I hope that all the community boards across NYC follow their lead.

In sharp contrast, the Environmental Protection committee of NY City Council, has introduced a terrible resolution that calls for a ban of gas drilling ONLY in the NYC watershed. This means that they are condoning the poisoning of water in the rest of NYS.

This position is shameful and I was surprised to see that Dan signed onto this, probably mistakenly, as a Primary Sponsor:

 http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Res%201850-2009.htm?CFID=110777&CFTOKEN=12387800

Here's the Community Board 2, Manhattan, Resolution, which your council member should use as a model to re-introduce a bill urging a ban on gas drilling throughout the state.



Community Board 2, Manhattan, Resolution

Environment, Public Health, and Public Safety Committee

March 2009 Meeting


Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York State Governor David Paterson to PROHIBIT DRILLING FOR NATURAL GAS WITHIN NEW YORK STATE.

Whereas, Natural gas exploration and production companies, and mineral rights owners, are interested in developing a potentially significant gas resource in the Marcellus Shale through the use of horizontal drilling and a hydraulic fracturing technique known as "slick water fracturing" which requires large volumes of water; and

Whereas, the State Environmental Quality Review Act requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to review the methods used while accessing this natural gas that's located deep within the Earth; and

Whereas; We heard presentations from experts on this issue, among them: James Gennaro, Chair of New York City Council Environmental Protection Committee; Dr. Stephen Corson, Policy Analyst for Manhattan Borough President and lead author of the Borough President's report on this issue; Jared Chasow, Legislative Aide for Senator Tom Duane; Deborah Goldberg, Managing Attorney for Earth Justice's Northeast Office; Craig Michaels, Watershed Program Director for Riverkeeper; and Joe Levine, Co-founder of NY-H2O; and

Whereas, Our committee screened a film segment by Josh Fox showing recent destructive consequences/affects of this process; and

Whereas, Siobhan Watson spoke for New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and said the Speaker was keenly aware of this issue and hasn't taken a position yet; and

Whereas, Matthew Borden spoke for New York State Assembly Member Deborah Glick to say she is entirely opposed to this dangerous drilling activity and he distributed copies of her public testimony on the matter; and

Whereas, over 70 people attended this Public Hearing, including board members of Manhattan Community Boards 3, 6, & 7; and

Whereas, Hydraulic Fracturing mixes water with sand and 250+ toxic chemicals; and

Whereas, the 2005 Energy Policy Act exempts companies who employ Hydraulic Fracturing methods from having to comply with many public health laws which were specifically written to protect our natural resources and well being (e.g. Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-know Act); and

Whereas, Chapter 376 of the Laws of New York State of 2008 streamlined the permitting process for horizontal wells that use hydraulic fracturing, allowing the development of natural gas drilling sites within Marcellus Shale in New York to proceed more quickly; and

Whereas, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Mineral Resources, Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation held scoping hearings upstate for a Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, but failed to hold any hearings within New York City despite the fact 90% of our water supply comes from the Catskill and Delaware watersheds; and

Whereas, Chemicals contained in hydraulic fracturing fluids cause a variety of irreversible and catastrophic damages to the air, water, public health, wildlife, and integrity of local communities; and

Whereas, Hydraulic fracturing presents risks of water contamination during drilling operations and during the storage and disposal of millions of gallons of the water and chemical additive mixture required for each well that is created; and

Whereas, Hydraulic fracturing has resulted in contaminated water supplies in other states, including Wyoming and New Mexico; and

Whereas, No amount of careful planning and operation can guarantee that there will be no chemical spills that could flow into reservoirs, underground migration of fracturing fluids toward the water supply, or other accidents resulting from drilling operations; and Whereas, If the water supply should be contaminated, the City of New York would be required by the Environmental Protection Agency to build and operate a water filtration plant, the cost of which has been estimated to be approximately $10 billion, which would be borne by New York City taxpayers; and

Whereas, Absolutely no evidence has been shown by any organization that fluids used during Hydraulic Fracturing can be completely filtered out of drinking water; and

Whereas, Council Member Gennaro has introduced Resolution No. 1850 in the New York City Council that calls for a ban for drilling within our Watershed Area; and

Whereas, There is no possible remedy once contamination has occurred; and

Therefore let it be resolved, this method for accessing natural gas is FAR TOO DANGEROUS to the air, water, public health, wildlife and integrity of local communities to be approved by any Federal or New York State entity; and

Therefore be it further resolved, Manhattan Community Board 2 calls on the New York State Legislature, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York State Governor David Paterson to prohibit Hydraulic Fracturing drilling for natural gas within New York State.

Committee vote: Unanimous approval
Full board vote: Unanimous approval


Chair, Environment, Public Safety, Public Health Committee

Chair, Manhattan Community Board 2

Vote: Unanimous.