Gulf Oil Disaster reminds us that Natural Gas Drilling in New York and Pennsylvania is going to invite life-changing changes to the environment

Catskill Mountainkeeper Action Alert


May 3, 2010

Drilling, Disaster, Denial

The horrific oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is creating what President Obama said is a "potentially unprecedented environmental disaster".

As Paul Krugman said in his column in the New York Times this morning, "the gulf blowout is a pointed reminder that the environment won't take care of itself, that unless carefully watched and regulated, modern technology and industry can all too easily inflict horrific damage on the planet."

We are fighting for just such regulation in the gas industry in New York State. While the current crisis involves oil, not gas, seawater, not fresh water, our region can potentially be exposed to the same type of horrific consequences if we don't take steps to properly safeguard our natural resources.

It is thoroughly documented that "Drilling Isn't Safe". Catskill Mountainkeeper knows that we can't expect to go forward without proper regulations and expect that we won't expose our land, people and environment to potentially devastating consequences. It's critical that we learn from the mistakes that have been made.

As Paul Krugman said today, "The catastrophe in the gulf offers an opportunity, a chance to recapture some of the spirit of the original Earth Day. And if that happens, some good may yet come of this ecological nightmare."

TAKE ACTION

Over 2160 people have signed our common sense petition demanding that the DEC wait to issue any permitting guidelines until the federal EPA Hydrofracking Study - which is currently underway - is completed
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HELP US PROTECT NEW YORK'S ENVIRONMENT NOW

Catskill Mountainkeeper, affiliated organizations and many thousands of concerned citizens have been fighting a brave and effective battle to prevent the New York State DEC from commencing gas drilling in New York State under guidelines that expose all of us to far too much risk.

Our campaign has had a significant impact and there is substantial pressure on the DEC, the Governor and the EPA to restrain the DEC from issuing their final SGEIS guidelines as anticipated.

Nonetheless it has come down to this - barring new and substantial pressure, the DEC is expected at any moment to issue their final report based on their grossly inadequate draft guidelines.Once the report is issued, well permitting will follow shortly.

There are three people who can prevent this action from occurring - Governor David Paterson, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis and EPA Administrator for the 2nd Region Judith Enck.

About Catskill Mountainkeeper

Catskill Mountainkeeper is a community based environmental advocacy organization, dedicated to creating a flourishing sustainable economy in the Catskills and preserving and protecting the area's long term health. We address issues of water integrity for the Delaware and Susquehanna River Systems, the defense of the vast woodlands that encompass the Catskill Forest Preserve and the New York City Watershed as well as farmland protection. We promote "smart" development that balances the economic needs and concerns of the Catskill regions' citizens and the protection of our abundant but exceedingly vulnerable natural resources.