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January 10th, Ohio Statehouse Fracking Protest A Million Fracking Letters
http://www.amillionfrackingletters.com/ Tell Governor Cuomo to say “No!” to fracking. Use this link to send a prepared letter, or better yet, write one of your own. Governor Andrew CuomoState Capitol Building Albany, New York 12224 And don’t forget to call too! (518) 474- 8390 UPCOMING EVENTS Hydro-Fracking Day of Action
Economic Impact of Shale Gas Drilling What do You Know About Hydraulic Fracturing? Catskill Citizens has prepared a brochure for people who’ve never heard of fracking. It has already been sent to every household in Delaware, Sullivan and Ulster counties. If you’d like to partner with us in sending this to residents in other counties, contact [email protected]  CLICK HERE to Learn More! New Items in Learn More
Take The Pledge – Sign an Agreement to NOT lease your land! Sign an agreement not to lease your land for natural gas drilling using High Volume Horizontal Hydrofracture. 
Please donate to Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy by clicking on the button below. WellWatch is a web site that allows citizens to better cope with natural gas facilities on their properties or in their communities. It allows them to find out information about companies or wells, and to record notes or complaints about facilities and enter them into the public record. EPA Tip LineReport suspicious drilling activities If you see suspicious activity, such as possibly unauthorized water withdrawals, illegal wastewater dumping, or other questionable activity, call the EPA’s Eyes on Drilling line at 1-877-919-4372 (toll free), or send a message to [email protected]. If an emergency is observed related to a well drilling operation, call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. NY DEC Tip LineIn New York State you can also contact the DEC at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/67751.html.
CCSE UpdatesCCSE Update 01/17/2012CCSE Update 01/06/2012 CCSE Update 12/30/2011 CCSE Update 11/02/2011 CCSE Update 10/10/2011 CCSE Update 9/29/2011 CCSE Update 9/13/2011 CCSE Update 8/30/2011 CCSE Update 7/21/2011 CCSE Update 7/6/2011 CCSE Update 7/1/2011 CCSE Update 6/28/2011 CCSE Update 5/12/2011 CCSE Update 5/05/2011 Speak Up! Tell President Barack Obama how you feel about federal exemptions from the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act for gas drilling companies. Energy & Environment — Of the People, By the PeopleSullivan County 
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Welcome to Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy is an all volunteer grassroots organization working to prohibit dangerous hydraulic fracturing (fracking) since 2008.
FRACK TALK: THE MARCELLUS SHALE WATER PROJECT Latest NewsJan 18, 2012DEC: No timetable on fracking review Buffalo Business First David Bertola As the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing tens of thousands of comments relating to hydraulic fracturing of Marcellus Shale in the state, no timetable has been set for when oil and gas companies, landowners, and opposition groups will get to see them. Agency spok… [Full Story] Jan 18, 2012 New York Rep. Maurice Hinchey to retire, sources say Politico JOHN BRESNAHAN Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey will retire from Congress at the end of 2012, according to Democratic insiders. Hinchey, 73, is fighting colon cancer. He underwent a second round of surgery last week, a follow-up for an earlier operation in July. [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Bulgaria bans Chevron from using ‘fracking’ techniques in search for shale gas The Washington Post Associated Press SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bowing to public pressure, Bulgaria’s government says U.S. oil company Chevron cannot explore for shale gas in the country using the extraction technique known as “fracking.” Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said that under Tuesday’s decision “Chevron can still have the righ… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Fracking Postponed By New York State Budget The L Magazine Sydney Brownstone It looks like the big push for public comments before Governor Cuomo’s hydraulic fracturing deliberations last week paid off. The new state budget doesn’t mention paying hydrofracking regulators, a necessary expense in going ahead with drilling in the Delaware River Basin, reports the Star Gazette. … [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 New York Could Allow Hydraulic Fracking By Year’s End Pierre Bertrand NASDAQ New York Assemblyman Robert Sweeney will fire a warning shot across the natural gas industry’s bow Wednesday by introducing a bill to extend a statewide moratorium on horizontal hydraulic fracturing to the end of 2013. The move comes as the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation reviews… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Regulators say hydraulic fracturing may have caused oil spill on farm near Innisfail Calgary Herald Dina O’Meara CALGARY – Hydraulic fracturing of an oil well in southern Alberta could have caused an oil well blowout a kilometre away, according to provincial regulators. Friday afternoon, a landowner in the Garrington area west of Innisfail spotted a pumpjack spewing what appeared to be oil and chemicals o… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 HyperSolar’s Green Gas Makes Fracking Obsolete Clean Technica Tina Casey The California company HyperSolar is developing a way to produce renewable hydrogen and natural gas from wastewater using solar energy, and that could spell trouble for the fracking industry. In contrast to fracking, a method of natural gas drilling that can put communities and agricultural areas … [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Situation Normal, All Fracked Up: Obama embraces fracking Daily Kos RLMiller Last week, the Obama administration gave what may be its first formal statement favoring hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of natural gas in a report, Investing in America (pdf). Until now, the Environmental Protection Agency has, generally, been moving slowly on the issue, with initial study resul… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 New York Fracking Advocates Say Local Bans Are ‘Kiss of Death’ Bloomberg Freeman Klopott & Jim Efsstathiou Jr New York (STONY1) would lose any chance of reaping the economic benefits of the shale-gas boom if local governments are allowed to ban drilling through zoning laws, advocates say. “Giving local governments the power to regulate would be the kiss of death for natural-gas development in New York s… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Gas industry contributed $1.34M to state and local lawmakers in last four years, says govt. watchdog 75% of contributions went to Senate and Assembly candidates Legislative Gazette Andrew Carden The natural gas industry’s financial involvement with New York state and local politicians is under fire from a prominent government watchdog group. Common Cause New York, which bills itself as a “nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen’s lobbying organization,” released its latest in a series of reports … [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 ‘Where would Jesus frack?’ The Standard Journal Kevin Mertz WEST MILTON — Two local pastors are taking part in a rally today in Harrisburg to voice their concerns about the impact the Marcellus Shale industry could have on the health and environment in Central Pennsylvania. The Rev. Ricky Phillips, of Mazeppa Union Church and St. John’s Church of Dry Vall… [Full Story] Jan 17, 2012 Cornell research group defends gas-drilling study Ithaca Journal Steve Reilly ITHACA — A group of Cornell University scientists is standing its ground in the face of a challenge to its research on the climate change impact of shale gas drilling. Led by Cornell ecology and environmental biology professor Robert Howarth, the scientists released a study last year showing tha… [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Chesapeake Analysts Wary of High Debt, Falling Prices for Natural Gas Business Journal Daily Dan O’Brien YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Argus Research Group is reiterating its earlier “sell” recommendation on shares of Chesapeake Energy Corp., the natural gas and energy giant that is aggressively moving into the Mahoning Valley and locking up thousands of acres under lease here. In a note Friday to investors, … [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Poorest Nations Host Biggest Gas Finds in Sign of Deals: Energy Bloomberg Businessweek Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) — One of the world’s poorest regions is also home to the biggest natural-gas discoveries in a decade, luring investors from steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal to Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Eni SpA and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. found about $800 billion of gas under the Indian Ocean … [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Cuomo: No hydrofracking funds in budget proposal (with video) Press Connects Jon Campbell ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal will not include any funding for additional gas-drilling regulators, he said Monday. Speaking after delivering remarks at a Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance ceremony, Cuomo told reporters he won’t move to add the appropriate staff until the state De… [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Exclusive: Ministers slammed over fracking Earthquakes, poisoning fears, demonstrations, but still no top-level talks on suspect gas technique The Independent Tom Bawden The Government has been accused of “appalling complacency” after it emerged that not a single minister has met with the Environment Agency’s experts to discuss the hugely controversial gas exploration technique known as fracking. Despite earthquakes in Blackpool, growing concerns about poisoning … [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Water totals to be included in Texas fracking disclosures Dallas Business Journal When new Texas hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, disclosure rules in go into effect Feb. 1, drillers will have to reveal the amount of water needed for each oil and gas well in addition to reporting chemicals used in the process. The Texas Tribune reports that experts say the water disclosures … [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Bulgarian protestors demand ban on shale gas EurActiv Thousands of Bulgarians have protested against exploration for shale gas over fears it could poison underground water, trigger earthquakes and pose serious public health hazards. Protestors rallied in more than six Bulgarian cities on Saturday (14 January) calling for a moratorium on ‘fracking’ – s… [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 ‘Breaker-Breaker:’ Fracking and trucking safety and security Towanda Daily Review Robert A Young–Letter Despite relative success of the oil and gas activity since its inception in the “Keystone State,” some people still believe that increased regulation – or at the very least – independent oversight at the actual well site location during drilling and “fracking” stages is an imperative priority and th… [Full Story] Jan 16, 2012 Cultures clash as fracking comes to the stockbroker belt The Telegraph Geoffrey Lean You could call it a culture clash – or possibly a PR car crash. This week an American oilman came to town, or rather to a pretty Sussex village, and ran straight into the formidable combination of emotion and expertise generated by Home Counties Englishmen (and women) in defence of their castles. … [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 Facing some realities: consultant questions Lower 48 shale boom Petroleum News Arthur Beman Amid the understandable euphoria that surrounds the burgeoning shale gas industry in North America, a contrarian voice can perhaps help temper enthusiasm with some hard facts. And on Jan. 6, at the Alaska Support Industry Alliance Meet Alaska Conference, Arthur Berman, a consultant with many years o… [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 After Battling Fracking and Cancer, Lucinda Lost, and Found Truthout -Thruth-Out.org Stephen Cleghorn, OpEd Her joy was in sustaining our farm against the threat of fracking. After Lucinda’s ashes become a part of this piece of the good earth, it becomes sacred ground to me, and the company that owns the so-called “rights” to the gas in the shale below our farm is advised to keep their hell away from this… [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 The Essentials for the Necessary Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy Unless we want to be indentured to an energy-military-financial complex, we need to build a new infrastructure for renewable energy. AlterNet Jon Rynn LIKE THIS ARTICLE ? Join our mailing list: Sign up to stay up to date on the latest Economy headlines via email. Fossil fuels are going to disappear, whether we like it or not. Petroleum, natural gas, and coal are becoming scarcer, … [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 Cortland Residents Join the Ranks of Other Communities Opposing Hydrofracking GDACC Press Release January 12th, GDACC (Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County) and MICAH (Moving in Congregations Acting in Hope) released results of an independent countywide survey that assessed residents’ views on hydrofracking. Bob Applegate led off the press conference explaining that the poll was commissio… [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 OUR OPINION: N.D. must lead on regulating fracking In its dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over air pollution, North Dakota has an ace in the hole: the state’s clean air. The American Lung Association’s most recent report card on air quality gave North Dakota all A’s. Grand Forks Herald Opinion In its dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over air pollution, North Dakota has an ace in the hole: the state’s clean air. The American Lung Association’s most recent report card on air quality gave North Dakota all A’s. So, when state regulators say they’re doing a good job, No… [Full Story] Jan 15, 2012 Dimock residents, protesters challenge environmental agencies to remedy situation The Temple News Khoury Johnson Protesters weathered blustery winds and frigid temperatures on Friday, Jan. 13, to voice grievances over drilling practices in Northeastern Pennsylvania, calling for the state to live up to promises to restore water quality of a small town in Susquehanna County. The protests—which managed to clo… [Full Story] Jan 14, 2012 Home rule laws aren’t a radical idea The Daily Star guest Guest Commentary By N.Y. Sen. James Seward A lot of discussion and debate has occurred in our area lately over the issue of ‘home rule’ as it would apply to natural gas drilling. Let me offer some thoughts and my perspective on the issue and on the legislation I have sponsored (S. 5830) to enable lo… [Full Story] Jan 14, 2012 Unlocking the Secrets Behind Hydraulic Fracturing New York Times Kate Galbraith Starting Feb. 1, drilling operators in Texas will have to report many of the chemicals used in the process known as hydraulic fracturing. Environmentalists and landowners are looking forward to learning what acids, hydroxides and other materials have gone into a given well. But a less-publicized… [Full Story] Jan 14, 2012 Thousands protest Bulgaria ‘fracking’ plans France 24 AFP AFP – Several thousand Bulgarians demonstrated across the country on Saturday against plans for shale gas exploration by US company Chevron that they say could harm the environment. About 1,000 youngsters marched along the streets of the capital Sofia, beating drums and blowing whistles as “a wak… [Full Story] Jan 14, 2012 End fracking waiver from Clean Water Act The Morning Call Opinion The 2005 federal energy law contained a waiver of the Clean Water Act for companies that use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to release greater quantities of natural gas from the stone that contains it. In the rush to give us more access to domestic sources of natural gas and the corporate profits t… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Cover-Up Hinted In Navy Letter Huffington Post The U.S. Navy is asking government investigators to suppress information concerning the toxic water scandal at the Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune, according to a letter obtained Thursday by The Huffington Post. The letter, signed by Maj. Gen. J.A. Kessler of the Marine Corps and dated Jan. 5, 2012, … [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 EPA Chief Says Krancer’s Letter Won’t Help Dimock Residents NPR- State Impact Susan Phillips Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson says she found it “puzzling” that Pennsylvania’s top regulator would write a letter critical of her Agency’s role in Dimock’s water problems. Last week Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Ohio’s mysterious man-made earthquakes CNNMoney VIDEO [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Drilling Company Dealing With Landslides The Intelligencer Casey Junkins and Amy Witschey Already a major processor of natural gas in the local Marcellus Shale region, MarkWest Energy Partners is building a new $400 million plant and pipeline in Wetzel and Marshall counties. However, company Manager of Environmental Regulatory Affairs Robert McHale said Denver-based MarkWest is also … [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Evaluating Feedback on Fracking Rules New York Times Mireya Navarro As I report in today’s Times, New York State environmental regulators are sorting through more than 20,000 public comments as they develop the final rules for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, the much-debated process to extract natural gas from underground shale formations. On Thursday, the fede… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 EPA Sees Risks to Water, Workers In New York Fracking Rules ProPublica Joaquin Sapien New York’s emerging plan to regulate natural gas drilling in the gas-rich Marcellus Shale needs to go further to safeguard drinking water, environmentally sensitive areas and gas industry workers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has informed state officials. The EPA’s comments, in a ser… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 EPA Chief Says More Data Needed on Dimock’s Water NPR- State Impact Susan Phillips EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says her agency needs to conduct more tests before deciding whether or not to provide clean water to Dimock residents. About a dozen families living in the tiny Susquehanna County community say it’s still unsafe to drink their water three years after sta… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Last-minute surge of hydrofracking comments leaves DEC with hands full Ithaca Journal Jon Campbell ALBANY — Three days was all it took to double the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s workload when it comes to hydraulic fracturing. Comments on the agency’s proposed hydrofracking rules skyrocketed from 20,800 on Jan. 9 to an estimated 40,000 by the time a response period closed a… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Catskill Citizens mails 10,300 letters, DEC receives more than 40,000 in total The River Reporter Fritz Mayer January 13, 2012 — January 11 was the last day letters to the DEC could be postmarked and still be considered by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation regarding the proposed new gas drilling rules. On that day, Bruce Ferguson, a member of Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, along with membe… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 In the Clearing Stands a Boxer: One Man’s Fight Against Fracking Truth Out William Rivers Pitt, Op-Ed I was privileged, many years ago, to become friends with a man named Patrick R. McElligott. He was once a boxer, and we first bonded over the story of the day I met Muhammad Ali. Over the years, our friendship grew as we endured, and struggled against, the mayhem and insanity of the George W. Bush a… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 After earthquakes, Ohio city questions future fracking wells Chicago Tribune Kim Palmer Cleveland, Ohio (Reuters) – Alarmed over a string of earthquakes linked to deep wells in nearby Youngstown, authorities in Mansfield, Ohio have threatened to block construction of two similar waste disposal wells planned within their city limits. Ohio has over 170 active disposal wells, though on… [Full Story] Jan 13, 2012 Hydraulic fracturing controversy: what a fracking shambles The Guardian Michael White (Politics Blog) An oilman I know slightly said in the pub that the “flaming taps” problem widely associated with techniques of hydraulic fracturing – fracking – became a problem only after rural folk in Pennsylvania went drilling for oil in their back yards (as Americans do) in an amateur, “mom and pop” fashion. … [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Moravia residents pack forum on fracking Auburn Pub MORAVIA — Nothing seems to draw a town together like hydrofracking. And with nearly 200 people present at its Wednesday event, Moravia’s town forum on fracking was no exception. Before the 7 p.m. meeting started, cars crowded into the Moravia Volunteer Fire Company’s parking lot, filling every g… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Record-Breaking Public Response To Fracking Plan Eco Politics Daily Elizabeth Mooney Now that the public comment period on the state’s proposal to allow hydrofracking is over, the environmental agency overseeing the initiative expects to make some changes to its plan. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said Wednesday that he expects “additional impr… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Poll shows opposition to hydrofracking in Cortland County YNN Kat De Maria Opponents of hydrofracking have been vocal about their position on the issue. Now, some groups in Cortland County are proving public opinion is on their side. Our Kat De Maria shares the results of a new poll and discusses its potential role in the gas drilling debate. The latest round of public … [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Fracking Political Support Unshaken by Doctors’ Call for Ban Bloomberg Mark Drajem Tremors in Ohio, murky drinking water in Pennsylvania and a call for a moratorium by doctors isn’t eroding political support for hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration. With the Environmental Protection Agency not scheduled to issue a report on fracking safety unt… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 EPA questions fracking study The Times Union Brian Nearing ALBANY — Opponents of natural gas hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, said Thursday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fired a shot across the bow of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. In a 26-page response to DEC’s proposed environmental review of hydfrofrac… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 EPA: New York should limit radioactive elements in fracking wastewater Times Herald-Record ALBANY (AP) – The Environmental Protection Agency says New York regulators should set limits for radioactive materials in gas-drilling wastewater sent to public treatment plants before allowing any hydraulic fracturing of natural gas wells in the state. That’s one of the federal agency’s comment… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Northumberland County commissioner: Water filtration project ‘progressing’ Scranton Times-Tribune Mark Gilger SHAMOKIN – A Northumberland County commissioner said talks are continuing with officials in the natural gas industry to construct a filtration plant in the area to clean water from former coal lands in Coal and Mount Carmel townships and then transport it to the Northern Tier area of the state to be… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Rail-Trail Council signs option for pipeline easement along Susquehanna County trail Scranton Times-Tribune Laura Legere The Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania has signed an option for a pipeline easement in nearly 30 miles of its right of way with a Radnor, Pa.-based coal and pipeline company, the company announced on Wednesday. Penn Virginia Resource Partners LP is considering constructing a new nat… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Dimock supporters to take water plea to EPA chief Scranton Times-Tribune Laura Legere Supporters of Dimock Twp. families at odds with a Marcellus Shale driller over water contamination plan to take their plea for fresh drinking water to the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is scheduled to participate in a 9:30 a.m. talk ab… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 DEP head calls EPA knowledge of Dimock ‘rudimentary’ Scranton Times-Tribune Laura Legere Federal regulators have only a “rudimentary” understanding of the facts and history of gas drilling’s impact on water supplies in Dimock Twp., Pennsylvania’s head environmental regulator wrote in a letter Thursday as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considered beginning its own sampling of t… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 House panel considers water well standards Scranton Times-Tribune Robert Swift Bill on water well construction advances Licensing standards considered HARRISBURG – Owners and drillers of new private water wells would need to meet statewide construction regulations under legislation that got a boost Tuesday at a House committee hearing. State environmental officials… [Full Story] Jan 12, 2012 Glut Hits Natural-Gas Prices Wall St. Journal Russell Gold, Daniel Gilbert & Ryan Dezember U.S. energy companies are pumping so much natural gas out of the ground that prices are plummeting, and the cheap gas isn’t likely to evaporate anytime soon. Natural-gas prices fell 5.7% Wednesday to their lowest level in over two years—good news for people who use gas to heat homes and for compa… [Full Story] More News from Environmental Health News |
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