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OPINION / COMMENTARY

A letter to Governor Cuomo from 59 scientists said, "We urge the state to reconsider its position that existing water filtration systems provide adequate protection against the risk of hydraulic fracturing."

A coalition of community members and public interest groups held a press conference Monday, December 19, in front of New York State Senator Mark Grisanti's (Republican - 60th District) 65 Court Street office in Buffalo to tell him they don’t want hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to take place in New York State.  Senator Grisanti is head of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee whose mission involves protecting lands in New York.  Many gathered outside of the office chanting “hey, hey, ho, ho, fracking has got to go.”

The coalition, which includes the Massachusetts Avenue Project, Western New York Peace Center, The Interfaith Peace Network, Alpha Kappa Chi of the University at Buffalo, PUSH Buffalo, and The Buffalo Board of Block Clubs, among others, presented Senator Grisanti with 35 letters from groups and businesses, and also presented 430 signatures from residents urging him to reject the controversial process.

One cannot help but feel that the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens and Governor Cuomo have thrown Western New York under the bus, and though we can claim to have the head of the Environmental Conservation Committee representing us in the senate, we have yet to see results.  Western New York could be hit the hardest if fracking moves forward in the state.

I was in the Park on Saturday, December 17, for an Allegany State Park Historical Society meeting and made three disturbing discoveries:

1. 

   Allegany snowmobile trail.  Click photo to enlarge.
   A snowmobile trail near the toll booth entrance on ASP1 has been reactivated with a new entry way.  Seven or eight years ago, an organization called Friends of Allegany persuaded the Park to abandon this trail because it was too close to the cross-country ski area and because they did not do a proper Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
2. At the Historical Society meeting, a member who also is a very active Park horsewoman complained that the Park has recently allowed endurance horse rides that proceed at a gallop and are run in mud season resulting in heavy damage to several trails, but particularly to the one through Thunder Rocks to Little Ireland.  Another member complained that he had lead a boy Scout troop down that trail after the endurance ride and wound up in knee deep mud.  The Historical Society plans to write a letter of complaint about this.
3. The Park has acquired 2 acres of woodland just outside the Park, which now somewhat obscures the view from the big curve on ASP1, known as Fancher Overlook.  The Park's intention is to clear this view.  (Click here to see an image of the Allegany Overlook.)

I don't know if any of these actions have been put up for public comment and I'm not sure how they fit with the Park's master plan, but to me all three seem to be a threat to the integrity of the Allegany State Park Forest.

I would be interested in your views.

Larry Beahan

Click here to learn more about Allegany State Park and please share your views in the comment box below.

OPINION / COMMENTARY

The use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to extract shale gas poses risks to drinking water, human health and safety as well as the well-being of people in affected communities.  Contaminated water wells near drilling pads in Pennsylvania contain levels of shale gas that are flammable and can be explosive.  Radioactivity, heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the shale contaminate wastewater that flows back to the surface after fracking.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently found industrial fracking chemicals and carcinogenic benzene as contaminants in well water aquifers near drilling pads.

Fracking wastewater had been treated and discharged into Pennsylvania rivers until contaminants were identified downstream.  Some wastewater was also dumped illegally in Pennsylvania streams and forests.  Wastewater had been treated in Buffalo, but that is now prohibited to protect drinking water.  The gas industry is seeking to treat fracking wastewater in Niagara Falls, risking pollution of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario and contamination of drinking water in the U.S. and Canada (for earlier blog posts on fracking, click here).

TAKE ACTION:

Many citizens and politicians want to ban fracking and fracking waste.  Urge Governor Cuomo and Senator Grisanti to prohibit fracking and fracking waste in New York.

First, write a letter to Governor Cuomo on your own or with the help of a letterwriter on a website called A Million Fracking Letters.  The letterwriter contains written text about a number of the following key issues associated with fracking and fracking waste:

Green Solutions for a Broken Economy

The United States isn't broke.  But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country.  But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this 'dinosaur economy' on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money.

"The Story of Broke" calls for a shift in government spending toward investments in clean, green solutions—renewable energy, safer chemicals, zero waste and more—that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment.

It's time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let's build it better. Watch this Video:

Reprinted with permission from Re-ENERGIZE BUFFALO for "All things GREEN: Energy, Environment, and Economy"

Green Options Buffalo is profiling an area cyclists each month who make green transportation options a big part of their life.  If you have someone you'd like to suggest as a cyclist-of-the-month, please click here to contact Green Options Buffalo.

December 2011: Angela Lopez

December 2011 Cyclist-of-the-Month: Angela Lopez

The Cyclist

I'm Angela.  I live on the West Side near the burgeoning Grant and Lafayette intersection.  I am an Americorps ABLE service member working with Science Firsthand, teaching after school science to K-6 by day.  I also work at the Elmwood and Bidwell Farmers Market slingin' sausage with Avenue Boys Smokehouse, and am a dancer and performer with the local dance and performance community found in the City.

The Cycle

My current bike is a Raleigh Marathon circa 1984.  I bought it at Rick's Cycle Shop in Allentown.  It isn't too swanky, but it's a monster and gets the job done.  It weighs a ton, probably because my panniers are almost always packed with sciencey things I show my after school kids during lessons.  It's my first road bike, and has been my only bike for three years now.