Rita Yelda

Refuses Region Become New York's Science Experiment

On March 5^th, Niagara Falls went on record against fracking, and against treating wastewater from fracking.  Elected officials said they don't want the city that endured the Love Canal toxic waste crisis to be exposed to the fallout from gas drilling operations.  Former Love Canal activist Lois Gibb's expressed her approval for the City Council's decision in her online blog.  The City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting natural gas extraction in Niagara Falls, as well as the "storage, transfer, treatment or disposal of natural gas exploration and production wastes."

OPINION / COMMENTARY

New York's Second Largest City Stands Up Against Drilling

Photo Credit: WNY Drilling Defense

On March 6, amidst reports that New York State might green light hydraulic fracturing this year, the Buffalo Common Council passed a resolution to support New York State legislation SB4220 and A7218, bills that would prohibit fracking and wastewater treatment in New York.

The resolution states that fracking’s negative impacts could affect Buffalo and other Great Lakes communities.  The Common Council also urged Governor Cuomo not to move forward with plans to open New York to fracking, explaining that regulation cannot protect against mistakes, some of which have recently come to light through EPA investigations in Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

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.