Environmental Bills Hang in the Balance
Last week, Governor Paterson set a hard deadline for the final New York State budget: today. While the budget has dampened a lot of expectations for victories this year, (you might remember the “Memorial Day Massacre, click here to read more about the Environmental Protection Fund and the state budget) we’ve got quite a few legislative priorities close to passage including legislation on hydraulic fracturing, climate change, and water withdrawals.
One of the most critical issues facing New York State is natural gas drilling. That’s why it’s key that legislation passes that prohibits New York from issuing drilling permits. The Suspension of Hydraulic Fracturing Permits delays for one year the issuance of new oil and gas drilling permits for those projects utilizing hydraulic fracturing in the low permeability natural gas reservoirs, such as the Marcellus and Utica shale formations.
The Global Warming Pollution Control Act is also hanging in the balance this week. This bill would set an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and require achievable reductions in the pollution that causes climate change. A companion bill has already passed the Assembly. And in the Senate, the bill has 30 sponsors (it had 31 until Sen. Vincent Leibell (R-Brewster) jumped off the bill last week. Still, we remain confident that we can pass this bill with your help.
Newsday thinks it's a good idea, click here to read more.
Next on our list is Water Conservation & Regulation. This bill would require anyone with the capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day to first obtain a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The bill further directs the Department to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the withdrawal program, to create a water conservation and efficiency program, and requires interbasin transfers of more one million gallons per day to be registered with the agency. These protections are necessary with the growing threats posed by natural gas drilling in New York State.
Read more here in The New York Times.
So it's a big week for New York's environment, and we'll need you're help as always.
More Natural Gas News
Last week the movie Gasland [include link to Gasland website] premiered on HBO. Two days later, Josh Fox, the maker of the documentary was in Albany, lobbying for legislation to slow down drilling in New Yorkwith advocates from across the state.
And in one more piece of news, USEPA announced the time, date, and location of a public hearing that will help inform their study of fracking and gas drilling. Mark it on your calendar and plan to be there with Environmental Advocates’ own Katherine Nadeau.
The meetings will be held August 12 at the Anderson Performing Arts Center at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. Three sessions will be held: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT.
For registration information, please click here.
For more information on the meetings, click here.
NY Drilling Policies Shaped by Industry Dollars?
Common Cause/New York released a report last week entitled "Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets, Expenditures of the Natural Gas Industry in New York to Influence Public Policy, Part 1 – Lobbying Expenditures," a detailed analysis of the natural gas industry's lobbying expenditures in New York State over the 2005-2009 period, as well as the first four months of 2010.
The report has great timing, as the debate on whether to permit natural gas exploration using the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique, or “fracking,” is heating up. Common Cause/New York has determined that gas drilling industries have poured millions of dollars into lobbying the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The analysis, based on lobbying reports filed with the New York State Commission on Public Integrity, shows a dramatic jump in the amounts natural gas companies are spending in lobbying in the last two years.
The rise in spending has been significant enough to catapult one company, Chesapeake Energy, into the top 50 lobbying spenders in 2009. And analysis shows that the natural gas industry's lobbying focus has shifted to channeling hundreds of thousands of dollars on so-called “grassroots campaigns.”
Although we aren’t surprised by the report’s findings, we are, to put it mildly, disturbed. New York State's policies regarding fracking will have a profound impact on the future of our state. It is imperative that those policies are not influenced by industry dollars in the guise of 'grassroots campaigns.' The stakes in the fight to regulate this development couldn't be higher. New Yorkers realize this, and it’s time to work together to put public need over corporate greed.
Smart Move on Smart Growth
Last week, both houses of the legislature passed the Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act, a bill that makes sure state infrastructure funding is targeted to projects that meet specific “smart growth” criteria. The bill will be sent to Governor David A. Paterson for his signature after session.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Suzi Oppenheimer of Westchester and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt of Buffalo.
Read more here.
And here.
Comptroller vs. BP
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced last week that he was suing BP in the wake of the massive oil spill in the Gulf and would seek to make New York the lead plaintiff in a class action suit against the British petroleum giant.
Read more here.
And here.
Sign Up for Mobile Action Alerts!
Environmental Advocates of New York has partnered with Mobile Commons to integrate our action alerts with SMS text messages. Text FRACNO to 69866 and stay up-to-date on statewide efforts to enact measures that will safeguard our air, water and communities from the dangers of natural gas drilling in New York.
You can also sign up through our homepage, www.eany.org or via Facebook here.
We'll alert you at key moments with the critical information you need to contact top decision-makers during the fight to protect New York from the threats of natural gas drilling.
What will you get when you join?
1. Action Alerts to contact your lawmakers about important drilling legislation.
2. Opportunities to contact candidates running for statewide office and a chance to tell them to take a strong stand for our waters and communities.
3. Updates on natural gas drilling events in New York.
Join the fight! Get in contact with your lawmakers when it matters most.
Bills on the Move
It’s that time again! Every week during the Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York looks at the measures that will impact the environment for good or ill.
One tree for modified BPA Ban - This bill would amend New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the sale of certain products containing bisphenol A (BPA) intended for use by children under three years of age. The bill also establishes penalties for violation of these provisions.
One tree for Hazardous Substance Release Penalties - This bill makes it a crime not to report to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) the release of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance.
One tree for Mercury-added Lamps - The bill would direct the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to promulgate rules and regulations as of July 1st, 2011 that limit the mercury content in certain fluorescent lamps. The bill would also prohibit the sale of lamps that do not meet the standards adopted by the DEC.
Three trees for water Conservation & Regulation - This bill would require anyone with the capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day to first obtain a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), unless the withdrawer is already permitted to do so by another entity (such as a basin commission). The bill further directs the DEC to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the withdrawal program, to create a water conservation and efficiency program, and requires interbasin transfers of over one million gallons per day to be registered with the agency.
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