Saturday, December 3, 2011

(STILL MORE) MUTINY IN CUOMO'S EMPIRE STATE: Hundreds at DEC say NO FRACKING WAY!

      I am surprised no other blogger or burgeoning documentarian has posted this yet.  I am beginning the fundraising for Cluster-Fracked via my soon to be organic CSA (more on that later).  But--isn't it curious we have not heard perhaps the most amazing piece of news to emerge from any of the DEC hearings on the one-stop polluting SGEIS permit for the Frackers?  Public Employees Federation (PEF), speaking for the 1774 members of the professional, technical and scientific staff of DEC says NO FRACKING WAY!  (They had to go to the city to do this, but they DID say this at the hearing November 29 in Manhattan!).  They also said with the cuts they can't enforce the current regs on DEC's table either.  Here's the text of what was said in the 3 minute haiku the DEC made us use:
    Stephanie Low presented the statement:
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        "I'm here to deliver a statement from an employee of the DEC, Environmental Program Specialist and Executive Board member of the DEC's union, the Public Employees Federation (PEF).  His name is Wayne Bayer and he speaks for the 1774 members of the professional, technical and scientific staff of the DEC, those on the ground who may be assumed to know the issues of fracking and the rdSGEIS best.  His statement follows:
        Three minutes is not an adequate amount of time to fully convey the concerns of Division 169 of the New York State PEF, or PEF/encon, who represent the rapidly declining professional, technical and scientific staff of DEC.
         Therefore, we will be submitting more extensive comments for the public record before the public comment period is over.
          Almost everyone agrees that public regulatory involvement and oversight is necessary to protect the public, vital natural resources, and wildlife, as well as the natural gas industry itself from unjustified allegations of mis-and/or malfeasance with gas extraction activities.  The point PEF/encon wishes to make loud and clear today is that the 25% reduction in existing staff at DEC has crippled our ability to carry out all existing regulatory and statutory responsibilities assigned to our agency.
         There is NO FRACKING WAY we can presently, honestly, and adequately add any new responsibility as labor-intensive as regulating, monitoring and inspection activities related to high volume hydraulic fracturing of natural gas.  DEC would also be hard pressed to adequately provide emergency remedial response in cleanup assistance for a major accident of any kind.  Til there are adequate staffing resources available, the moratorium should be extended."
END OF STATEMENT.
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        IN CLOSING:
        The other day, a man and his wife lamented that their daughter's husband was thrilled that their 100 acres could be signed.  They plan on traveling in Europe, Italy, etc..  I reminded them--you can travel NOW  cheaply--sign up for couchsurfing.com "Making the World a Friendlier Place One Couch at a Time."  They said the daughter is a retired teacher.  They already have enough money to travel.
        Perhaps they could get their daughter and similar lease-holders or lease-holder wanna be's, perhaps, to listen to David Rovics' advice on what to tell Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil, et al..
        David came to Oneonta and Binghamton this Fall before the anti-frack fever kicked in here [I'm always just a little bit too ahead of the curve (sigh)] and I lost my shirt on that concert.  I also spent a bit of money on this ad highlighting the need to vote and referring people to sources for learning about anti-fracking candidates this Fall.
http://hegemonicseam.blogspot.com/2011/11/clusterfrackeds-election-guide-for.html
        If you'd like to help me get Cluster Fracked, my documentary, off the ground, the best way to help is by donating to the first year of An Iron Daisy CSA by the end of this month.
       I will be delivering fresh produce bi-weekly (Mid-May through Mid-September) from my soon-to-be-certified organic farm to food banks in Oneonta, Cooperstown, Binghamton, Bradford County PA (Including Towanda and the Carter Road folks in Dimmock) and 5 other towns (say where, say when on those others) in the test run of the new improved garden beds.
           My farm was not plowed for about 40 years.  I've owned it since 2001 and never used any insectides, etc.. Certified organic seeds (no GMO!).   I need donations by the end of December 31st to go to the CSA, please.   I'm not good at raising money for myself.  I'm usually good at writing grants for others.
To donate:
An Iron Daisy CSA
P.O. Box 1539
Oneonta, NY 13820
and make the check out to An Iron Daisy CSA, please.
 It's important.  Thank you for supporting this.  Any questions--call me at 607-267-9337, and remember to say (and sing with David Rovics!)
NO FRACKING WAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4qledBpbig
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1 comment:

  1. Nice find, Lisa. Video here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSiCC3QmTk0

    ReplyDelete