Wednesday, 26 October, 2011 17:29
Written by SusanOH-WLC
ECO-BULLETIN FROM OTSEGO COUNTY CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
October 25, 2011: Vol. 4, No. 24
Eco-bulletin headlines this issue:
OCCA CO-SPONSORS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED GAS DRILLING RULES
BVA HOSTS PRESENTATION ON GLOBAL WARMING
ANNUAL DINNER TO FEATURE SILENT AUCTION
COSTUMES ARE OPTIONAL FOR HALLOWEEN HIKE
OCCA CO-SPONSORS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED GAS DRILLING RULES: The City of Oneonta, Otsego County Conservation Association, and Otsego 2000 will co-sponsor a public hearing on Thursday, November 10 for citizens to voice concerns regarding the proposed New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permit conditions which will be required for gas drilling in the Marcellus shale and other areas of New York State.
According to the DEC, the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program has been developed to satisfy the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act by studying the controversial technique of high-volume hydraulic fracturing – used to extract natural gas from tight shale formations – and identifying potential significant adverse impacts for these anticipated operations. The public has until December 12 to review the proposed environmental mitigation measures in the draft SGEIS addressing environmental, socioeconomic, community character, visual, noise, and transportation, and other impacts. At that time, DEC will review the comments on the draft SGEIS and proposed regulations, and prepare responses to be released with the final SGEIS. No permits for high-volume hydraulic fracturing will be issued until the SGEIS is finalized and DEC issues the required Findings Statement.
The hearing, to be held from 7-10 p.m. in SUNY-Oneonta’s Hunt Union ballroom, will be transcribed by a professional stenographer, and all comments will be sent to the DEC for submission into the official record.
Comments should focus on changes in the 2011 revised draft SGEIS. The final SGEIS will apply statewide, except in areas that the DEC proposes should be off-limits to surface drilling for natural gas using high-volume hydraulic fracturing technology.
Although the DEC has scheduled public hearings in other parts of the state, Otsego County was not among the selected sites. As a result, city officials, OCCA and Otsego 2000 have teamed up to host this event. The City of Oneonta and Otsego County officials held a similar public hearing in 2009, in response to the original draft SGEIS.
“The gas drilling issue is huge, and we want folks, both pro and con, to have a chance to express themselves in a controlled public hearing,” said David Hutchison, chair of the City of Oneonta Environmental Board.
The revised dSGEIS, both lengthy and highly technical in nature, will impact nearly 85 percent of the areas overlying the Marcellus shale in New York State.
“Public outreach and participation is a necessity in this process, considering the magnitude of the dSGEIS and the potential environmental impacts. Otsego County residents whose lives may be affected by increased industrial activity, truck traffic, and/or the potential for spills or accidents should have an opportunity to comment, and their comments should become part of the official record,” said Darla M. Youngs, acting executive director for the Otsego County Conservation Association.
Ellen Pope, Otsego 2000 executive director, added “Otsego County overlies both the Marcellus and the Utica shale formations – citizens who are concerned about the impact that natural gas extraction could have on their livelihoods and lives need to voice those concerns to the DEC. We hope this public hearing will allow many in our area who cannot drive to Binghamton the chance to be heard.”
Otsego County Planning Director Terry Bliss will moderate the hearing. Doors will open at 6 p.m. so anyone wishing to make comments can be listed on a sign-in sheet. This hearing will follow the same format as those held by the DEC, with oral presentations limited to five minutes and speakers presenting in the order registered, as time permits. Those wishing to make comments will be asked to focus their comments specifically on the contents of the draft SGEIS, rather than general statements for or against gas drilling.
The dSGEIS can viewed at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html. Paper copies are available at the Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta, the Cooperstown Village Library, and the offices of Otsego 2000 in Cooperstown during regular hours.
BVA HOSTS PRESENTATION ON GLOBAL WARMING: The Butternut Valley Alliance will welcome guest speaker Alan Springett of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday, November 13 as he talks about global warming, its causes and effects, what changes are likely in Otsego County, and whether or not it can be stopped. This presentation, which begins at 1:30 p.m., will be held at the All Saints Chapel, State Highway 51, at Dimmock Hollow Road, Morris. Please see the attached flier for further details.
ANNUAL DINNER TO FEATURE SILENT AUCTION: OCCA’s Annual Dinner and Meeting, to be held on Friday, November 18 at the Holiday Inn Oneonta, will feature a new Silent Auction component this year. Auction donations to date include: an original limited edition giclée print by David Kiehm of Dead Drift Studio; a two-hour barge tour of Otsego Lake (maximum 20 people); CSA package from Fox Falls Farm, New Lisbon; a pair of house seat tickets to “Wicked” on Broadway with signed poster; lunch for four at the Blue Mingo Grill; gift baskets from Savor New York, Exeter Veterinary Clinic, Big Sky Farms and Man in the Moon Herbs; four passes to the Joseph L. Popp, Jr. Butterfly Conservatory; the expertise of a botanist during a half-day visit to your property; pottery, jewelry, artwork and a host of other great services and merchandise. All Silent Auction proceeds will benefit OCCA’s programs to protect and preserve the environment.Doors open to the Annual Dinner with a Silent Auction Preview and cocktail hour from 5:30-7 p.m. (cash bar). Dinner is a choice of roast prime rib au jus, chicken Kiev or vegetarian stuffed peppers. Admission is $35 per person. Those wishing to donate an item or service – or to pre-register for the dinner – may e-mail admin@occainfo.org for more information.
COSTUMES ARE OPTIONAL FOR HALLOWEEN HIKE: Weather permitting, Joe Ritton of Glimmerglass State Park will lead a Halloween Hike at the Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park on Sunday, October 30 at 1 p.m. This fairly easy 2.7-mile hike on “Andy’s Trail” includes wooded areas, meadows and panoramic mountain-top views. Participants should meet at the Sunset Pavilion parking lot. Costumes are optional, and cider and donuts will be served at the Sunset Pavilion following the hike. The walk is jointly sponsored by OCCA and Friends of Glimmerglass State Park. Located in Westford, Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park is a satellite facility of Glimmerglass State Park. DIRECTIONS: I-88, Exit 18, Rte. 7 W, County Rt. 34N, County Rt. 36A W to park entrance; Rte. 166, County Rte. 35 S, County Rte. 36A E to park entrance; I-88 E. For information, call 547-8662 or e-mail friendsofglimmerglass@gmail.com. Since 2001, OCCA has organized and/or co-sponsored nature walks on local trails. Other confirmed dates, venues and hike leaders for 2011 are: January 15, 2012, The Robert V. Riddell State Park, snowshoe hike with the Kents. For a complete hike schedule, details and directions, visithttp://occainfo.org/documents/NatureWalksposter2011.pdf or e-mail admin@occainfo.org