Judge rules for township versus drillers

NOCKAMIXON, PA — A Bucks County court has ruled with Nockamixon Township in its attempt to enforce local ordinances over natural gas and oil drilling. Judge Clyde Waite ruled against three companies, Arbor Resources, Pasadena Oil and Gas Wyoming and Hook ‘Em Energy Partners, who had argued in a lawsuit that regulations in place under Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas Act supercede any local ordinances. The companies maintain that they have complied with regulations at the state level and do not need to comply with rules imposed at the local level.

The judge decided that, pursuant to the state’s municipalities planning code, local ordinances ought to be enforceable despite the act.

“The purposes of the Oil and Gas Act is to permit the development of oil and gas resources while at the same time protecting the health, safety, environment and property of the local citizenry,” he said.

Grants help fight invasive species

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is accepting grant applications for projects to eradicate terrestrial invasive species. Terrestrial invasive species is defined as a plant or animal that lives or grows predominantly on land. Applications will be accepted until October 31.

Up to $1 million in state grants is available to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations. State funds can be used to pay for up to one-half of the cost of selected projects. Individual grants for terrestrial eradication proposals will be awarded for projects that range from $2,500 up to $100,000.

Invasive species are non-native species that can cause harm to the environment and may result in ecological or economic problems. They include plants such as Japanese knotweed and animals such as the Sirex wood wasp and the Asian Longhorn Beetle.

For more information visit www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html or call 866/640-0652.

School district challenges exemption

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The Sullivan West Central School District School Board has approved a resolution to join with Sullivan County in litigation to remove the property tax exemption currently in place for the Gurdjieff Foundation in the Town of Tusten.

Citing the fact that the county legislation recently voted unanimously to authorize the county to commence legal action against the Town of Tusten to challenge that tax exemption granted to Gurdjieff, the board resolved to join the school district with the county as petitioners, and authorized the district’s legal counsel to work cooperatively with the county attorney’s office in prosecuting this litigation.

For background information, see “County to seek payments from nonprofit” in our September 4 issue.

New NYRI hearings scheduled in Callicoon, Lake Huntington

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — New public information forums have been scheduled by The New York Public Service Commission concerning the proposal by New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) to construct a new, high voltage direct current transmission line between National Grid’s substation in the Town of Marcy and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation’s substation in the Town of New Windsor.

Hearings have been scheduled on Wednesday, October 29 at the Delaware Community Center at 8 Creamery Road in Callicoon, with an informational forum at 1:00 p.m. followed by a public statement hearing at 2:00 p.m., and at Sullivan West Central High School in Lake Huntington, with an informational forum at 6:00 p.m. and public statement hearings at 7:00 p.m.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearing. Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak. The hearing will remain open and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Comments may also be submitted through the commission’s opinion line at 800/335-2120 or via the “PSC Comment Form” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the commission’s website at www.dps.state.ny.us, or via the “Contact Us” link at www.AskPSC.com. Written comments may be sent to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Case 06-T-0650 – NYRI Transmission Line Proceeding.”

Clinton program brings sustainable practices to health industry

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has introduced legislation designed to improve environmentally sustainable practices in the health care industry. Her Green Hospitals package will expand the availability of locally produced foods, encourage green construction and renovation and expand environmentally sustainable building maintenance and operations.

Clinton’s Green Hospitals package is made up of three bills: The Healthy Foods for Healthy Lives Act would authorize the United States Department of Agriculture to provide $25 million annually in funding to help hospitals, VA centers and nutrition service organizations provide locally produced healthy food to patients, employees and clients; the Green Hospitals, Healthy Hospitals Act would provide $100 million annually in long-term, no-interest loans to hospitals to help them engage in green hospital construction and renovation; and the Greening the Health Care Workforce Act would provide $10 million annually in Environmental Protection Agency grants to health care institutions to help them train their employees in environmentally sustainable practices.