Gas at a Glance

Sullivan County hosts August 19 gas forum

The Sullivan County Legislature will present its third public forum on natural gas development. The August 19 session will focus on “Economic and Community Impacts,” exploring the economic “gain” and “strain” among communities that have experienced natural gas development, most recently in the Northeast but also over the past decade and longer in western states. Speakers include Jannette Barth, an economist with her own consulting firm, J.M. Barth & Associates of Croton-on-Hudson, who has examined potential economic gains and unforeseen costs in New York and Pennsylvania. Anthony J. Ventello, executive director of Progress Authority of Bradford and Susquehanna Counties, based in Towanda, PA, oversees economic development programs for this two-county region experiencing rapid growth of natural gas exploration. Jeffrey Jacquet is a Ph. D. candidate in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University; he is a member of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s “Marcellus Shale Team” and has examined regional economic trends related to natural gas development in Wyoming, Texas and most recently north-central Pennsylvania. Craig Sautner, a resident of Dimock, PA, will speak from direct experience on his community’s challenges with gas drilling. The session will be moderated by planning commissioner Luiz C. Aragon and will provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions. It will take place at Monticello High School, 237 Route 42 in Monticello, NY from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

‘Drilling Isn’t Safe’ campaign launched

Four advocacy organizations, Catskill Citizens For Safe Energy, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Earthjustice and “Gasland” The Movie, have created a joint communications campaign to educate the public about the risks of shale gas extraction using high volume hydraulic fracturing technology or “fracking.” The campaign centers on the theme “Drilling Isn’t Safe.” Billboards, buttons and lawn signs are the first elements of an extensive multi-media program targeting the health risks and other problems New York residents may face if the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation begins issuing drilling permits for hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas development is largely exempt from federal environmental laws, including the Safe Drinking Water Act. According to the consortium, at least 353 of the chemicals used to extract gas or found in gas wastes have been identified and among them are known toxins, but 279 remain unknown, as do their effects on human health. The mixtures of chemicals used by gas companies in drilling and fracturing fluids are concealed from the public under industry claims that they are trade secrets. The consortium is strongly committed to preventing drilling under the current circumstances, given scientific data and documented cases that show wherever fracking occurs there is a substantial risk of drinking water contamination, air pollution and severe illness among people and animals. Learn more at www.drillingisntsafe.org .