November 21, 2011
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo:
My husband and I have only lived here in NY State for a little more than 3 years. Frankly, due to the possibility of hydrofracking happening in NY State we are not happy that we moved here and fearful about our future regarding the possible destruction of the beautiful environment in and around our home, property and in all of NY State. In other states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arkansas, Texas and Wyoming hydrofracking has caused enormous environmental damage, disjointed communities, and health and economic losses to the people and their homes. We now understand why people have said to us, “Why would you ever want to move to NY State, the politics are dirty and the taxes are high.” Family members who did live here moved to another state. However, we chose to move here because of loving the beautiful landscape, accessible arts and the great schools. By possibly allowing hydrofracking are you trying to drive us and others away from NY State?
I’m glad that you, Governor Cuomo, have said that you want a decision regarding hydrofracking across NY State based on science, peer review and unbiased studies and reports. However, that would have been handled better had you not lifted the moratorium and instead insisted that since it is your job to protect the people of NY State you would allow enough time to have respected scientists, economists give reports to you and comprehensive studies done by respected, scholars who are not influenced by financial reward or increased position. Without your leadership or direction respected scholars have submitted reports and have peer reviews studies that have been seen by the residents but ignored by you and the DEC.
Wasn’t it the job of the DEC to access unbiased reports and then to create rules and regulations in accordance with the scientific, economic and comprehensive studies submitted? The DEC, I believe at your command, has only given information that is from the highly biased reports from the oil and gas industry. It makes me wonder if the DEC and you were not only given biased reports but also money to convince you and the DEC to look no further for the truth.
There are excellent scientific reports that have been peer reviewed from such scientists as Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Ph.D., P.E., Director, Cornell University Fracture Group On Marcellus Shale Gas Development Environmental Issues. Dr. Ingraffea was one of the main scientists, engineers who helped to create the hydrofracking process. At this time he does not feel hydrofracking should be done in NY State for excellent reasons. He has given detailed and explicit reasons why hydrofracking should not be done. His work has been peer reviewed. Why have you not listened to him?
Dr. Tracy Banks, a Geochemist has explored the effect of shale rock on water. Her research shows that high-pressure fluids striking the shale could dislodge naturally occurring radioactive compounds such as uranium and strontium, putting groundwater at risk of contamination." Banks and her team studied drill sites in western NY and Pennsylvania and confirmed that "shale rock contains a suite of toxic metals including uranium, barium, chromium, zinc and arsenic." She also discovered that "The metals were chemically bounded to hydrocarbons, the organic compounds that make up natural gas.
Dr. Jeanette Barth, a doctor of economy with high standing states “The acceptance and use of such an incomplete assessment of economic impact is not only unfair to the people of New York State, it also exhibits, at the least, poor judgment on the part of our political decision makers. And it may be asking for failure and major economic losses to New York State and its people.”
Walter Hang, head of Toxics Targeting concludes “Natural gas leasing could have staggering implications for New York’s lenders, homeowners and real estate investors given the potential scope of horizontal hydrofracturing in our state’s Marcellus Shale formation. Current lending policies and practices can preclude existing/potential homeowners and property investors from purchasing or selling real estate with gas leases due to the inability to obtain mortgage loans. Even properties located near parcels with gas leases might not qualify for mortgage loans due to “secondary” market requirements. Individuals who have signed gas leases very likely had no inkling of these onerous implications. There has been extensive discussion of the alleged economic benefits of gas drilling in New York. The banking documents I am providing raise profound concerns that gas leasing could impair the state’s mortgage lending and real estate markets. Even Wall Street’s securitization of bundled mortgage loans could be impacted.”
Then there are issues that have never been addressed by the DEC or you but are extremely important to the people who live here! How, Governor Cuomo, are you proposing to dispose of highly salinated and toxic industrial waste with no industrial treatment facility in NY State? Many of the chemicals such as Benzene, are highly toxic and water soluble, so they pass through regular water treatment plants. So, how do you propose to make the water potable again? The fact that each truck, according to Dr. Ingraffea, is the equivalent of 5000 cars on our roads is another issue. The DEC has no solution as to who besides the tax payer will bear the burden of road repair. Should not the oil and gas companies pay for all physical and health and environmental damage done by the trucks and the hydrofracking process? The DEC has also not presented and adequate assessment of the serious health impacts of fracking, nor has the DEC established a way to protect drinking water, the air quality or the land. Are you aware that there are burgeoning organic farms being established in NY State?
My question is WHAT HAS THE DEC DONE TO LIVE UP TO ITS STATED PURPOSE AND JOB AND WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF NY FROM THE POTENTIAL ATROCITY OF HYDROLIC FRACTURING IN NY STATE?
I strongly suggest that you accept the scientific reports from true scientists, economists and scholars that have research that shows that, at least at this time, with the methods used by the oil/gas companies fracking must be banned in NY State.
Please let us invest tax money in green energy and insulation for homes and buildings. Let us, NY State, be a country leader in supporting the industries such as farms, wineries, schools and medical facilities now flourishing in NY State. Let us support tourism, wine making, organic farming and hopefully green energies such as solar, wind and geothermal.
Dear Governor Cuomo, you will not win by trying to divide NY against itself. The people of NY City and NY State see what you are doing by only protecting NYC and Syracuse and the Deleware River Basin. We the people of NY State stand in solidarity and will vote accordingly.
Sincerely and with hope,
Gloria J. Foster
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