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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-28-12 Public Hearing on Gas Moratorium.pdf Town of Enfield Minutes of Public Hearing on Proposed Law Regarding Moratorium on and Prohibition of Gas and Petroleum Exploration And Extraction Activities, Underground Storage of Natural Gas, And Disposal of Natural Gas Or Petroleum Extraction, Exploration, And Production Wastes Enfield Elementary School Wednesday, March 28, 2012 6:30 p.m. Present: Deputy Town Supervisor Jean Owens, Town Councilperson Chris Hern, Town Councilperson Vera Howe-Strait, Town Councilperson Ann Rider, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Absent: Town Supervisor Roy Barriere, Town Councilperson Debbie Teeter. Deputy Town Supervisor Owens opened the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. by reading the legal ad as printed in the Ithaca Journal notifying the public of the hearing, and introducing elected officials that were present. She asked anyone that would like to speak to first sign in and then limit comments to 3 minutes or less. She also asked everyone to be respectful and not interrupt speakers. LeRoy Wollney of 2271 Mecklenburg Road stated he objects to the disturbance of the social atmosphere caused by gas drilling. Sue Robinson of 772 Bostwick Road stated she is concerned that if hydrofracking is allowed in Enfield the air and/or water and/or infrastructure will be damaged beyond repair. Martha Fischer of 772 Bostwick Road stated she would like the board to vote for the moratorium so there will be a year to work on protection of roads and aquifers to insure the town maintains its rural character. Bonnie Griffin of 233 Iradell Road stated she had asked the board to enact a ban against unconventional gas drilling in Enfield, but she does understand the need for a moratorium and asks that during the year it is in effect that studies be completed and then a ban enacted. David Gould of 1514 Mecklenburg Road stated he thinks a moratorium is a great start and a ban would be an upgrade from there. Steve Gabriel of 175 Leonard Road stated he feels it’s important for water to be tested to get baseline information so if water is contaminated in the future, the data can be taken to court. Steve requested that anyone who would like to start a monitoring group should contact him so they could start establishing baseline criteria. During the year of moratorium, baseline data can be established. Rob Sullivan of 68 N. Van Dorn Road stated the Finger Lakes area is blessed with water and if too much is taken it won’t be here for the earth in the future. He is concerned with the possibility of respiratory problems for those living close to gas wells and the likelihood that roads will be damaged and there will be difficult traffic patterns and noise. He supports a moratorium. Steve Goggin of 581 Bostwick Road congratulated the board on its wisdom to set aside a year for serious study on hydrofracking and asked the board to move to a ban at the end of the year. Chris Martelli of 57 Rothermich Road stated he supports the moratorium, but would prefer a ban. Enfield Town Board Public Hearing, March 28, 2012 2 Robert Lynch of 175 Gray Road stated he is concerned about a protracted legal battle and urged the board to think this through and delay action until New York State is ready to police drilling. He has confidence in the Department of Environmental Conservation and feels the town should defer action until the state makes policy decisions. Donna Halloran of 304 Hayts Road stated she is concerned about a ban or moratorium on all drilling activities as she feels property owners won’t be able to get a mortgage or sell their property if there is a lease on it. She also suggested fundraising for land owners who have lost money trying to get out of their leases. Christina Mead who owns property at 71 Enfield Center Road East is concerned with water quality – once water is used for hydrofracking it is contaminated and unusable. She stated we can live without oil and without gas, but we can’t live without clean water. Joseph Prusch of 377 Enfield Center Road West stated he is concerned with the lack of regulation from the state and has no confidence in the state. He questioned what conditions need to be met in the next year if there is a moratorium in place. He stated Tompkins County is one of the 16 charter counties of the State of New York, which means we have far broader home rule powers than other counties in the state. Jeff Luoma of 1730 Mecklenburg Road and representative of Snug Planet, an insulation and energy retrofit company, spoke in support of a ban and reducing the energy we use. Robert Hones of 2504 State Route 79 thanked the board for all their work so far and stated he feels a moratorium is a good first step, followed by a ban. He feels the governor may not be looking out for our best interests and we need to protect ourselves. Monica Daniel of 253 North Applegate Road stated she is concerned about damage to health, and feels it may take many years to determine how bad hydrofracking is to everyone’s health. Henry Hansteen of 382 South Van Dorn Road stated water is a precious resource and he is concerned about water quality, convoys of trucks, decrease in land values, possibilities of earthquakes, and irreversible damage to farming and agriculture. Paula Geary of 664 Bostwick Road stated the whole town can be shattered by traffic problems. She thanked everyone for all the work that has been done so far. Shelley Lovelace of 2504 State Route 79 stated she is concerned hydrofracking will poison our air, water and soil and will prevent everyone from having a sustainable life. She supports a moratorium followed by a ban. Kristin Lovelace-Ross of 56 Waterburg Road spoke in favor of a moratorium followed by a ban and is concerned with sustainability, destruction of environment, increased traffic and contaminated water being illegally dumped. She also stated natural gas is not a gasoline substitute and the majority of gas from drilling will be sold abroad. Joanna Green of 96 Woodard Road stated there are beginning farmers waiting to purchase land in Enfield until they see what happens with the gas drilling issue. She is concerned with impacts on animal health due to air and water contamination. Enfield Town Board Public Hearing, March 28, 2012 3 Art Godin of 96 Woodard Road stated he works for Technology As If the Earth Mattered and would like to see more technology developed as if the earth mattered. He would prefer a ban, but is in favor of a moratorium. Ellie Boisvert of 429 Hines Road stated she has heard most residents want a ban and wonders why the board has moved to a moratorium. She has clear water and wants it to remain. She supports a ban. Kevin McKins ay of 881 Bostwick Road stated he grows food for people to eat. Water is the single most important thing needed. He stated that 2% spillage of hydrofracking waste has been recorded and feels there is no reason to take a risk with drilling. Joanna Green of 96 Woodard Road stated the dairy industry is strong in Pennsylvania, but there has been an exodus of dairy farmers from areas with hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. There has been an increase in dairy animal health issues in those areas and farmers are finding necessary services are no longer available, such as trucking. The Ground Swell group she works with has taken a position against hydrofracking due to potential impacts against agriculture in the region. Donna Halloran of 304 Hayts Road stated hydrofracking is the danger, not conventional gas drilling, and would like to see a ban only on hydrofracking. Nicole McGurk of 60 Colegrove Road stated it is up to the town to address the problem of local hydrofracking as the Department of Environmental Conservation doesn’t appear to have time to deal with problems. She would prefer a ban but will support a moratorium. Larry Boisvert of 429 Hines Road stated he would like to see a ban. He understands that home owners in an area with hydrofracking will not be able to purchase homeowner’s insurance. Marsha Sundman of 215 Connecticut Hill Road stated she agrees with a moratorium and would like to see a ban in place after one year. Liz Falk of 175 Leonard Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. She moved to Enfield for clean water and soil and doesn’t have faith in the EPA or DEC. She is waiting to purchase land until she knows if hydrofracking will be coming to Enfield. Sheila Robideau of 210 Sheffield Road stated clean water is irreplaceable and supports a moratorium followed by a ban. Carolyn McMaster of 36 Griffin Road stated she supports the moratorium as written, but would like it to be a ban. She would contribute $1,000 or more towards stopping hydrofracking. Nancy Lorr of 73 Sage Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban as Enfield is a precious area where Community Supported Agriculture exists and land can still be farmed. Debbie Baskerville of 1062 Bostwick Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. She refinanced her home and her bank charged her a higher rate due to the gas lease on her property. Laurie Shaver of 147 Connecticut Hill Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban and supports a clean, simple, way of life. Enfield Town Board Public Hearing, March 28, 2012 4 Jenny Wurster of 32 Podunk Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. The purchase of her land was delayed by several months due to a gas lease. If she extends the lease once it expires, the mortgage can be called in full. Gillie Waddington of 36 Griffin Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. John Tavares of 2192 Mecklenburg Road supports a moratorium, but would rather see a ban. Eric Feinstein of 214 VanOstrand Road stated he supports a moratorium followed by a ban as hydrofracking is a violent crime and we need clean air and water. Lorratta Rooune of 214 VanOstrand Road stated this area is beautiful and asked what price could be put on such beauty. She feels lucky to live in Enfield and would like to help prevent drilling. Jeannie Wright of 262 South Applegate Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. Marie DeMott Grady of 133 Sheffield Road stated she supports a moratorium followed by a ban. Jenny Walsh of 159 Hines Road stated she is waiting to purchase property until she sees what happens with gas drilling. She is against hydrofracking. Ron Riddle of 235 Harvey Hill Road stated he supports the moratorium, as does his wife, as they depend on the environment. Lisa Trent of 230 Rothermich Road stated she supports the moratorium as written followed by a ban and she also stated you can’t drink your money. Stephanie Redmond of 184 North Applegate Road stated children are the first harmed by hydrofracking and if the board responds to concerns, this will teach children they have a voice. Jim Macmillan of 924 Bostwick Road stated he supports a moratorium and then feels a ban is essential. The disruption from hydrofracking is potentially profound and the long term health impacts are uncertain. He questioned who will oversee and collect data showing how health has been impacted. Cris McConkey of 402 Aiken Road stated he supports a moratorium for one year to complete an aquifer study. Beyond gas is the future of this town, and the town needs to make the investment of an aquifer study with as much outside support as possible. The public hearing was closed at 8:47 p.m. by Deputy Town Supervisor Jean Owens. Respectfully submitted, Alice M. Linton Enfield Town Clerk Enfield Town Board Public Hearing, March 28, 2012 5