Poloncarz Approves Fracking Ban in Erie County

The law bans fracking on all land owned by Erie County

Report from WGRZ.com 

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz approved legislation Friday to ban hydraulic fracturing on all lands owned by Erie County. 

"Protecting our land and water resources is important to preserving our heritage," said Poloncarz in a statement on his decision to approve the local law. 

The Erie County Legislature passed the fracking ban in December by a 9-2 vote. The ban also received overwhelming support in public hearings leading up to the vote. 

A moratorium on fracking has been in effect throughout New York State since 2008 but Governor Andrew Cuomo has not yet announced if he will ban the practice altogether. 

If Cuomo decides to lift the moratorium, fracking would only be allowed on all privately owned land and non-county owned sewage treatment facilities in Erie County.

Poloncarz approves fracking ban on county-owned land

Report from WBFO:

One local anti-fracking group says it is pleased with the county executive's approval.

“We’re relieved that County Executive Poloncarz paid attention to the thousands of Erie County residents who spoke up in favor of a ban and the bipartisan group of Erie County legislators who voted in favor of it. The evidence is clear – fracking and its waste brings unacceptable risks of water contamination and health impacts. Erie County and the other counties statewide that have voted for a ban are sending a clear message to Governor Cuomo – that all parts of New York want him to ban fracking," said Rita Yelda of Food & Water Watch and Western NY Drilling Defense.


See also: Poloncarz Approves Fracking Law

Poloncarz stated “I am approving Local Law Intro. No. 4-2013 based on the demonstrated support of the public, as well as the support shown by a majority of Erie County legislators who expressed their concern about hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and disposal of fracking waste in Erie County. 

He added that the law "bans it on County-owned lands such as Parks, in addition to prohibiting the acceptance of fracking waste at Erie County-owned sewage treatment facilities."

He concluded that "...the overwhelming and vocal public support for such a ban cannot be ignored."

Link to the full statement at the Erie County website.

Erie County, Partners Advance Preparations on Watershed Management Plan

ERIE COUNTY, NY- The Erie County Department of Environment & Planning (DEP), in partnership with the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance (LEWPA) and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, has announced plans to begin Phase II of the Regional Niagara River/Lake Erie Watershed Management Plan following their successful application for New York State Consolidated Funding, which resulted in an award of $507,830 from the NYS Department of State to pursue the Plan. This project builds on three years of effort by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper for Phase I of a Niagara River Watershed Management Plan and is a continuation of a community-based watershed planning effort to improve and protect all of Western New York's water resources.

“As I stated in my ‘Initiatives for a Smart Economy’ address [link below], the protection and restoration of the health and integrity of Western New York’s fresh water systems is not only sound environmental policy but also represents a smart investment in our economic future,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz.

“Clean, healthy and accessible waterways are essential to the environmental health and continuing economic recovery of Western New York. I commend the DEP and their partners for the good work they are doing and for the positive legacy that will remain when they have completed the Plan.”

Phase II efforts will integrate the remaining sub-watersheds within the Lake Erie Watershed to develop a comprehensive, regionally-based Watershed Management Plan for Western New York. This phase will also address numerous ongoing and emerging water quality issues in order to help attract and support a multitude of recreation, tourism, and commercial businesses.

“We are a Great Lakes region, with two major coastal cities and a numerous waterfront communities that share access to 95% of North America’s fresh water”, said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.  “It is evident that our regional economic revitalization directly correlates to how we embrace, protect and enhance the quality of our water, and this planning effort helps us maximize these resources without sacrificing our quality of life and environment”.

Lake Erie and the Niagara River are both valued as natural resources, economic engines, sources of power, and for aesthetic and recreational purposes. However, the impairments of the Lake Erie-Niagara River Basin create real costs for WNY, severely undermining both their quality-of-life and their full economic development potential. When complete, the Watershed Management Plan will provide a blueprint for municipalities to maximize the economic benefits of the watershed while minimizing environmental impacts on it.

The mission of the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance is to foster collaboration and partnerships within the watershed to address regional water quality and quantity concerns and in doing so, protect and enhance our Lake Erie resource.

For more information:

• On the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, visit www.erie.gov/environment 

• On the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance, visit www.erie.gov/LEWPA

• On Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, visit www.bnriverkeeper.org 

• Erie County ‘Initiatives for a Smart Economy’ [PDF - 5,207 KB]

Public Meeting: Poloncarz to present Erie County Economic Development Plan

Mark C. Poloncarz, Erie County Executive, will present his Erie County Economic Development Plan at a Public meeting sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY 14226, from 5:30 – 7:00pm. [Map]

Poloncarz will detail his initiatives and provide a realistic blueprint of specific actions to enhance the quality of life in the county by leveraging assets and forming meaningful partnerships.

Key features:
• Action in support of regional land use planning: enhancing urban neighborhoods; containing urban sprawl; Protection of agricultural land and water quality.
• Support of strategic planning and management on a regional basis for the region-serving infrastructure, such as sewers, water, highways, etc.
• Action consistent with criteria for support of intergovernmental relationships
• Support of regional management: promotion, marketing and economic development of the region.
• Support of plans for Erie County waterfronts: protection and enhancement of the natural environment at the water's edge.
• Developing programs designed to address problems created by global warming and climate change.

Please join us for this informative and timely discussion.
The program is free and open to the public.
RSVP is not required. For more information, call the League office – 884-3550.

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To obtain a copy of INITIATIVES FOR A SMART ECONOMY prepared under the direction of Mark C. Poloncarz, Erie County Executive, Click Here.