Vox.com - January 22, 2017
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THE BUFFALO NEWS - January 22, 2017
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THE HILL - January 21, 2017
Sanders on women's march: Trump 'made a big mistake'
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THE BUFFALO NEWS - January 22, 2017
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Women March in Unprecedented Numbers in DC, Buffalo and Beyond in Support of Women's Rights, Safety and Health
THE BUFFALO NEWS - January 22, 2017
THE BUFFALO NEWS - January 22, 2017
Friday, December 9, 2016
Gas Pipeline Leaked for Over 1 Year in a NY State Forest
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| The gas leak shown in the video. |
Nearby was a marker in the ground indicating that this was the location of a National Fuel Gas pipeline, suggesting that this was a gas leak. Weatherley spotted a total of 4 leaks in the area and recorded a closeup video of one of them.
See a 10 second video clip showing a closeup of the leak in the photo with sound: click here to open in YouTube.
View the full video (2 minutes): click here
Weatherley called National Fuel Gas who said they would handle it and that he should leave the area, according to a statement posted online with his video. He went back to his car with his friend and the company called back. They verified that there was a gas leak and that they wouldn't be able to do anything until after Christmas.
Contacted by the Olean Times Herald, Karen L. Merkel, National Fuel corporate communications director, said on Friday, Dec. 2, that the company has been aware of the leak for some time.
When it was discovered, it was determined to be “a Type 3 leak that did not require an urgent fix based on its location” in a rural area, Merkel said.
“We knew about the leak long before we saw it on YouTube,” Merkel said.
Late Friday afternoon, Merkel said crews had measured the extent of the leak, which had not changed in over a year.
However, Merkel said, “because of the volume of calls received about this leak in light of the Facebook and YouTube videos, we are in the process of repairing it so our system isn't inundated with leak calls that does not involve an inherent safety risk.”
To read the full report at Olean Times Herald, click here.
See also: Gas leak has now been repaired, click here.
Editorial Comments:
National Fuel knew that this pipeline was leaking for over 1 year and did nothing to stop it until it was spotted by citizens and posted on YouTube. Surprising, and at the same time, troubling.
This was not a small leak. Those were not simply gas bubbles in the photo and video. A sizeable mass of water was constantly being lifted above the surface of the surrounding puddle. It would take substantial amount of gas to do that and to constantly maintain it.
It's difficult to accept that this was not a safety hazard. What would happen if someone tossed a lighted cigarette butt in the vicinity of that leak? Explosion? Forest fire?
Safety aside, natural gas is primarily methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. National Fuel said that the extent of the leak "had not changed in over a year."
How many Type 3 leaks like this exist for a year or more in all of the gas pipelines in NY State? What is the total contribution of all such leaks to greenhouse gas emissions in the State? We need to know this information to accurately assess the full contribution of natural gas operations to global warming.
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| Gas pipeline (blue line) in Boyce Hill State Forest near Franklinville, NY |
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Fracking -- No Complaints, No Problems -- Right? Wrong!
Drillers Silence Fracking Claims With Sealed Settlements
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. and Mark Drajem
The companies insisted hydraulic
fracturing -- the technique they used to free underground gas -- wasn’t
the cause. Nevertheless, in 2011, a year after the family sued, Range
Resources Corp (RRC). and two other companies agreed to a $750,000
settlement. In order to collect, the Hallowiches promised not to tell
anyone, according to court filings.
The Hallowiches aren’t alone.
In cases from Wyoming to Arkansas, Pennsylvania to Texas, drillers have agreed to cash settlements or property buyouts with people who say
hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, ruined their water,
according to a review by Bloomberg News of hundreds of regulatory and
legal filings. In most cases homeowners must agree to keep quiet.
The strategy keeps data from regulators, policymakers, the news media and health researchers, and makes it difficult to challenge the industry’s claim that fracking has never tainted anyone’s water.
“At this point they feel they can get out of this litigation relatively cheaply,” Marc Bern, an attorney with Napoli Bern Ripka Sholnik LLP in New York who has negotiated about 30 settlements on behalf of homeowners, said in an interview. “Virtually on all of our settlements where they paid money they have requested and demanded that there be confidentiality.”
“We are transforming our energy infrastructure in this country from burning coal for electricity to potentially burning a lot of natural gas,” Aaron Bernstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in an interview. Non-disclosure agreements “have interfered with the ability of scientists and public health experts to understand what is at stake here.”
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. and Mark Drajem
Chris and Stephanie
Hallowich were sure drilling for natural gas near their Pennsylvania
home was to blame for the headaches, burning eyes and sore throats they
suffered after the work began.
The Hallowiches aren’t alone.
In cases from Wyoming to Arkansas, Pennsylvania to Texas, drillers have agreed to cash settlements or property buyouts with people who say
hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, ruined their water,
according to a review by Bloomberg News of hundreds of regulatory and
legal filings. In most cases homeowners must agree to keep quiet. The strategy keeps data from regulators, policymakers, the news media and health researchers, and makes it difficult to challenge the industry’s claim that fracking has never tainted anyone’s water.
“At this point they feel they can get out of this litigation relatively cheaply,” Marc Bern, an attorney with Napoli Bern Ripka Sholnik LLP in New York who has negotiated about 30 settlements on behalf of homeowners, said in an interview. “Virtually on all of our settlements where they paid money they have requested and demanded that there be confidentiality.”
Energy Transformation
Because the agreements are almost always shrouded by non-disclosure pacts -- a judge ordered the Hallowich case unsealed after media requests -- no one can say for sure how many there are. Some stem from lawsuits, while others result from complaints against the drillers or with regulators that never end up in court.“We are transforming our energy infrastructure in this country from burning coal for electricity to potentially burning a lot of natural gas,” Aaron Bernstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in an interview. Non-disclosure agreements “have interfered with the ability of scientists and public health experts to understand what is at stake here.”
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Gov. Cuomo: Protect our Health and Safety from Fracking
Over two dozen environmental and public health organizations have launched www.callcuomo.com to remind the Governor of his promise to put the health and safety of New Yorkers first. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to show your support and let the Governor know that you haven’t forgotten his words.
Take Action: Call Governor Cuomo today at (866) 584-6799 and tell him that he must keep his promise to protect our health and safety, and wait for the science and facts from critical health studies before making a decision about whether to move forward on fracking.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
HydroFracking News Briefs
Excerpts from articles in the news and blogs
NY State Won't Fund Hydrofracking Health Impact Study
By David Kowalski
April 4, 2012
Senator Mark Grisanti said "It's very difficult to do a health study on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in NY state when it's not occurring here."
Read the full article here and see a video by Dr. Sandra Steingraber entitled "Will NY Regs on Fracking Protect Our Health?"
Another Voice / Hydraulic fracturing
New Yorkers have a right to know the health impacts
By Lois Marie Gibbs and Larysa Melnyk Dyrszka
April 10, 2012
New York State may be on the verge of allowing fracking on a large scale across the state. Yet, despite all of the information indicating that there will be negative impacts on our communities and public health from fracking, our elected officials have not yet studied the potential health impacts to identify the risks involved.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has stated repeatedly that science will drive New York’s decision on whether to proceed with this extreme form of fossil fuel extraction. But on the issue of health, the science hasn’t been done. The New York State Assembly has called for an independent health impact assessment on fracking by including an appropriation in its budget proposal. The State Senate and the governor should follow suit and ensure that this critical study is funded in the final budget.
As chairman of the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee and member of the Budget Conference Committee, Buffalo’s own Mark Grisanti has a critical role to play. He can and should fight for this appropriation in the Senate and the governor’s office.
Read the full article at BuffaloNews.com
Grisanti proposes fracking safeguards
Bill would prohibit treatment of water at public facilities
By Charlie Specht
April 7, 2012
State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti on Friday announced legislation that would prohibit treatment of water from hydraulic fracturing at public facilities statewide, create a tracking program for the waste and enact other environmental safeguards.
But Grisanti, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, said he would not support or oppose the controversial gas drilling process until the state completes its final environmental impact study.
“It’s preliminary,” he said. “It’s too early to tell.”
As Grisanti was confronted by environmental activists demanding a complete ban on fracking, his chief political opponent called for more education on the issue before any action is taken.
“We need to see the full scope of their final draft of regulations before we rush to start the drilling,” former Erie County Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick said as he urged consideration of alternative energy methods.
Read the full report at BuffaloNews.com and see a video of Sen. Grisanti's presentation and the reactions of fracking opponents including Rita Yelda of Food & Water Watch.
Links to Press Releases
Senator Grisanti announces legislative package aimed at protecting our environment with regards to hydrofracking
By Mark Grisanti - April 4, 2012
Contains links to the proposed legislation.
Coalition Urges NY Sen. Grisanti to Support Statewide Fracking Ban
By New Yorkers Against Fracking - April 5, 2012
New Yorkers to Senator Grisanti: Ban Fracking
By Rita Yelda - April 6, 2012
NY State Won't Fund Hydrofracking Health Impact Study
By David Kowalski
April 4, 2012
The $132,600,000,000 budget passed by New York State last week did not
include funds for a $100,000 study intended to protect the health of NY
residents from the fallout of high-volume hydraulic fracturing
(hydrofracking) already seen in other states.
Many lawmakers, as well as the governor and the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), seem bent on moving forward on
unconventional shale-gas drilling. Sadly, they ignored sound advice from
250 physicians and healthcare/scientific experts who recognize the lack of a Health Impact Assessment as a major flaw in the DEC’s draft hydrofracking regulations.
Read the full article here and see a video by Dr. Sandra Steingraber entitled "Will NY Regs on Fracking Protect Our Health?"
Another Voice / Hydraulic fracturing
New Yorkers have a right to know the health impacts
By Lois Marie Gibbs and Larysa Melnyk Dyrszka
April 10, 2012
New York State may be on the verge of allowing fracking on a large scale across the state. Yet, despite all of the information indicating that there will be negative impacts on our communities and public health from fracking, our elected officials have not yet studied the potential health impacts to identify the risks involved.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has stated repeatedly that science will drive New York’s decision on whether to proceed with this extreme form of fossil fuel extraction. But on the issue of health, the science hasn’t been done. The New York State Assembly has called for an independent health impact assessment on fracking by including an appropriation in its budget proposal. The State Senate and the governor should follow suit and ensure that this critical study is funded in the final budget.
As chairman of the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee and member of the Budget Conference Committee, Buffalo’s own Mark Grisanti has a critical role to play. He can and should fight for this appropriation in the Senate and the governor’s office.
Read the full article at BuffaloNews.com
Grisanti proposes fracking safeguards
Bill would prohibit treatment of water at public facilities
By Charlie Specht
April 7, 2012
State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti on Friday announced legislation that would prohibit treatment of water from hydraulic fracturing at public facilities statewide, create a tracking program for the waste and enact other environmental safeguards.
But Grisanti, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, said he would not support or oppose the controversial gas drilling process until the state completes its final environmental impact study.
“It’s preliminary,” he said. “It’s too early to tell.”
As Grisanti was confronted by environmental activists demanding a complete ban on fracking, his chief political opponent called for more education on the issue before any action is taken.
“We need to see the full scope of their final draft of regulations before we rush to start the drilling,” former Erie County Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick said as he urged consideration of alternative energy methods.
Read the full report at BuffaloNews.com and see a video of Sen. Grisanti's presentation and the reactions of fracking opponents including Rita Yelda of Food & Water Watch.
Links to Press Releases
Senator Grisanti announces legislative package aimed at protecting our environment with regards to hydrofracking
By Mark Grisanti - April 4, 2012
Contains links to the proposed legislation.
Coalition Urges NY Sen. Grisanti to Support Statewide Fracking Ban
By New Yorkers Against Fracking - April 5, 2012
New Yorkers to Senator Grisanti: Ban Fracking
By Rita Yelda - April 6, 2012
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