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DFNYC - Democracy For New York City - Toxic Natural Gas Drilling in NY State?

Why is this relevant?

The Greenway is a positive economic/ecological strategic alternative to Natural Gas extraction.

Lake Ontario and the Genessee River are at the Northern End of a watershed that comes right out the Marcellus Shale zone.

DFNYC - Democracy For New York City - Toxic Natural Gas Drilling in NY State?

Toxic Natural Gas Drilling in NY State? Written by Bernadette Evangelist Friday, 09 October 2009 Report from DFNYC member Dan Jacoby: Across the southern tier of New York, from the Hudson River to Lake Erie – including the New York City watershed – and extending through Pennsylvania, West Virginia and part of Ohio, 7,000 feet underground, is a rock layer called “Marcellus shale.” This rock layer contains enough natural gas in New York alone to meet current U.S. demand for 20 years, and gas drillers want it. The process drillers use to get the natural gas is called hydraulic fracturing, or “hydrofracing.” They pump huge amounts of water, sand and chemicals into the ground, opening fractures in the rock and pulling the natural gas out. Unfortunately, at best they only reclaim about 70% of the fluid. The rest is left behind – and it gets into the water supply. There is also new information showing that drilling may be putting toxic chemicals into the air. Report from DFNYC member Dan Jacoby: Across the southern tier of New York, from the Hudson River to Lake Erie – including the New York City watershed – and extending through Pennsylvania, West Virginia and part of Ohio, 7,000 feet underground, is a rock layer called “Marcellus shale.” This rock layer contains enough natural gas in New York alone to meet current U.S. demand for 20 years, and gas drillers want it. The process drillers use to get the natural gas is called hydraulic fracturing, or “hydrofracing.” They pump huge amounts of water, sand and chemicals into the ground, opening fractures in the rock and pulling the natural gas out. Unfortunately, at best they only reclaim about 70% of the fluid. The rest is left behind – and it gets into the water supply. There is also new information showing that drilling may be putting toxic chemicals into the air. In other states where hydrofracing has been used in various rock formations, far less of the fluid is used, and the health of local residents is still permanently damaged. Their symptoms are consistent with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other diseases. In addition, natural gas also gets into the water supply. Earlier this year, NBC News did a story about a Colorado couple who could literally light their tap water on fire. On New Year’s Day, in Dimock, PA, a water well exploded from natural gas buildup – that natural gas has been traced to drilling in the Marcellus shale layer there. New York City’s water supply is one of only five nationwide that doesn’t require a filtration plant. Allowing gas drilling in our watershed will change that, will probably cost upward of $20 billion – and still may not adequately protect our water supply. Earlier this year, Councilmember James Gennaro introduced Resolution 1850, which calls on the state legislature to ban hydrofracing in the New York City watershed. On September 30, Councilmember Tony Avella introduced Resolution 2191, which calls on the state legislature to ban hydrofracing statewide. Co-sponsors to date are: Charles Barron, Gale Brewer, Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Rosie Mendez. As New York moves closer to beginning hydrofracing, Pennsylvania has put a moratorium on the process, due to the environmental hazards. Meanwhile, the NY state Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released a draft report on this issue (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html ). It’s long, complex – and often avoids the real problems associated with hydrofracing. ProPublica describes it at: http://www.propublica.org/feature/new-york-state-paves-way-for-gas-drilling-with-release-of-review-930 Action Item DFNYC members may soon be asked to comment on this issue. Meanwhile, feel free to call your council member in support ofResolution 2191. A 60-day comment period is now open on the DEC report at:http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/SGEISComments/ . You can also ask for an extension of the comment period: http://www.citizenscampaign.org/action_alerts/alert1009.htm There are a lot of organizations involved in this issue. We want to provide links that help you find out about this and take action. Here are some of the ones we’ve found, but the fact that we’re providing these links does not mean that we endorse them or their actions. We’re just gathering information. Let us know what you find out as well. Groups involved in the issue: 1. http://damascuscitizens.org/ 2. http://nyh2o.org/index2.html 3. http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/index 4. http://www.riverkeeper.org/ 5. http://www.newyorkwater.org/ 6. http://www.catskillcitizens.org/news.cfm

Historic Erie Canal Aqueduct and Broad Street Corridor Master Plan

Historic Erie Canal Aqueduct and Broad Street Corridor Master Plan

Before there was this...

There was this!

And eventually ....?

Bicycle Commuter Superhighways in Copenhagen

Bicycle Commuter Superhighways in Copenhagen

The City of Copenhagen is currently planning to expand the existing, extensive network of bike lanes to extend farther out into the suburbs. A network of 13 high-class routes - 'bicycle superhighways' if you will - dedicated to bicycle commuters and aimed at encouraging more to cycle to work.

Bicycle Strategy Could Change our City

Prepared for the October 24th GreenRide and Bike Summit.
(now with improved audio)

Brooks development too speedy for some | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle:

Residents seek a clear plan for river corridor

Brian Sharp • Staff writer • December 1, 2009

After more than 20 years spent trying to bring investment to the Rochester's south river corridor, some neighbors now want things to slow down.

...

Historian John Curran gives a tour to Lynnetta Robinson, left, and Katrina Hanson of city property along the Genesee River. (SHAWN DOWD staff photographer)

...

Brooks Landing currently consists of a Staybridge Suites hotel, a retail/office building and a spin-off Boulder Coffee shop, all at Genesee Street and Brooks Avenue.
The next phase, to get under way in spring 2010 and open in summer 2011, proposes a six-story building — with a restaurant plus five floors and 85 beds of student housing — plus a drive-thru ATM and a two-story Chabad house, or Jewish community center.
After all that is completed, developer Ron Christenson is talking about condos.

Christenson envisions spending another $20 million on Brooks Landing, adding to the $20 million already invested.
A short distance up South Plymouth Avenue is the 120-unit Riverview Apartments, which opened in fall 2008. The city is studying how best to clean up the old Vacuum Oil site farther north, a riverfront property at the end of Flint Street. Stretching back from the river is seven privately-owned acres, including an old junkyard, that local businessman Thomas Masaschi bought for $660,000 last year. The land is assessed at $208,000.

City of Rochester | Highland Park-Canalway Trail Project

City of Rochester | Highland Park-Canalway Trail Project

About the Project

The Highland Park/Canalway Trail Project is a joint venture between the Town of Brighton and the City of Rochester. Fisher Associates and Trowbridge and Wolf Landscape Architects are on hand to assist the City with the project. 
   
The trail is intended to:

1. Connect Highland Park with the Erie Canalway Trail and the Genesee Riverway Trail,
2. Provide a safe pedestrian and bicycle route to Highland Park,
3. Build a cost-effective, context-sensitive, community-valued trail, and
4. Enhance the regional trail system.

Documents

• The Genesee Transportation Council's Regional Trails Initiative Final Report and Action Plan recommended this project as a "Near-Term Priority Project." See table 4 and page 54 of the document.
• Check out the 2004 Highland Park-Canalway Trail: Planning and Design Final Report  prepared by McCord Landscape Architects and Lu Engineers.
• View or download the July 1, 2009 Public Meeting slideshow that shows specific project details, photos, and renderings.

Project Timeline

Project Initiation → January 2009
Develop Alternatives → May-June 2009
Public Meeting → July 1, 2009
Trail Design & Approvals → July-Spring 2010
Bid & Award Project→ Summer 2010
Trail Construction → Fall 2010- Spring 2011

Questions?

Contact City project manager, Jeff Mroczek, at (585) 428-7124 or email him.