Barber Hails 'De Facto' Gas Drilling Moratorium
Challenges Seward to Discuss Issue in Public Forums
Calling Gov. Paterson's directive to the Department of Environmental Conservation yesterday a "de facto moratorium" on gas drilling, state Senate candidate Don Barber (D & WFP-Caroline) credited concerned citizens for raising public awareness about the issue. "We weren't the only voice pointing out that the DEC's regulations don't cover the new techniques drillers intend to use all over our region. Local citizens raised legitimate concerns."
Barber, who has called numerous times for the DEC to put proper regulations in place before issuing drilling permits, pointed out that the state is now following the conservative path he advocated. Yesterday, Judith Enck, the governor's environmental adviser said, "Our goal is not to have a bunch of permits scoot through before the environmental impact statement is done."
Enck predicted that the review will not be completed until the spring. Crucial to the process are public hearings and a comment period. According to The Press-Sun Bulletin, "The regulatory update will focus on the impact on groundwater, surface water, wetlands, air quality, aesthetics, noise, traffic and community character."
Barber urged the public to become involved with the DEC's Environmental Impact Statement process to make sure proper protections are put in place. "I'm certainly going to keep raising questions about how we're going to protect the land and the health of our families and children. We should extract the natural gas under us because it burns cleaner than oil and coal and can be a part of New York's energy independence strategy," Barber said. "But it must be extracted in an environmentally responsible way."
The candidate challenged his opponent, Jim Seward, to explain why he said Barber's call for a drilling permit moratorium was "irresponsible." Noting that taking the time to understand drilling's impact on our communities was conservative, Barber said, "Jim Seward refused to take any of the environmental threats gas drilling poses seriously. Our constituents want informed legislators, not name-callers. Personal attacks also affect citizens who have deeply held concerns. They don't deserve that kind of treatment."
Barber is ready to meet the 22-year incumbent in public forums around the district to discuss the issue. "The public has plenty of questions about the huge changes drilling brings with it. Let's compare ideas in a free and open discussion so the people can choose which candidate knows the facts and cares about their health and well-being."
