Starkey considers hydrofracking moratorium

Oct 11, 2011 at 04:26 pm by Observer-Review


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Starkey considers hydrofracking moratorium

    DUNDEE—Members of a group of residents brought concerns about hydrofracking to the Starkey town board on Thursday, Oct. 6. The group requested the board to consider a one year moratorium on the controversial gas drilling process.
    Town resident Jack Ossont said he has seen the destruction in Pennsylvania that has resulted from the process. Ossont maintained the corporations have spent billions of dollars to ensure the public does not hear about the destruction. Ossont maintained the end product would be a loss of tax revenue as well as impact on air, soil and water. Ossont urged the board to act immediately. Several other residents expressed concerns about wastewater disposal and the negative impact on the local tourism industry. Jack Wilbert said he lives in Tyrone and wrote to Gov. Cuomo asking why drilling is being done in a natural watershed.
    Following comments, Councilman Fred Shoemaker said personally he feels the board is in agreement with the comments presented by the residents. Shoemaker said he would like to get a committee together to discuss the matter. Shoemaker added, “We don’t have the final word on the state’s position. The main thing is to do a moratorium at the appropriate time.” Planning board member George Lawson said, “A moratorium is not the end. This needs the hard work of a committee.”
    In other business: The board passed resolution requesting New York State to apply the same standards on hydrofracking that the state has put in place for the Syracuse and New York City watersheds.
    The next meeting of the Starkey town board will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. The meeting will be in the Starkey town hall on Seneca Street in Dundee.

 

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