WASHINGTON DC — Following up on a report in “The New York Times” that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration is pursuing a plan that would permit hydraulic fracturing in parts of New York, Congressman Maurice Hinchey today urged the governor to take a series of 10 steps
before even considering the possibility of any natural gas drilling in the state. The congressman praised the governor for his thoughtfulness on the issue, but said that more steps need to be taken to adequately protect the environment and public health from the risks of the controversial gas extraction process that involves pumping toxic chemicals deep into the ground.
"I commend you for the deliberate and thoughtful way in which you have proceeded with shale gas drilling in New York," Hinchey wrote in a letter sent today to Cuomo. "It is clear that you want to make sure people’s water supplies are protected and I applaud the fact that you and your administration have not stood in the way of local communities that have passed hydraulic fracturing bans. However, despite the very hard work of, and sincere efforts by, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to update New York’s rules covering high-volume hydraulic fracturing, serious gaps remain."
Among Hinchey’s recommendations to the governor are: a cumulative impact analysis of the impact hydraulic fracturing would have in the state; a full assessment of public health risks; a comprehensive wastewater treatment plan; a rule to create further distance between potential drilling sites and water supplies; a prohibition on the use of toxic chemicals in all fracking fluids; a rule mandating public disclosure of all chemicals used at each well site before drilling commences; a dramatic increase in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) resources and staffing to oversee potential drilling; a complete ban on land spreading of fracking waste fluids; alignment of DEC’s gas drilling permit rules with the requirements of secondary lending institutions covering oil and gas activity on mortgaged properties; and waiting for the result of the ongoing EPA study of hydraulic fracturing that the congressman initiated.
Earlier this year, Hinchey urged Cuomo to withdraw the state’s revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) on high-volume horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale and other areas of New York State. Hinchey said at the time that the current form of the dSGEIS failed to address many of his concerns with the initial draft and also does not account for new information that has been discovered about the environmental, public health and economic risks associated with the natural gas drilling activity.
"We only have one chance to get this right, which is why we must take every possible step to protect the environment, public water supplies, and the overall health of residents from the dangers of hydraulic fracturing," Hinchey said. "Governor Cuomo has taken some positive steps forward to protect communities from fracking, but much more needs to be done before any consideration should be given to issuing permits for drilling."
Hinchey is a leader in Congress of the effort to protect drinking water and the environment from the risks of hydraulic fracturing. He is a co-author of the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act, which would mandate public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking fluid and close a loophole from the 2005 Bush-Cheney energy bill in order to allow the EPA to regulate fracking activities under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The congressman, who is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, also authored the appropriations language that led to the current EPA study on the risks that hydraulic fracturing poses to drinking water supplies.
(Carol Montana, photo)


From 2:00 to 6:30 p.m. Rock the Roof with WSUL and WVOS in a family fun day
The legislation would prohibit all telemarketers doing business in New York from delivering prerecorded messages by telephone call to customers without express consent from the recipient.
elected Trustees of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum will ceremoniously put the shovel in the ground to include the Wulff Gallery into the new addition to the center.
the planned addition to the Paul Dahlie Education building. The interior of the gallery will be a multi-flex area made up of a library, conference area and unique exhibit area that can be transformed into a meeting room. It is anticipated that the meeting room will accommodate up to 90 seats in a matter of moments and will be a great addition to the Western Sullivan County area. It will also be available for local needs.
who do not wear seatbelts, will be launched by the New York State Police on Monday, May 21 and continue through Sunday, June 3.










Gov. Cuomo – $35.6M in Grants for 5 Mid-Hudson Hospitals & Nursing Homes – Sullivan County Included in Grant / County Thanks Officials and Staff for Help in Securing Grant
Posted in Comments on June 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »
HUDSON VALLEY, NY (June 16, 2012) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced $35.6 million in grants to five hospitals and nursing homes in the Mid-Hudson region, continuing efforts to transform the state’s health care system to improve patient care, reduce costs, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality treatment.
"As a result of the hard work of the Medicaid Redesign Team and our actions to transform the state’s health care system, we have already taken important steps toward reducing costs and improving care for patients," Governor Cuomo said. "These grants to hospitals and nursing homes in the Mid-Hudson region will help our health care facilities deliver better quality care in a more efficient and cost effective manner so all New Yorkers have access to the best care possible when it is needed."
The awards are allocated through the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and are part of nearly $3 billion in funding that has been invested in health care reform through 20 separate HEAL NY phases over the past seven years.
The grants announced today will help implement recommendations from Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team, including enabling health care facilities to deliver more efficient, higher quality care through restructuring, merging, and realigning operations.
Additionally, the awards will help develop collaborative projects among health care providers and will support capital projects, such as the conversion of hospital inpatient space to outpatient and ambulatory care and inpatient nursing home capacity to other less-restrictive forms of long-term care.
DOH received a diverse group of applications from throughout the state. Additional funding will be made available in future rounds to support additional projects including efforts to help develop a high-quality, financially secure and sustainable health system in Brooklyn.
Senator John Bonacic said: "These smart investments in healthcare will increase the quality of patient care. I am very pleased in particular with the funding awarded to Catskill Regional Medical Center. I appreciate the tremendous work of that hospital’s staff and board in the successful revitalization of the hospital."
Assembly Member Aileen Gunther said, "This funding provides a windfall for Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, which is receiving $12.6 million, and Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty, which will receive over $1.1 million. The health care providers of the Hudson Valley have weathered disaster and I am pleased to see them receiving these new resources to help deliver exceptional care and update their operations."
Following is a list of HEAL NY awards for the Mid-Hudson region:
Catskill Regional Medical Center $12,600,000
Field Home-Holy Comforter $8,000,000
Sullivan County Adult Care Center $ 1,130,000
Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester $11,900,000
St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers $ 2,053,042
~~~~~~~~
County Thanks Dedicated Officials, Staff for Efforts on HEAL Grant
SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY – County Manager David Fanslau would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated County Legislators and employees, both former and current, responsible for the development of the County’s successful HEAL Grant application. It was announced today that the New York State Department of Health has awarded Sullivan County $1.1 million for improvements to the County nursing home located in Liberty.
“Thanks to the efforts of our Legislators and staff, the County will receive much needed funding to improve the efficiency of our Adult Care Center, and provide higher quality care to its residents,” said Fanslau.
The development of Sullivan County’s HEAL Grant application was a collaborative effort between Legislators and several County departments. Legislator Kathy LaBuda and former Legislator Ron Hiatt provided unwavering support for the grant initiative. Members of the current Legislature, which took office in January of this year, followed through with the efforts initiated by LaBuda and Hiatt.
A special thank you goes to James Galligan (former Administrator of the Adult Care Center), Catherine Rauschendorfer (current Administrator of the Adult Care Center) and their staff; Commissioner Robert Meyer of the Division of Public Works and his staff; and Arthur Hussey and Victoria Goddard of Grants Administration, who worked countless hours in coordinating and packaging the final application. It must also be noted that the efforts of Priscilla Bassett and the Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) were instrumental in the County’s success, and the County extends its sincerest appreciation to this organization.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click any service in this box to share this post with your friends!
Read Full Post »