The notion that one study is critical to whether New York State will allow HVHF shale wells, or for that matter, regulate them effectively, is getting a bit far-fetched. Even to the point of people taking credit for advancing that notion - including one of Governor Cuomo’s former inlaws, RFK, Jr. The latest bit of media gossip about the on-going melodrama is a classic bit of journalistic over-simplification, wherein a complex process involving many actors is reduced to the purported outcome of some hearsay phone calls. Cuomo is obviously taking political cover on the issue, which, frankly, is fine. Since it has been a regulatory train wreck in the making. So here’s to RFK, Jr. Politically this sounds better than, “I saw Yoko in the lobby with a 220,000 comments and my knees gave way.” Whatever floats the boat dontcha know.
Even though the Governor denies the story his crew planted in the first place . . .
http://www.pressconnects.com/
Written by Michael Gormley
Associated PressALBANY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came as close as he ever has to approving fracking last month, laying out a limited drilling plan for as many as 40 gas wells before changing course to await the findings of a new study after discussions with environmentalist and former brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy Jr., several people familiar with his thinking told The Associated Press. The turning point, which could delay a decision for up to a year or longer, came in a series of phone calls with Kennedy. The two discussed a new health study on the hydraulic fracturing drilling method that could be thorough enough to trump all others in a debate that has split New York for five years.
“I think the issue suddenly got simple for him,” Kennedy told the AP, then went on to paraphrase Cuomo in their discussions: “’If it’s causing health problems, I really don’t want it in New York state. And if it’s not causing health problems, we should figure out a way we can do it.’”
Kennedy and two other people close to Cuomo, who spoke to the AP only on condition of anonymity because Cuomo is carefully guarding his discussions on the issue, confirmed the outlines of the plan the governor was considering to allow 10 to 40 test wells in economically depressed southern New York towns that want drilling and the jobs it promises. The plan would allow the wells to operate under intense monitoring by the state to see if fracking should continue or expand.They all said it was the closest Cuomo has come in his two years in office to making a decision on whether to green-light drilling.
Cuomo continues to refuse to talk about his internal process and wouldn’t comment for this story. He has been repeating the phrase he’s used for two years, that “science, not politics” will rule.
Kennedy believes Cuomo held off in large part because of the prospect of a new $1 million study by the Geisinger Health System of Pennsylvania, billed by property owners seeking safe fracking and environmentalists as a “large-scale, scientifically rigorous assessment” of the drilling experience in Pennsylvania.
Cuomo put in the clutch because his legal advisors figured that the DEC had made an irreparable mess of the regulatory process. The Geisinger study is a survey of people with health problems commonly associated with fracking - air and water pollution, accidents, sleep deprivation, trucking accidents, exploding gas lines - all being conducted in the only state in the Union with a gag order that specifically prevents doctors from sharing information on people that have been sickened by shale gas pollution.
http://www.nofrackingway.us/2013/02/19/fracking-health-study-in-pennsylvania/
The study will look at detailed health histories of hundreds of thousands of patients who live near wells and other facilities that are producing natural gas from the same Marcellus Shale formation which New York would tap. Unlike most studies funded by advocates or opponents of hydrofracking, this study would be funded by the Sunbury, Pa.-based Degenstein Foundation, which is not seen as having an ideological bent.
A study in a state with a gag order on physicians might have a slightly skewed outcome, don’t you think ? One study does not address the regulatory train wreck proposed by the DEC. At the same time Cuomo hired the state’s most notorious frackademic to determine how close they can run fracks to the NYC water lines.
“I think it will be pivotal,” Kennedy said. Preliminary results are expected within the year, but there is no specific timetable and final results could be years off. Kennedy is opposed to fracking unless it can be proven to be safe for the environment and public. Shortly after the conversations with Kennedy in early February, Cuomo’s health commissioner, Dr. Nirav Shah, mentioned the Geisinger study among three health reviews still pending and which could enter into Cuomo’s decision. Shah, a nationally respected public health figure, was an associate investigator at the Geisinger Center for Health Research before going to work for Cuomo.
Hamlet on the Hudson ? Hardly.
More like “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Train Wreck.”
If this sort of political melodrama is necessary to get this right, here’s to you RFK, Jr.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said- scary to be dependent on a “study” out of PA!
A medical survey of all the doctors that are not subject to the state gag order on talking to medical surveyors. Sounds like a plan.
Comment from Jill Obrig:
“What of course happened is that the DEC received over 200,000 comments on what they were proposing to do, and the opinion polls tipped against fracking. No phone chat necessary.” I am thankful for this comment. The media’s coverage of fracking disgusts me and this is a welcome relief as to what might be happening in this country- democracy. People calling, writing, emailing, texting, social networking, to let our elected officials who are suppose to work for us ( well, not Washington,that’s for sure) know WE WANT FRACKING BANNED IN NY. What this article states is that there are many many people who stated that the process that the DEC has floundered in , is actually , at this point illegal. So if the health study is now put in place, it can placate some of the cries concerning the legal process of coming to a decision based on “science’ The questions are many, why did PA. put a gag order on doctors there? Are they worried that the real health issues will come to light? And indeed there are many articles out there that address the health issues, so why is no one stating this in their articles? And this site has been around for quite some time, how come no one is addressing this site’s information ?
( the list or the harmed in Penn. http://pennsylvaniaallianceforcleanwaterandair.wordpress.com/the-list/ )