Libous hears gas drilling, flood damage concerns at town hall meeting
NEW BERLIN – New York State Senator Thomas Libous, R-52nd District, opened the floor to any state issue during a visit with New Berlin area residents Thursday night at the fire department.
Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas development and efforts to recover from the September floods were the biggest concerns raised.
Kim Felter-Canarelli, who is running for town council in New Berlin under the “Keep Water Safe” ticket, asked Libous about recent media statements about the safety of drilling.
“It’s (drilling) a legitimate concern with undeniable health repercussions,” she said.
To support her claim, Felter-Canarelli provided a petition asking Libous to apologize for statements that she characterized as “disrespectful.”
Libous responded by stating that he believes hydraulic fracturing to be “as safe a matter as any other industry,” and that permitting decisions “should be left to the experts.” He cited geologists and scientists as being experts and explained that the process was not a legislative one, but in fact, rested in the hands of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“It is already legal to frack in New York State,” he said. “It’s just on the DEC to give out permits.”
Libous currently serves on an advisory board that reviews concerns and provides recommendations to the DEC. He also stated that he hopes the process will provide jobs for New York.
“We have to do everything we can to make sure these jobs go to New Yorkers first,” he said.
Also a major concern for many who attended was damage to private property during the September flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee.
“Every time it rains hard, our apartments have to be evacuated ... It’s mainly older folks and assisted living,” said Holly Bellerose. “The DEC said [we] couldn’t shore up the river in 2006 because it would harm the fish. What’s more important, fish or people?”
The senator said government’s doing everything it can to find support for those who lost property during the flooding. He stressed that his district had taken a severe hit a few times in a row and is suffering because of it.
“This is the second 100 year storm in six years and people have taken a beating,” he said “Maintenance plans will have to be made ... We need to get the point across that these people just can’t do it again.”
In conclusion, Libous said he thought the meeting went well and said he appreciated members of the community expressing their thoughts and ideas.
“People of Chenango County have always been great about bring their ideas forward,” he said, adding that people here are “polite” and “concise.”
Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas development and efforts to recover from the September floods were the biggest concerns raised.
Kim Felter-Canarelli, who is running for town council in New Berlin under the “Keep Water Safe” ticket, asked Libous about recent media statements about the safety of drilling.
“It’s (drilling) a legitimate concern with undeniable health repercussions,” she said.
To support her claim, Felter-Canarelli provided a petition asking Libous to apologize for statements that she characterized as “disrespectful.”
Libous responded by stating that he believes hydraulic fracturing to be “as safe a matter as any other industry,” and that permitting decisions “should be left to the experts.” He cited geologists and scientists as being experts and explained that the process was not a legislative one, but in fact, rested in the hands of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“It is already legal to frack in New York State,” he said. “It’s just on the DEC to give out permits.”
Libous currently serves on an advisory board that reviews concerns and provides recommendations to the DEC. He also stated that he hopes the process will provide jobs for New York.
“We have to do everything we can to make sure these jobs go to New Yorkers first,” he said.
Also a major concern for many who attended was damage to private property during the September flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee.
“Every time it rains hard, our apartments have to be evacuated ... It’s mainly older folks and assisted living,” said Holly Bellerose. “The DEC said [we] couldn’t shore up the river in 2006 because it would harm the fish. What’s more important, fish or people?”
The senator said government’s doing everything it can to find support for those who lost property during the flooding. He stressed that his district had taken a severe hit a few times in a row and is suffering because of it.
“This is the second 100 year storm in six years and people have taken a beating,” he said “Maintenance plans will have to be made ... We need to get the point across that these people just can’t do it again.”
In conclusion, Libous said he thought the meeting went well and said he appreciated members of the community expressing their thoughts and ideas.
“People of Chenango County have always been great about bring their ideas forward,” he said, adding that people here are “polite” and “concise.”
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