NORWICH – A local grassroots group rallied on the grounds of East Park Saturday to protest the potential for natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in Chenango County, as well as four other surrounding counties where Governor Andrew Cuomo may permit it in the near future.
The rally, dubbed the “Rally to Protect Our Towns,” featured an extensive list of speakers and activists who stand in opposition of the practice of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Speakers included Howard Leib, Democratic candidate for the 51st NYS Senate District; and congressional Democratic candidate for the newly drawn 22nd District, Dan Lamb. Saturday’s event was the fourth of its kind in a series called “Rolling Rallies” that have taken place across the five Southern Tier counties of Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Chemung and Steuben – known as the “sacrifice zone,” where natural gas drilling could initially be permitted.
“This is such a critical issue. It’s a kitchen table issue,” said Lamb when referring to his campaign platform to stop reckless fracking by promoting clean drinking water, property rights and public health. Lamb is vying for the congressional seat against Republican incumbent Richard Hanna, who Lamb said has “voted party lines” and “turned 180 degrees from his campaign in 2010” when it comes to the highly-contested issue of gas drilling.
“People want someone who’s constant on this issue ... This is something that cuts across party lines because there is a lot of concern. There’s a lot of concern from the public, property values, and environmental perspectives,” said Lamb. “So many people in this area are tied up in their property values. We can’t do anything that might diminish that value.”
Lamb, who also holds a master’s degree in environmental policy, has been closely working with grassroots constituents for the last six years. His stance against fracking has earned him the support of several grassroots groups throughout the region.
Anti-fracking representatives from all 21 Chenango County townships also set up informational booths in the park during Saturday’s rally. The goal, according to organizers of the event, is to spread the word about the potential impacts of fracking and to make their voices heard.
“There are policies that our town boards can put in place to protect our towns,” explained event organizer Christine Brunner. “The (Department of Environmental Conservation) permits the drilling. Towns have the power through Home Rule to permit when this will happen, if it will happen,” she added. “We don’t have to be in a rush to drill.”
“Our biggest challenge is just raising awareness,” said Town of Norwich resident Barabara Collins. Collins has been advocating for a moratorium in the Norwich township for several months. “We need to let everyone know there are people against fracking for good reasons ... It threatens our way of life in Chenango County,” she said. “We don’t want to be a sacrifice.”
In contrast to the efforts of grassroots campaigns, landowner advocates for drilling have also voiced their protests in the last few weeks. Pro-drilling landowner coalitions partnered with farm bureaus, trade unions, chamber of commerces, tourism and economic development agencies and industry representatives to rally in Albany earlier this month, carrying with them the message to “stop obstructing upstate’s growth through needless delays of drilling.”
“Many people are just now beginning to catch up on the issue,” said Town of Oxford resident Mina Takahashi. “(Fracking) is a process never done in this area before and it’s important to understand what it all entails.”