Ban Hydrofracking in NY State Forests
The New York State Department of Conservation's stated mission is, "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources..." High volume methane extraction, also known as hydrofracking, is incompatible with the DEC's mission and represents a failure to protect our 'commonwealth' for future generations of New Yorkers.
The people of New York, for whom these lands are managed and protected, say "No" to the miles of roads and pipelines, spills, explosions, contamination of water and wildlife, 5-acre dead zones for well pads, heavy trucks and equipment, 24/7 lights, diesel generators, and all the other cumulative impacts of industrializing our forests.
New York State Forests are not a resource to exploit, rather, they are a promise to protect and preserve. We demand that the State of New York keeps its promise to future generations of New Yorkers.
We, the undersigned, demand that the New York State Department of Conservation immediately cease all new leasing of mineral rights in State Forests and invoke an immediate, permanent ban on both horizontal and vertical hydrofracking on all public lands administered by the DEC.
Whereas:
1. The State Forests of New York are held in trust for the people of New York;
2. The New York State Department of Conservation's stated mission is, "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources;"
3. High volume methane extraction, also known as hydrofracking, is incompatible with the DEC's mission and represents a failure to protect our 'commonwealth' for future generations of New Yorkers.
