We the undersigned urgently insist that New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis and Governor David Paterson provide individual paper copies of the dSGEIS upon request, extend the comment deadline to180 days and hold hearings in three more locations.
As residents of New York, proposed horizontal gas drilling in the Marcellus formation will directly affect us. On September 30, 2009, The Department of Environmental Conservation released the 809 page %u201Cdraft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Marcellus Shale and Other Low Permeability Gas Reservoirs.%u201D However, the 60-day comment period was started before paper copies were printed, and just four hearings have been scheduled, and then only in response to intense citizen pressure. It is unreasonable to expect New Yorkers to meaningfully review a document of this length and complexity under these conditions, and particularly so for citizens of limited means, mobility, and access to the
internet. Early review of the document indicates serious problems that will require time to address, and which have been compounded by a flawed process.
The credibility of this process rests on transparency and responsiveness to protect health and safety in this region.
Thank you for your consideration.
