Having A Ball in Cuomo’s Back Yard

Hello, human friends! After a short hiatus, I am back online. It’s been a bit of a rough spell here for the past couple weeks– but I’ve gathered my thoughts and I am back online to give you weekly updates. My master left Facebook (seriously!), so I appreciate anyone who will share my blog on their Facebook page now that my master is off the social media radar (for good, he says).

Greg and me, this past summer.

So… what’s been going on for the past 2 weeks? I know one human who’s been a busy boy, and that’s my friend Senator Greg Ball (R,C–Patterson, NY). His latest press release is below… Please share it widely with other humans, and don’t be afraid to use the phone number at the bottom of the page… even if it’s just to call Ball and tell him thank you.

Bascially, the short version is that Ball will hold a press conference in Cuomo’s back yard on Monday, demanding that Cuomo tour the areas of PA where Marcellus activity is occurring.

Good luck, Greg! Here’s hoping your governor is not sold out like PA’s obviously is.

***Monday, October 17th at 10 a.m. in Mt. Kisco***

Brewster, N.Y. – (10/12/11) – Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) is holding a news conference next week where he will demand Governor Andrew Cuomo immediately tour Pennsylvania to see firsthand the devastation hydraulic fracturing can have on communities. The Senator is imploring the Governor to take steps to protect New Yorkers from the potentially devastating effects of hydraulic fracturing.

The news conference comes on the heels of the Governor’s refusal to further extend the public comment period on hydrofracking. Senator Ball hopes to rally the public, the legislature and the Governor to support a key piece of legislation he created that will set tough, new standards for safe hydrofracking in New York.

The Property Owner’s Bill of Rights (S5879) includes the following measures:

• Mandatory water and soil testing by an official governmental third-party for presence of chemicals used during the fracturing process prior to drilling.
• All fracking companies must agree to sign a Presumption of Causation Agreement with the State of New York.
• Mandatory full reimbursement to property owners by negligent gas companies for 150% of the real estate’s market value of property, based on estimates prior to drilling, and 100% of the cost for full remediation of soil and water. The company will also be accountable for full reimbursement of the land owner’s legal fees.
• Mandatory full remediation of soil and water, and free medical monitoring for life. All settlements are not to be taxed.
• Allow local governments to enact or enforce certain laws and ordinances relating to oil, gas and solution mining.
• Mandatory adherence to an environmental impact assessment process, similar to New York’s SEQR Process, to assess the impact to the environment from hydraulic fracturing.
• Mandatory disclaimers and warning statements on lease documents about the risk of contamination of soil and water, as well as the potential health affects, related to hydraulic fracturing spills.

Senator Ball is also demanding the Governor and his colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly tour Pennsylvania communities that have been impacted by hydrofracking before they allow the industry to step foot in New York. In August, Senator Ball joined Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox for a tour of Bradford County, Pennsylvania where he witnessed first-hand the impacts that hydrofracking can have on communities.

Senator Ball also held a hearing in Katonah, N.Y. where he heard from leading experts on the issue. The Senator invited representatives from the oil and gas industry to testify at that hearing, but all invitations were declined.

Who:         Senator Greg Ball

When:        Monday, October 17th at 10 a.m.

Where:     Mt. Kisco Village Hall

104 East Main Street

Mt. Kisco, N.Y. 10549

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Ali Skinner: (845) 200-9716.