350.org has a documentary you might want to see.
Elcon Withdraws!
Citing unfavorable business climate and COVID-19 Elcon has withdrawn its application for a toxic wastewater facility on the banks of the Delaware. Many of us voiced out protests repeatedly at hearings and public meetings. The siting of the facility was seriously flawed and the the application had many serious deficiencies.
We should remember that the permitting process exists to allow things to be done that are generally not allowed. Often private interests seek permits that are clearly not in public interest, and which, if granted, would degrade the quality of life and impose risks to the environment. We celebrate the decision to withdraw, it was an ill conceived project from its inception.
Chautauqua at Home
My family has deep roots in the original Chautauqua — my wife calls it summer camp for grownups. For many decades people have pilgrimaged to this small community for intellectual, spiritual, and physical renewal. Alas, COVID-19 forced cancellation of the program on Chautauqua Lake near Jamestown, New York.
But be of good cheer, it’s free and you can participate from home starting Monday.
| Don’t miss the Chautauqua Lecture Series …Climate Change: Prioritizing Our Global and Local ResponseHow we talk about climate change is rapidly shifting. But amid the ongoing political debates, how are we — and should we be — responding? All events are at 10:45 a.m. unless noted.Monday, June 29: Christine Todd Whitman, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on “Government, Economics and Climate”Tuesday, June 30: Janis Searles Jones of Ocean Conservancy on “The Ocean and the Climate: How to Save Both”Wednesday, July 1: Katharine Wilkinson of Project Drawdown on “How to Reduce Greenhouse Gases”Thursday, July 2: Former UN official Amb. Christiana Figueres on “The State of Global Environmental Action”Please note a special start time of 11:30 a.m. for this programFriday, July 3: Geoffrey Kemp and Amb. Barbara K. Bodine discussing “The Geopolitics of Climate Change and the Environment” |
Government, Economics and the Climate – Climate Change: Prioritizing our Global and Local Response – CHQ Assembly
Christine Todd Whitman opens the week highlighting the role of government in combating climate change, what climate action looks like in economic terms and how Americans across the political spectrum can come together around collective action. Whitman, the first female governor of New Jersey, a…
Conversation over lunch or coffee is a big part of the Chautauqua Experience. At Pennswood, the community where I live, we are organizing Zoom/Conference Call discussion groups for those interested. If you want to participate in one of these, please use the contact form to let me know.
Felony to Protest? Evils of SB652
Pennsylvania is deeply and corruptly enmeshed with fossil energy interests. There is a bill pending, SB652, to make pipeline protests a felony on a par with assault.
Keep in mind that the products pipeline interests want to bring to market should be kept in the ground for the sake of our children. Not only do they damage health, but their use anywhere on the planet will destroy coastal real estate and much of Florida. Pipelines use government power to take private land for private use.
Nothing good comes to those in their path. So there are lots of excellent reasons for activists and property owners to risk jail. The pipeline interests want to up the ante.
Don’t be silent! Call your rep.
Can we Block Fracking of the Delaware?
Penn Environment is circulating the following email. Consider taking an active role…
Big news: we just learned that in 5 days there will be a vote to help establish a ban on fracking in the Delaware River watershed for good. 1
With 289 confirmed cases of people’s drinking water wells contaminated by fracking in Pennsylvania, we can’t risk the drinking water for the 15 million people who rely on the Delaware River. 2
Tell Governor Wolf: Vote to keep fracking permanently out of the Delaware River Basin.
The frackers are already railing against news of the vote by spreading misinformation and lobbying the Governor. That’s why he needs to hear from thousands of Pennsylvanians in the next few days to make sure this passes.
Eight years ago we helped flood the governor’s office with public comments in support of the first moratorium on fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Since then, it’s become only more clear, as fracking companies in PA have violated environmental and public health protections over 4,000 times in other parts of the Commonwealth.3
And so for eight years, we’ve kept our drinking water safe.
This new policy would permanently commit environmental regulators to keep fracking away from the Delaware River, giving all of us peace of mind that our water will always be safe from fracking’s cocktail of toxic chemicals. Add your name for a ban on fracking near the Delaware now.
You can be sure the fracking industry will fight this effort over the next few days, but with your support we can protect the Delaware.
Sincerely,
David Masur
PennEnvironment Research & Policy CenterP.S. Help us build even more support for protecting the Delaware by forwarding this to your friends and family!.
1. “AP Source: Permanent Delaware River drilling ban in the works,” Associate Press, September 7, 2017.
2. “Water Supply Determination Letters,” Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, accessed September 7, 2017.
2. Alana Miller and Adam Garber, “Fracking Failures 2017: Oil and Gas Industry Environmental Violations in Pennsylvania,” PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group, Spring 2017.
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Food and Water Watch Phone in
Ask your representative how “Demolishing the DEP” budget bills serve the public interest.
Food and Water Watch has the details (click link) and is organizing a statewide call in on August 17th. http://fwwat.ch/ProtectDEP. Don’t let this legislation happen!
An Inconvenient Sequel
In the frightening denial of reality we are seeing in Washington, and with the State of Pennsylvania acting against the interests of local communities and individuals this film will be a timely reminder of the grim facts. America and the world can not delay the transition to non-carbon energy sources. Delay has terrible consequences for everyone, but especially for those already surviving at a bare subsistence level.
Watch. Truth. In theatres July 28, 2017.
Yeager to Review Ordinance
Delaware Riverkeeper Network to Hold Community Meeting on Fracking Ordinance
You are invited to join Delaware Riverkeeper Network at a community meeting January 12 to review the fracking ordinance proposed by Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield Townships.
When: Thursday, January 12, 7:30 pm
Where: Newtown Friends Meeting House
219 Court St., Newtown, PA 18940
Why:
Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield Townships are considering adopting a gas and oil drilling amendment to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance that the three municipalities share. The “fracking” amendment would regulate gas and oil drilling in certain areas in the municipalities. Delaware Riverkeeper Network has reviewed the proposed ordinance based on its Municipal Guidebook “Defending the Environmental Rights of Pennsylvania Communities from Shale Gas Development – Strategies for Residents and Local Officials”.
Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Attorney Jordan Yeager will present a detailed review of the draft ordinance, followed by a question and answer session. Attorney Yeager argued the case for municipal and environmental rights that resulted in the state Supreme Court striking down major portions of gas industry-favorite Act 13 which preempted municipal zoning of oil and gas development. He is Partner and Chair of the Environmental and Public Sector Section at Curtin & Heefner LLP in Doylestown, Bucks County PA, has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, and is the recipient of the Clean Water Fund’s Florence Nielson Environmental Leadership Award.
Free and open to the public.
All welcome! Come to learn and discuss!
Act 13 Webinar Nov. 22
Act 13 is the infamous law that stripped local PA communities of their power to regulate pipelines and fracking. In recent time litigation seeking to recover those powers has been favorably decided by the PA Supreme Court. Although this has not fixed all the problems, it has given more options to municipalities. But not all towns have effective strategies. Get the facts and empower your local elected officials.
Click on the image above to register or click here to download a copy of the registration letter.
New Video on Elcon
Here is the trailer …
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