Tell Gov. Cuomo & NY’s Environmental Agency: 60 days is NOT enough!

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Susan Lerner

Sept 6, 2011

212-691-6421

Tell Gov. Cuomo & NY’s Environmental Agency: 60 days is NOT enough!

Virtual rally on September 6th: #180daysforNY

On September 6th from 4 to 8 pm groups from across New York State plan to engage Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in a virtual conversation on natural gas drilling by means of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” – using social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

New York’s leaders are preparing to release(recently released) a 1,000+ document that could guide how fracking proceeds in New York. But Governor Cuomo only plans to give New Yorkers 60 days to read it and share their concerns. More than 70 groups, and dozens of state lawmakers, from across the state recently sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and the DEC asking them to extend the comment period from 60 days to 180 days to allow New Yorkers time to weigh in on the state’s fracking guidelines, formally known as the revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, in addition to hosting more public hearings.

We are asking New Yorkers who care about New York’s water and communities and are worried about fracking to post pictures, videos, and comments on Governor Cuomo’s Facebook page and tweet him to let them know why a longer comment period is needed by his constituents.

WHO: Common Cause of New York, Environmental Advocates of New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, New York Public Interest Research Group (List in Formation)

WHAT: A virtual rally to let Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation know how constituents around New York State feel about natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” and why a longer public comment period is needed.

WHEN: Tuesday September 06, 2011 at 04:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

WHERE: New York