Lauren Brois November 16th, 2009

After the first day of workshops we had a wonderful dinner where our congressman Maurice Hinchey gave a great speech about many of the current environmental issues in NY.

Hinchey mentioned how he was currently working on a bill that will reduce C02 emission by 17% in 2020 and 80% in 2050. If this bill passes through congress it will return to 2005 emission levels by 2050. He spoke with pride about New York State and New Paltz, his alma mater. We learned that NY is actually the 14^th most heavily forested area in the nation.

My favorite part of his speech was when he spoke about natural gas and hydraulic fracturing. He told us the “very interesting chemicals” (like benzene) used to extract the natural gas from deep underground are actually not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s authority to regulate benzene was removed in 2005, when the agency “was stripped of their water regulatory authority,” which allowed for unregulated drilling in the US to happen. Oil and gas drilling is presently not regulated under the EPA.

The contents of the fluid used for fracking are not all announced because the solutions are protected under private business laws. Hinchey wants to see federal regulation step in to address the dangers fracking has to our water supply.

Hinchey ended his talk by reminding us that the answers to environmental issues will be found with the help of our educational system and support for political leaders that want to make sustainable advances!

Recycling Club and NYPIRG with Maurice Hinchey!

Check out this picture in the Oracle here

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