New information on hearings:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced it has extended the public comment period on the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) governing potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale formation from Nov. 30 to Dec. 31.

DEC also has moved up the start time of the hearing in New York City on November 10.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for individual questions and speaker sign-up.  DEC staff will be available at this time to answer individual questions about the format and contents of the draft SGEIS.  The public comment session will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation has released a draft report on a process to drill for natural gas called "hydraulic fracturing," or "hydrofracing" (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html ).  The report is long, complex—and often avoids the real problems associated with hydrofracing—and the period for the public to comment on it has been extended to December 31.

More info and links to comment at the DFNYC site at http://dfnyc.org/content/view/2481/16/.

Under pressure from the people, the DEC will hold hearings around the state.  The one in New York City will be held:

When:      Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30 PM.
                 Doors will open at 5:30 when you can sign up to speak if you would like. You'll get five minutes.
Where:     Stuyvesant High School Auditorium, 345 Chambers Street, NYC

Directions: 1,2 or 3, A or C train to Chambers St. and walk west to the far side of West St.

And before the hearing: 

Rally to ban drilling.  Bring a sign to demand a state-wide ban. (Stay turned for expected time change.)

Scott Stringer has created a campaign that’s he’s calling “Kill the Drill.”  He is organizing this rally, asking for letters to Paterson, testifying, etc. to prevent gas drilling in New York City’s upstate watershed. 
Many of us believe this should be a statewide effort to solve this problem, not an upstate-downstate competition. 

When:   5:00 PM (expect a change from Stringer)
Where:  in front of Stuyvesant High School.

We must protect our beautiful state from pollution.  Come to the rally and hearing—and remember to comment to the DEC and to your elected officials on the DEC draft statement if you haven't already.  For more info, go to http://catskillcitizens.org/ , or if you would like to testify, you can also email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  They are co-ordinating testimony.