Gas Free Seneca plans Watkins Glen rally

Please come to a rally on Monday, March 18th at 5:00 pm in Watkins Glen. We need you, and everyone involved in protecting the region from Gas Industry Infrastructure, to join in.Here is a summary of recent events surrounding Seneca Lake and why we need to act:Based on recently released documents detailing strike slip faults and the unsuitability of the salt caverns for storage, Senator Nozzolio, (not a representative of Schuyler County where the facility is to be built, but of Seneca, and Ontario) wrote a letter to DEC Commissioner Martens saying that Seneca Lake is not an appropriate site for this facility. Seneca County Environmental Affairs Committee then followed suit, announcing a unanimous vote to draft a resolution and write to Martens as well, echoing Nozzolio’s sentiments. In essence, as other counties and representatives speak out, our own representatives and the DEC fail to represent us. WHY IT IS URGENT: Inergy has purchased the NYSEG gas storage facility next door to the salt plant, is calling it Arlington gas storage, and has just applied to FERC to expand the natural gas storage, asking that it be fast-tracked because it will have virtually “no impact on landowners or the environment and therefore there will be no public opposition” (of course, they are claiming that this is an entirely separate entity from the LPG facility- no segmentation to see here folks, just keep it moving). FERC tends to rubber stamp these things, and Inergy is trying to sneak this through in preparation for additional expansion- the massive industrialization and gas storage/transport hub that we’ve been warning about is beginning. New construction equipment is arriving on the site and Inergy is beginning to build; so certain that this will all go through. The DEC needs to stand up for us, or we will stand up for ourselves. The theme of the rally will focus on the abundant, sustainable bounty we cherish here in the Finger Lakes. Bring with you an item that you think represents that bounty: a bottle of wine, a brick of locally made cheese, maple syrup, honey, a muffin from a local bed and breakfast, your fishing pole, your swimming goggles, anything from our region that means something to you. We shall meet on the sidewalk in front of the Watkins Glen Gorge entrance, on Route 14 (Franklin Street) Watkins Glen, NY 14891 at 5:00pm, and walk down the street to the lake. If you can’t get there by 5:00, you can catch up with us along the route.