by Thaddeus Flint
The Million Dollar Staircase at the Capitol Building in Albany echoed with protest last Wednesday as citizens and politicians met as one to demand Governor Cuomo conduct a comprehensive health impact study of natural gas pipelines that are proposed to crisscross the State.
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“Health and safety first, Governor Cuomo!” chanted a crowd of over two hundred at the December 9 press conference. A large number of protesters were from Stephentown, Nassau, East Nassau, and Schodack, some of the local towns the Northeast Direct Pipeline is slated to slice through.
At the front of this group stood a powerful line of government officials, including Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Assemblyman Phil Streck, and State Senator Neil Breslin, who had come out to show support for their constituents, and non-support for a pipeline activists, doctors, and scientists are saying could transport carcinogens through local towns, homes, farms and forests. Ironweed Author William Kennedy and Stephentown Councilman-elect Gerry Robinson were also seen lending their support.
Both the American Medical Association and the Medical Society of the State of New York are also calling for medical impact studies, similar to what was done in the lead-up to the ban on Fracking in the State.
“The gases released from compressor stations include known human carcinogens, substances that harm the respiratory system, and chemicals that have adverse effects on the brain and cognitive function,” said University of Albany Institute for Health & Environment Director David Carpenter. “These are not acceptable risks to the people who live nearby.”
“It is imperative that before any approvals are granted all potential threats to the public’s health be identified,” demanded Executive Jimino.
Senator Breslin was even more blunt. “We have both sides here, we have the legislature, local government, saying no new compressor stations, no new pipelines!”
“The bottom line is, at the end of the day, we don’t need this.” said Assemblyman Streck who advocated moving forward with safer alternative energy options such as wind and solar.
Kinder Morgan, the company behind the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline, is still moving forward, whether anybody needs it or not. A community forum– one of the permit requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)– will be held Thursday, December 17 from 6 to 8 pm at Birch Hill Catering in Castleton-On-Hudson.
“It’s a good chance for residents and others to talk one-on-one with the folks that will actually be working on building the project,” Allen Fore, Vice President of Public Affairs for Kinder Morgan told WAMC radio.
A light buffet will be served.[/private]