CLEARWATER ON FRACKING, OIL TRANSPORT, ESTUARIUM PROJE

Monday, December 22, 2014   6:00 AM - 8:00 AM

In this segment we look at issues affecting New York’s water supply, including fracking, oil and gas transport in the Hudson valley, the need for a transition to renewables, and asking what the heck is an Estuarium.

Last week Governor Cuomo announced a ban on fracking in NY state, citing unresolved health issues and dubious economic benefits of the widely used gas-drilling technique. With us to talk about what this and other developments mean for water quality in NY are Don Raskopf and Shameika Hanson, speaking from the Beacon, NY office of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Clearwater works to protect the Hudson River, its tributaries and related bodies of water through innovative environmental programs, advocacy, and celebrations designed to inspire and activate the next generation of environmental leaders. Its namesake boat is a 106' sloop launched in 1969 by Pete Seeger and friends.

Don is a long time Clearwater member, recently elected to the board of directors and a cofounder of Ban Fracking Now, a joint effort of Beacon Climate Action and the Environmental Action department. Shameika is Clearwater's new Volunteer Coordinator and Special Events assistant, and graduated this year from Stony Brook University with a BA in Environmental Humanities.