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Corrupt officials welcome Shlumberger |
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Written by mike bernhard
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Thursday, 10 September 2009 |
They have to decide whether to require a full EIS or not. Amazingly, it's not a requirement, even though this is a mammoth facility harboring explosive and radioactive material, toxic undiluted chemicals, sevices hundreds of trucks and is situated next to a school and daycare centers, --oh, and and sits on top of a sole source aquifer.
Hi All,
Roughly 100 or so people (my best guesstimate) people showed up at the Horseheads High School to make comments to the Horseheads Village Board in a hearing about the "proposed" Schlumberger project in Horseheads. I say "proposed" because I am told that work at the site has already begun.
The crowd was mixed. Construction workers and Chamber of Commerce types generally want to get the project moving. A librarian, moms, grandmothers, schoolteachers, a nurse, a statistician, attorneys, scientists and others said they wanted a lot of caution and a full EIS (Environmental Impact Statement).
Several Schlumberger employees-- - made their pleas to the Board to embrace this project. An older gentleman said he came all the way up from Athens, PA, and threatened Horseheads residents saying "If you find the risks too great, WE will show you how to do this right."
The touted jobs was first and foremost on the "pro" side. It was brought up by a young farmer-woman I know that it's pretty hard to make $15/hr jobs translate into the $50,000 jobs promised-- but then that was later slapped down by a man who attributed this discrepancy to a lot of overtime. I'm still trying to make that math work, but perhaps these workers never sleep.
It was brought up by that same farmer-woman that crime levels increase with industy activity, a fact that seems to have eluded and strangely amused the very people who should have done their homework--which would have made them less amused. It was clear that Cooperative Extension hasn't gotten through to the Horseheads bunch yet--( I guess all those studies on Boomtown economies and activites have been summarily ignored and/or dismissed).
My gut says it's a done deal, but there's still some hoops the Board has to jump through. They have to decide whether to require a full EIS or not. Amazingly, it's not a requirement, even though this is a mammoth facility harboring explosive and radioactive material, toxic undiluted chemicals, sevices hundreds of trucks and is situated next to a school and daycare centers, --oh, and and sits on top of a sole source aquifer.
I think perhaps the presence of articulate folks who made it clear it would be irresponsible to not do an EIS may have made an impact.
Some news reports on this meeting:
http://nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp43.pdf
Energy Boomtowns and Natural Gas
http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Schlumberger-Public-Hearing-Held-In-Horseheads/E3v5xDAcDkWHgu7CFx9Uow.cspx
A public hearing Wednesday night brought concerns and
support for the Schlumberger project in Horseheads. The company wants
to build a natural gas drilling service facility at the Center in Horsheads.
Some
who spoke at the hearing said they wanted the Horseheads Village Board
to conduct a full scale environmental impact review of the project.
Village officials have said they were holding off on deciding whether
to do that until they get answers to questions they've asked the
company. Others at the hearing supported the project noting that it is
expected to bring 400 jobs to the area.
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20090909/NEWS01/909090456/1117
HORSEHEADS -- Citing environmental concerns, numerous people spoke
out against a proposed Schlumberger Technology Corp. project in
Horseheads during a public hearing Wednesday evening.
But
several other people who turned out at the Horseheads High School
auditorium spoke in favor of the project, pointing out economic
benefits.
Schlumberger
wants to build a $30 million natural gas exploration services facility
on about 90 acres it owns in The Center at Horseheads industrial park.
There
would be no drilling on the site, but the facility would support
natural gas companies that drill in the area, and there would be
chemicals and explosives stored on the property.
Company
officials estimate the project will create up to 400 jobs once the
facility is fully operational, in addition to construction jobs.
Those
projections didn't win over opponents such as Maureen Ferrell of Erin,
who recently retired as librarian at the Horseheads Free Library.
"The potential for a poisonous spill increases with every year that Schlumberger is allowed to use the village," Ferrell said.
"We
encourage you to do a full environmental impact statement to ensure
that every problem be resolved before Schlumberger comes into this
community," she said. "Schlumberger's proposal is missing too many
details. These jobs aren't worth endangering our children's health and
the village's safety."
Ruth
Young of Horseheads, a retired biology and chemistry teacher, is
concerned about the fluids used for hydraulic fracturing, especially
something known as chromium 6, a known carcinogen.
"My
question to Schlumberger is yes or no, will you put in writing that you
will or will not store chromium 6 compounds on-site? I think that's a
reasonable question," Young said.
Sherman
Moreland of Horseheads said a report by Schlumberger's own consultant,
Bergmann Associates, indicated there would be an average of 275 truck
trips per hour in and out of the site, and said the diesel pollution
alone will be significant.
But
the Schlumberger project had many supporters as well, including Kevin
Keeley, president of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce.
"I
love this project. I've seen good projects and bad, big and small.
Schlumberger is a first-class international corporate citizen," Keeley
said.
"They do it right. I'd like you to not only endorse the project but to do it expediently."
Thomas Gough of Horseheads also believes the Schlumberger project will be good for the community.
"We need jobs to keep the small business base growing," Gough said.
"I
say welcome Schlumberger. We thank you for picking Horseheads as your
Northeast hub. Let's give our children and grandchildren a chance to
stay in Horseheads."
A
couple of local contractors also talked about the economic impact
Schlumberger would have, including Jeff Welliver, president of Welliver
Construction.
"Environmental impact is a concern. I'm concerned about the economic environment," Streeter said."It's difficult to attract businesses here. If we don't advance the community and grow, we will eventually shrink."
http://www.the-leader.com/homepage/x244358745/H-heads-debates-Schlumberger
Horseheads, N.Y. -
The heated debate over the proposed Schlumberger
Technology Corp. facility continued with a lengthy public hearing
Wednesday, during which the Horseheads Village Board listened to nearly
50 comments during the first 2.5 hours of the hearing.
The board heard from local business owners, government officials and
economic development leaders on how Schlumberger – which services the
natural gas industry – will bring jobs, tax revenues and a much-needed
boost to the local economy with its planned facility in the Holding
Point industrial park in Horseheads.
They also heard from concerned area residents and environmentalists
about how the facility – which will be home base for a fleet of trucks
and will distribute potentially hazardous materials used in natural gas
drilling such as the chemicals used in hydrofracturing fluid – could
have adverse long-term impacts on air, water and quality of life.
Many who spoke at the hearing, held at Horseheads High School’s
auditorium, demanded the village conduct an Environmental Impact
Statement, a stringent review required under the N.Y. SEQR Act when
there is the potential for a project to have significant adverse impact.
Those concerned about the risks ranged from a Horseheads grandmother
frightened by heavy truck traffic to a fisherman who feared pollution
of Catharine Creek and Seneca Lake, into which stormwater runoff from
the project will drain.
A young nurse spoke of caring for asthma and cancer patients whom she
believed had been affected by industrial pollution in the area, and
urged village officials to carefully consider community health when
reviewing the Schlumberger project.
Sherman Moreland, a retired Horseheads attorney, recalled other
companies blamed for environmental pollution in the area over the
years, and wondered if similar problems would be caused by Schlumberger.
“You don’t realize the scope of this project, and what’s going to happen to the village,” Moreland said.
Kevin Keeley, president of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce,
endorsed the project and called Schlumberger a “first-class corporate
citizen” that would provide the area with “good solid jobs” for years
to come.
Others who spoke in favor of Schlumberger included Mike Hosey;
president and CEO of Elmira Savings Bank; local car dealer Don
Ferrario; representatives from three local construction companies
bidding on the Schlumberger project; Chemung County Executive Tom
Santulli, and George Miner, president of Southern Tier Economic Growth.
Several Schlumberger employees - some who’ve already moved into the
area company, and some hired locally in recent weeks - also spoke about
their positive experiences with the company.
“I’ve followed this company across the country,” said Daniel Harper, a
heavy equipment operator who recently moved to Corning. “We go through
rigorous training, and they’re very concerned with safety.”
The Horseheads Village Board and Horseheads Village Planning Board will
hold a joint workshop to continue its review of the Schlumberger
project at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 202 S. Main St.
Village officials will accept written comments until Sept. 23.
Schlumberger’s site plans, environmental impact forms and other
documents associated with the project are available to the public at
Horseheads Village Hall and at the nearby Horseheads Free Library, also
on South Main Street.
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