Editor’s Note. Neil Zusman. 29 Dec 2024. Here is a link to search for all the articles about the New York Water Rangers on eany.org, Environmental Advocates of New York.
When looking for archived press releases, I cannot always locate the item in hand. This first press release no longer exists anywhere on the internet but here. The second is pulled from archive.org’s WayBack Machine. The third in 2012. Not much has happened for the Water Rangers recently. I look forward to hearing from you about this campaign.
Here is a video I discovered you may enjoy.
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ALBANY, NY (05/04/2011)—The New York Water Rangers, individuals working to protect state waters from dirty gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” today thanked the State Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee for passing legislation that would close a loophole in state law allowing the gas industry to circumvent requirements for the management and disposal of hazardous waste (A.7013 / S.4616).
The Defining Hazardous Fracking Waste bill would update state law so that any drilling waste that meets the characteristics of hazardous waste is subject to all state regulations related to its generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal.
“Why should the gas industry get a free pass on hazardous fracking waste? If wastewater generated by dirty gas drilling and fracking is hazardous, it must be treated as such in order to protect the health and safety of our communities and our waters.”
The New York Water Rangers are now calling on members of the Assembly Codes Committee to pass the bill without haste and keep it on track.
A new Marist College poll revealed that 41 percent of New Yorkers oppose fracking, and 21 percent aren’t sure where they stand on the issue. We’re committed to educating these undecided New Yorkers, especially the state lawmakers among them.
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Environmental Advocates of New York’s mission is to protect our air, land, water and wildlife and the health of all New Yorkers. Based in Albany, we monitor state government, evaluate proposed laws, and champion policies and practices that will ensure the responsible stewardship of our shared environment.
We work to support and strengthen the efforts of New York’s environmental community and to make our state a national leader.
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New York Water Rangers Applaud Assembly for Acting to Protect State Waters from Hazardous Waste
Legislation Would Require Fracking Waste be Treated as Hazardous Waste
(ALBANY, NY)—The New York Water Rangers, individuals and organizations working to protect state waters from dirty gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” thanked the State Assembly today for passing legislation that would close a loophole in state law allowing the gas industry to circumvent requirements for the management and disposal of hazardous waste (A.7013 / S.4616).
The bill would update state law so that any drilling waste that meets the characteristics of hazardous waste is subject to all state regulations related to its generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. The bill passed the Assembly today by a wide margin. “The New York Water Rangers applaud the Assembly for bravely stepping up to protect our waters from hazardous waste. What’s so special about the gas industry that drillers get a free pass on hazardous waste? If wastewater generated by dirty gas drilling and fracking is hazardous, it must be treated as such to protect our communities and our drinking water.
Our families deserve to know what’s going into our water and if it’s safe to drink. After millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater was dumped into drinking water supplies in Pennsylvania, that state asked drillers to stop disposing wastewater in their local treatment plants. New York would be right to do the same. It’s the least we can do to protect our water from fracking.” The New York Water Rangers are now calling on the State Senate to pass the bill before the Legislative Session ends on June 20th.
The Assembly passed legislation last week that would extend the current moratorium on fracking until next year.Due to a loophole in current state law, solid and liquid fracking wastes are not subject to oversight or testing. As such, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation has no record of fracking wastes treated by Publicly Owned Treatment Works in Auburn, Watertown, Buffalo, Cortland and Cayuga Heights. Hazardous wastewater may have passed through these facilities, which are unprepared to handle fracking wastes with toxic amounts of salts, heavy metals and radioactive particles.
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The New York Water Rangers campaign is supported by a network of organizations working to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers and one of our most precious environmental resources—water—from the dangers of irresponsible, poorly regulated, and under-inspected natural gas exploration and development. The campaign was launched by Environmental Advocates of New York and is supported by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Earthjustice, EARTHWORKS Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Riverkeeper. Visit www.CleanWaterNotDirtyDrilling.org to learn more.
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June 20, 2012
NY Water Rangers Applaud Assembly on Passage of Fracking Health Study Measure
Groups Praise NYS Assembly for Acting to Protect New Yorkers from Fracking
ALBANY, NY (6/20/2012)—In response to the New York State Assembly’s passage today of A.10234, legislation that would direct a school of public health within the State University of New York system to conduct a comprehensive health impact assessment of industrial gas drilling by means of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:
“The New York State Assembly showed true leadership today by insisting that science, not politics, guide the state’s decision regarding whether industrial gas drilling by means of fracking should be permitted in New York. To date, the state has failed to conduct an independent, comprehensive evaluation of fracking’s health impacts—a serious omission in the state’s environmental review.
Following the recommendation of more than 250 physicians and health professionals, thousands of New Yorkers, and dozens of environmental and community groups, legislators in the Assembly, particularly Speaker Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Sweeney, deserve praise for passing legislation that would require an independent study of fracking’s health impacts.Â
The Assembly is leading the charge to provide state leaders with the science necessary to make an informed decision about gas drilling. A full assessment of fracking’s health impacts must be completed before a decision can be made about whether or not gas drilling is permitted in New York.
Today’s demonstration in Albany, with more than 100 people and dozens of organizations criticizing the Governor’s reported proposal to frack in select counties, reinforces the need to make decisions based on science, which a health impacts assessment would help provide.
The New York Water Rangers now call on the State Senate and Governor Cuomo to do what it takes to fully understand fracking’s health impacts and protect New Yorkers for generations to come.”
Editor’s Note, continued.
As an educator, I love the idea of the Water Rangers. SmartMeme Studios, based in Washington State worked on this campaign. Organizing press releases is my way of re-introducing us to their efforts.
“Narrative Strategy, Arts and Intervention.”
SmartMeme’s work with narrative and memes is the foundation of our story-based strategy – a narrative framework for linking people’s actions with the narrative power that places storytelling at the center of your strategy. Story-based strategy links social movement strategies with narrative communication practices – like values-based messaging, framing, advertising and branding – to give you the tools to hone your story, create new narratives, and deliver messages that achieve your goals.
Story-Based Strategy
“Myth is much more important and true than history.” ― Joseph Campbell
Change Agents
“You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin
Memes
“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” ― Muriel Rukeyser
SmartMeme Studios has been at the forefront of defending New York from hydrofracking (dirty natural gas drilling) working with the statewide non-profit The Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY). Working with a coalition of environmental organizations and celebrities such as actress Blythe Danner, SmartMeme Studios developed the branding for a statewide anti-fracking campaign. A key goal for branding the campaign was that it needed to be multi-dimensional—not only engaging activists with a temporary cause but also create something that would remain as a viable network in the wake of a future victory. Foundations were concerned about continuously building movements only to have them disband once the urgency of an issue had waned.
SmartMeme Studios reviewed focus data provided by the partners and foundations and, after working the coalition through the story-based strategy process, determined that enough existing campaigns dealt with the negative story of fracking and that a positive solution-based narrative was missing. SmartMeme Studios created the campaign brand “New York Water Rangers,” which not only met the campaign goals but also allowed for the NYWR to be mobilized on other environmental issues that could impact water quality in New York.
The NYWR leveraged social media by encouraging people online across the state to become a Water Ranger and “protect their body of water, because everyone is a body of water”. From school children to hockey players to movie stars, NYWR members have been active in both Albany the capital of NY and where major water bodies are located, through the signature highlighting of local watersheds. To date, New York is the last state in the eastern United States to resist hydrofracking, and while the NYWR alone is not the reason, it is credited with helping to deliver a powerful solution-oriented message with a positive future vision to New York lawmakers.
See: WATER: Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A.
See: WATER | Aurora Lights. Public Health & Coal Slurry – Water Quality ::: Journey Up Coal River
See: Marsh Fork Elementary: Journey Up Coal River | A Community and Strip Mining
See: Don’t Give Up
See: The Yes Men | Climate Pledge of Resistance
See: Earth Day: Give Earth a Hand
See: Encana Fracking Cake for Kids – A Look Underground
See: New York State Assembly Passes Moratorium on Hydrofracking | Governor Vetoes Bill
