Hawkins for Auditor

On His Way to Buffalo Gubernatorial Debate, Howie Hawkins to Announce in Syracuse that He Will Ask Gov. Cuomo Why His Administration Tampered with Federal Fracking Study

Hawkins will cite recent investigation by Capital New York showing DEC edited and delayed USGS fracking study to remove threats of contamination

Hawkins Will Address the Extent to Which Gas Infrastructure is Increasing in New York

Green Party Gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins is holding a press conference to highlight the recent Capital New York investigative report that revealed how the Cuomo Administration tampered with a federal U.S. Geological Survey fracking study that New York State commissioned in 2011 to study naturally occurring methane in water wells in Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Tioga, Delaware and Otsego. This study was commissioned at the same time that the administration was considering a PILOT fracking project in the Southern Tier in Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Tioga and Steuben counties. According to the report, the Cuomo Administration officials had extensive communications with the USGS study authors and asked that they downplay or erase the original descriptions of environmental and health risks associated with fracking.

The only candidate who supports a ban on hydrofracking, Hawkins will highlight the extent to which gas drilling infrastructure has developed in New York under the Cuomo Administration.

According to Capital New York, the final version of the edited excised a reference to risks associated with gas pipelines and underground storage—a reference which could have complicated the Cuomo administration's potential support for a number of other controversial energy projects, including a proposed gas storage facility in the Finger Lakes region that local wine makers say could destroy their burgeoning industry.

At the press conference, Hawkins will reference a map of New York that shows all the gas infrastructure proposed or already operational in the state.

"When previously asked about why his administration tampered with the report, Cuomo said simply, "I don't know." That's unacceptable," said Hawkins. "New Yorkers deserve answers from Cuomo who for years has promised to listen to the science, not alter it. I intend to ask him what he knew and when."

Hawkins will also touch on what he saw and learned in his recent trip to the frack sites in PA.