Drilling Process Draws Scrutiny
‘Shale gale’ reshapes energy outlook, but critics fear
environmental impact
Glenn
Hess
The U.S. has a plentiful supply of natural gas—a
clean-burning, efficient fuel that could help solve the nation’s
energy problems, ranging from climate change to dependence on
foreign oil, industry proponents contend.
But critics say this view is overly optimistic, because the
technology for releasing gas embedded deep underground in massive
shale fields has not yet been shown to be economical. Such
technology could also contaminate water supplies with toxic
drilling chemicals.
Geologists have long known that natural gas is abundant in shale
rock formations running from
(to
read the complete article click here to open the pdf file)
Methane
Fouls Well Water
Environment: Study confirms link to gas
drilling, as a new panel is formed to study public safety
Stephen
K. Ritter and Glenn
Hess
A study by
Duke University researchers provides the first scientific
confirmation of a link between natural gas drilling in
organic-rich shale deposits and methane-contaminated residential
well water. The study’s release has rekindled the debate among
the oil and gas industry, environmental advocacy groups, and
lawmakers over health and safety concerns
(to
read the complete article click here to open the pdf file)
|
|
| Calendar
of Events |
|
“Speaking of Nature”
Lecture Series
FLCC Muller Field Station
6455 County Road 36
Honeoye, New York
Please
join us for an exciting and informative lecture series at the Muller
Field Station of Finger Lakes Community College.
Presentations by college faculty, staff and local scientists
are free and light refreshments will be provided.
Seating is limited and reservations are required for each
program.
For more information and to make reservations, call Nancy
Lawson at 394-3500, extension 7257.
|
|
Thursday, January 26, 7:00-8:30 pm -
Mastodons in Your Backyard with Becky and Vaughn Buchholz.
Great Ice Age creatures once roamed the
Finger Lakes landscape but only rarely does one find evidence in their
backyard! After an
introduction to common features of ice age mammals and renderings of
their distinctive appearances, our authors will share their intriguing
story of discovery. Replicas
of mastodon and mammoth skeletons will be available for viewing this
evening. Join us and get
your picture taken with these fantastic creatures.
|
Wednesday, February 22, 7:00-8:30 pm – The
Adirondacks: New Mountains Carved from Ancient Rocks with Bruce
Gilman.
A
complex geologic history hides within the beauty of New York State’s
Adirondack Park. You will
learn about the role of old volcanoes, eons of erosion, recent uplift
of the mountain mass and very recent Ice Age effects.
Bruce’s goal to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks quickly
transformed into a quest to begin to understand the formative
processes that have produced such an exquisite landscape.
Join Bruce for an illustrated program highlighting mountain
climbers, mountain summits, mountain beauty, and come away with a
“mountain” of new knowledge!
|
Thursday,
March 22, 7:00-8:30 pm - Vernal Pools: Environmental and
Engineering Values with
Bill Hershey.
Vernal
pools in woodlands and successional fields are critical breeding
habitat for many amphibian species and are important components of
natural communities.
These small wetlands also have rain water retention values that
aid greatly in storm attenuation.
Preservation, restoration and creation of these often
unprotected significant features can benefit the people and ecology of
the southern Honeoye Valley.
Come learn what they are, what species live there, how they
benefit us and how we can help conserve them.
|
|
Wednesday, April 4, 7:00-8:30 pm – The
Dragonflies of New York with Michael & Jacob Stanyard.
Mike Stanyard, field crop specialist with Cornell
University Cooperative Extension, and his son Jacob will share with
the group their love of observing, collecting, and displaying
dragonflies. They have
been collecting odonates from NY, MI, PA and FL for the past five
summers. There are 134
different species of dragonflies and 58 species of damselflies in New
York alone. The pair will
show how to identify dragonflies down to the family level, demonstrate
what equipment is needed to catch this evasive insect, preserve and
display specimens and of course show off their own collection.
|
Wednesday, May 2, 7:00-8:30 pm – Butterflies as Botanists with Steve Daniel.
This talk will take a closer look at our butterflies,
many of whom have very specific relationships with plants.
If you're interested in butterflies, it's a great help to know
something about our flora. And
botanists will find a new world opens as they learn the connection of
some special butterflies to some of their favorite plants. This talk
will explore some of these interrelationships, and will include some
stunning imagery of these beautiful six-legged creatures.
|
Saturday (morning), June 2, 7:00-9:00 am – Birds
of the Southern Honeoye Valley with Sasha MacKenzie, Finger Lakes
Community College.
For nature lovers that are early risers, this
morning walk along the field station’s hiking trails will fascinate
you with sightings of brightly colored songbirds in their breeding
plumage. You will also
learn details about bird ecology including their use of natural
habitats and artificial nest boxes.
Some binoculars can be borrowed from the field station but, if
you have your own, please bring them with you.
Limited to 15 people
so make your reservation early.
|
Saturday (morning), June 9, 7:00-9:00 am – Channel Paddle
with Nadia Harvieux, Environmental Outreach Educator at Muller Field
Station.
Canoe or kayak through the beautiful Honeoye Inlet
wetlands and learn about their importance for water quality protection
and wildlife habitat. We will also look for sign of wetland mammals,
including beaver, muskrat and river otter. Some college boats
can be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own. Limited
to 12 people so make your reservation early.
|
Thursday (evening), June 14, 6:00-8:00 pm – Channel
Paddle with Bruce Gilman, Finger Lakes Community College.
Canoe or kayak through the beautiful Honeoye Inlet
wetlands and learn about the role of wetlands in protecting the water
quality of Honeoye Lake. Also
learn about wildlife and wetland plant indicators.
Some college boats can be provided but you are encouraged to
bring your own.
Limited to 12 people so make your reservation early.
|
Tuesday (evening), June 19, 6:00-8:00 pm – Channel
Paddle with Berna Ticonchuk, Finger Lakes Community College.
Canoe or kayak through the beautiful
Honeoye Inlet wetlands. You
may catch a glimpse of a beaver or river otter.
Some college boats can be provided but you are encouraged to
bring your own. Limited
to 12 people so make your reservation early.
|
|
