Present: Geoffrey Howard, Mary Makofske, Andy McLaughlin, Bill Makofske, Suzy Stage, Irene Schacher, Dana Beisheim, Elke Noll, Everett Cox, Jerry Zimmerman, Janet Zimmerman, Larry Mansour, Paul Manza, Yelssy Manza, Minisink and Westtown visitors Thomas Salamone, John Odland, Ernie Stonick, Michael Mojica

NEXT MEETING: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 AT 9:00 AM AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE WARWICK TOWN HALL
Recap of 10% Energy Challenge Celebration. Mary reported that the celebration went well and the awards ceremony participants indicated strong support for the energy program. Attendence was adequate but not as much as hoped for.
The “Trees for Tribs” planting will be on Sat 10/29 (10-1:30) and Sun 10/30 (9-1.) This important project brings 500 trees and shrubs to the Village of Warwick that will be planted in pre-dug holes to help control runoff and flooding along the Wawayanda Creek. We need volunteers to sign up for either one or both days, for +/- 2 hours. We will meet in Memorial Park behind the skateboard area on the left. Please RSVP to me if you can make it.

3. Treasurer’s Report – Irene reported on the funds that we have in all three of our accounts.

4. Bill Makofske will be doing a talk on saving energy at the Florida Library tomorrow night, Thursday Oct. 20 at 6:30-7:30 pm.

5. This Saturday, OE is having their awards dinner in Middletown. Both Geoff and Dave will be getting awards, and we have a table reserved for SW. The dinner will be at Saffron Indian Restaurant in the Playtogs Mall and SW members are urged to come.

The immediate concern revolves around the Minisink compressor station (MCS) on which construction will begin soon unless soncerned citizens working together throughout the Hudson Valley can delay or defeat the project.
There are a variety of problems with the compressor station, including noise, air and water pollution, and this is especially difficult for the 145 families living within a half-mile radius of the proposed site.

The bigger problem, however, lies with major flaws in the (federal) government approval process. Despite the fact that there is a major federal study on the environmental impact of new gas development due out before the end of 2012 - or because of it - the gas company is pushing for fast-track approval without a site-specific environmental impact statement. Essentially, they are saying to both the government regulators and the local residents, “Trust us” and a major corporation that says that shouldn’t be trusted.

Importantly, this is not just a Minisink problem. The MCS is part of a much larger plan that includes 4 compressor stations - one in Pine Island, two in Vernon, in addition to the one in Minisink - and two large, 450 MW, gas-fired power stations - one in Wawayanda - which would use 200 million gallons of water a day!

So what can we do about it?

Comments on this site all have to be responded to by the gas company and the total number carries significant weight. The average number of e-comments on any single issue is about 30, but the Minisink compressor has more than 200, all within less than 2 months.

The point is that our comments, coming from another community, will definitely add to both the quantitative and qualitative case that this project should be rethought.

To post an e-comment:
Go to the FERC website www.ferc.gov
Under “Documents and Filings,” click on “E-comment”
Enter your name and email
You will quickly receive an email from FERC with space for your comment under Docket Number CP11-515-000. (Hint: Have your comment already prepared so you can cut and paste.) Submit the comment.

Conclusion: This is an important issue which will require vigilance and proactivity on our part. The time to start is now!