Physical Resources Advisory Committee (PRAC)Minutes
May 11, 2011
Voting members’ attendance:
Amy Dlugos, Steuben Co. Planning; Diane Fiorentino, Chemung Co. Stormwater Coalition; Tom Sears, Steuben Co. Planning; Scott Shaw, Chemung County Planning; Richard E. Stewart, Steuben Co. Farm Bureau; Gene Stow, Chemung Co. Farm Bureau;Richard Ahola; Danielle Hautaniemi, Schuyler County Planning; Ernie Hartman, Local 139;
Non-voting attendees:
V. Ehlen, STCRPDB;Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center;John Trimber, MRB Group;Richard Gunderman, Newtown-Hoffman Creek Watershed Coordinator; Jabe Warren, Chemung County CCE; Peggy Coleman, Steuben County Visitors Bureau;
Welcome, Call to Order, & Approval of Minutes:
The PRAC meeting was called to order at 1:15pm, by the chairperson Amy Dulogs. Richard Gunderman moved that the minutes of the prior meeting be approved; he was seconded by Ernie Hartman. PRAC voted, and the minutes were approved.
Report from Members:
Amy Dlugos: Turnout has been large for the Steuben County Natural Gas Task Fore and sub-committee meetings. People are interested in the results of this process.
Danielle Houtenami: SchuylerCounty is in the process of writing a comprehensive plan.
Farm Bureau: Farmers are trying to ‘plant,’ it’s been a wet spring. N.G. Companies have sent ‘Force Misure’ letters to landowners. This letter is an attempt to extend leasing rights without re-negotiation. Landowners should beware.
Ernie Hartman: Is working with State senators to write legislation promoting the use of local labor in developing the Marcellus shale. He is also trying to pin-point a time when ‘drilling’ will get underway.
Tom Sears: Transit Managers from all three counties and Mr. Sears have produced a map that includes all bus routes in the region.
John Trimber: State GIS coordinators will be implementing a State tax map viewing/dissemination system. Water testing is underway in the Town of Erin. A farmers market will open on 6/11/2011.
Jen Trimber: ElmiraCollege is conducting ‘baseline’ water testing. If the ElmiraCollege water testing results are ‘poor’ additional testing from a certified lab would be beneficial. Ms. Trimber is developing a quarterly newsletter with information from the various sub-committees and valuable webinars. The energy task force is considering a trip to Texas or Louisiana to see the effects of a long-established gas drilling operation. Ms. Trimber is also working to examine the alpha (α) and beta (β) radiation resulting from drilling (in water or cuttings).
Dick Gunderman: The Chemung County Right-to-Farm law and the County Agricultural Protection Plan were both passed.
Gene Stow: Farmers have been impacted by the wet weather and strong winds (as of late).
Richard Ahola: SencaLake Pure Waters Association has many good projects underway. SLPWA is concerned with the storage of LP in salt caverns. Seneca Lake is saltier than the other lakes, SLPWA is concerned this is a naturally occurring phenomenon due to faults/failures of the Salt-dome geology (that would also permit LP to escape into the lake water).
Elaine Giardine: There will be a Creek restoration at Newtown Creek on 5/23-5/24. Any interested party is welcome to attend & learn, particularly ‘highway people and stream people’. There will be a representative from NYS. Call 607-739-2009 for more information and to sign up. Stream testing is underway for the third year, and it’s growing strong.
Staff report: Victoria Ehlen spoke about the CEDS and listing important projects in the CEDS by completing a simple form.
Intergovernmental reviews:
Scott Shaw from ChemungCounty planning was in attendance, he described the project in detail. PRAC members asked questions about the purchase of the property, Mr. Shaw answered that the property has been owned by STEG/Chemung County since the development of AirportCorporatePark. There were no comments on the IGOR.
Presentations:
Jabe Warren discussed, in detail, his predictions for agriculture in the next 50 years.
Peggy Coleman gave a presentation on the importance of tourism for the local economy. Bookings based on social networking and ‘flash travelers’ are the new and important trends in tourism.
Adjourn – The meeting adjourned promptly at2:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Victoria Ehlen
PRAC Minutes….May 11, 2011….page 1