Environmental advocates plan to hold a protest Monday in Binghamton in response to a scheduled visit by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and ongoing federal discussions involving the proposed Constitution Pipeline and New York’s ban on hydraulic fracturing.
The demonstration is scheduled for 11 a.m. outside Binghamton City Hall and is being organized by Seneca Lake Guardian along with several environmental groups opposed to both fracking and new natural gas infrastructure projects in New York.
Organizers say they expect participation from residents, advocacy organizations and environmental leaders from across the Southern Tier and beyond.
The Constitution Pipeline was originally proposed more than a decade ago to move natural gas from Pennsylvania into New York. However, state regulators denied a key water quality permit for the project, citing concerns about potential impacts to streams and wetlands.
Organizers of the protest say the pipeline would threaten water resources and harm local industries, including agriculture and tourism.
They also criticized renewed federal interest in advancing the project, arguing that it undermines New York’s authority to regulate water quality under the Clean Water Act. Environmental groups have pointed to ongoing legal challenges involving state and federal officials over actions tied to the project.
Among those expected to attend are environmental advocates including biologist and ecologist Sandra Steingraber, as well as representatives from Frack Action, Citizen Action, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Food & Water Watch, Seneca Lake Guardian, and the Sierra Club.
The event is intended to show continued opposition to both fracking and new natural gas pipeline development in New York, according to organizers.
