Photo by Virginia State Parks. Creative Commons license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/37922399@N05/52749816654. Image description: Closeup of a Scarlet Tanager, a bird with a bright red body and black wings and eyes, perched on a branch, with many crisscrossing gray branches and greenery blurring in the background.
July 1, 2024 Action Alert
We have long suspected the influence of political pressure in ramming forward the catastrophic, failing boondoggle that is the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. Now, thanks to incredible investigative reporting by J. Dale Shoemaker, we have proof of significant and consequential political interference by two of the most powerful politicians in New York State: Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul.
Outraged and disgusted? Us too. Keep reading to learn the details, then keep scrolling for how to take action to take action to register your anger and prevent further harm.
Shoemaker’s investigation directly links political pressure exerted by Hochul and Schumer on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to the massive environmental damage that has already occurred in the course of construction activities - most notably, the spills of 500-700 gallons of hydraulic drilling fluid in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and ensuing (and ongoing) botched remediation.
Political influence from Senator Schumer and Governor Hochul: this is why development of the WNY STAMP mega industrial site continues to forge ahead despite a lack of tenants and basic infrastructure; multiple lawsuits; financial instability; increasingly negative local press coverage; and searing critiques from entities including good governance groups, environmentalists, regional planners, and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and their allies.
Today, we are asking allies to take three simple actions to express our collective outrage with our corrupt public agencies and elected officials, prevent further harm to our shared environment, and uphold the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. Keep reading for three simple actions you can take to express our collective outrage with our corrupt public agencies and elected officials, prevent further harm to our shared environment, and uphold the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.
Action 1. Call on NYS DEC to withdraw both the ECL freshwater wetland permit and the SPDES permit issued for the WNY STAMP wastewater pipeline. While USFWS has finally terminated the permit it issued for pipeline construction within the Refuge, the NYS DEC has taken no action to withdraw the permit it issued for pipeline construction through wetlands outside the Refuge - even though the agency has issued Notices of Violation that acknowledge the disastrous consequences of pipeline drilling. Moreover, NYS DEC is still failing to properly secure the remediation site and prevent further harm from the fracouts that occurred in summer 2023.
Action 2. Tell the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to rescind their November 2023 $56 million grant to WNY STAMP. No more NY taxpayer dollars should go to propping up this deeply flawed project!
Action 3. Call out Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul for violating the public trust - and the law - by exerting sustained and impactful political influence to fast-track the development of WNY STAMP.
Action 1: Call on NYS DEC to withdraw the SPDES and ECL freshwater wetland permits issued for the STAMP wastewater pipeline!
Sample email text
To:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bcc:
[email protected]
From:
<Your email address>
Subject: Pull the Permit and Consult with the Tonawanda Seneca Nation!
Dear Interim NYSDEC Commissioner Sean Mahar, NYSDEC Chief Permit Administrator Scott Sheeley, NYSDEC Region 8 Director Tim Walsh, and Deputy Secretary for First Nations Elizabeth Rule:
I just learned that Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul exerted political pressure on the NYS DEC to fast track permits for the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. This is outrageous!
I demand that the NYSDEC immediately rescind both the SPDES and the ECL Freshwater Wetlands permit for the wastewater pipeline and require environmental review that includes robust, meaningful consultation with the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs.
Thank you,
<Your name and address>
Action 2: Tell the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to rescind their November 2023 $56 million grant to WNY STAMP. No more NY taxpayer dollars should go to propping up this deeply flawed project!
Sample email text
To:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bcc:
[email protected]
From:
<Your email address>
Subject: Rescind the $56 million grant to WNY STAMP!
Dear Empire State Development President & CEO Hope Knight, Assistant Secretary for Upstate Intergovernmental Affairs Vincent Esposito, Area Director for the Finger Lakes Regional Office Laura Fox O’Sullivan, Deputy Secretary for Upstate Intergovernmental Affairs Colleen Deacon, and Government Relations & Operations Regional Director of WNY Bonnie Lockwood:
I just learned that Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul exerted political pressure on the NYS DEC to fast track permits for the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. This site should not receive the promised $56 million in FAST NY funds from the Empire State Development Corporation - or any other taxpayer dollars!
I demand that the Empire State Development Corporation immediately rescind this grant.
Thank you,
<Your name and address>
Action 3: Call out Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul for violating the public trust - and the law - by exerting political influence to fast-track the development of WNY STAMP.
Tweet at Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer
Share on Facebook
Post on Instagram
We have long suspected the influence of political pressure in ramming forward the catastrophic, failing boondoggle that is the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. Now, thanks to incredible investigative reporting by J. Dale Shoemaker, we have proof of significant and consequential political interference by two of the most powerful politicians in New York State: Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul.
Outraged and disgusted? Us too. Keep reading to learn the details, then keep scrolling for how to take action to take action to register your anger and prevent further harm.
Shoemaker’s investigation directly links political pressure exerted by Hochul and Schumer on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to the massive environmental damage that has already occurred in the course of construction activities - most notably, the spills of 500-700 gallons of hydraulic drilling fluid in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and ensuing (and ongoing) botched remediation.
Political influence from Senator Schumer and Governor Hochul: this is why development of the WNY STAMP mega industrial site continues to forge ahead despite a lack of tenants and basic infrastructure; multiple lawsuits; financial instability; increasingly negative local press coverage; and searing critiques from entities including good governance groups, environmentalists, regional planners, and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and their allies.
Today, we are asking allies to take three simple actions to express our collective outrage with our corrupt public agencies and elected officials, prevent further harm to our shared environment, and uphold the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. Keep reading for three simple actions you can take to express our collective outrage with our corrupt public agencies and elected officials, prevent further harm to our shared environment, and uphold the sovereignty of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.
Action 1. Call on NYS DEC to withdraw both the ECL freshwater wetland permit and the SPDES permit issued for the WNY STAMP wastewater pipeline. While USFWS has finally terminated the permit it issued for pipeline construction within the Refuge, the NYS DEC has taken no action to withdraw the permit it issued for pipeline construction through wetlands outside the Refuge - even though the agency has issued Notices of Violation that acknowledge the disastrous consequences of pipeline drilling. Moreover, NYS DEC is still failing to properly secure the remediation site and prevent further harm from the fracouts that occurred in summer 2023.
Action 2. Tell the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to rescind their November 2023 $56 million grant to WNY STAMP. No more NY taxpayer dollars should go to propping up this deeply flawed project!
Action 3. Call out Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul for violating the public trust - and the law - by exerting sustained and impactful political influence to fast-track the development of WNY STAMP.
Action 1: Call on NYS DEC to withdraw the SPDES and ECL freshwater wetland permits issued for the STAMP wastewater pipeline!
Sample email text
To:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bcc:
[email protected]
From:
<Your email address>
Subject: Pull the Permit and Consult with the Tonawanda Seneca Nation!
Dear Interim NYSDEC Commissioner Sean Mahar, NYSDEC Chief Permit Administrator Scott Sheeley, NYSDEC Region 8 Director Tim Walsh, and Deputy Secretary for First Nations Elizabeth Rule:
I just learned that Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul exerted political pressure on the NYS DEC to fast track permits for the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. This is outrageous!
I demand that the NYSDEC immediately rescind both the SPDES and the ECL Freshwater Wetlands permit for the wastewater pipeline and require environmental review that includes robust, meaningful consultation with the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs.
Thank you,
<Your name and address>
Action 2: Tell the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to rescind their November 2023 $56 million grant to WNY STAMP. No more NY taxpayer dollars should go to propping up this deeply flawed project!
Sample email text
To:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bcc:
[email protected]
From:
<Your email address>
Subject: Rescind the $56 million grant to WNY STAMP!
Dear Empire State Development President & CEO Hope Knight, Assistant Secretary for Upstate Intergovernmental Affairs Vincent Esposito, Area Director for the Finger Lakes Regional Office Laura Fox O’Sullivan, Deputy Secretary for Upstate Intergovernmental Affairs Colleen Deacon, and Government Relations & Operations Regional Director of WNY Bonnie Lockwood:
I just learned that Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul exerted political pressure on the NYS DEC to fast track permits for the WNY STAMP mega industrial site. This site should not receive the promised $56 million in FAST NY funds from the Empire State Development Corporation - or any other taxpayer dollars!
I demand that the Empire State Development Corporation immediately rescind this grant.
Thank you,
<Your name and address>
Action 3: Call out Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul for violating the public trust - and the law - by exerting political influence to fast-track the development of WNY STAMP.
Tweet at Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer
- Tag @GovKathyHochul, @ChuckSchumer
- Sample tweets:
- Shame on you, @GovKathyHochul and @ChuckSchumer: Why are you pulling strings for @WNYSTAMP?
- Hey @GovKathyHochul and @ChuckSchumer! Stop greasing the wheels for @WNYSTAMP!
- Thanks, @JDale_Shoemaker for exposing undue political pressure by @GovKathyHochul and @ChuckSchumer on behalf of @WNYSTAMP. Stop corruption, stop the STAMP!
Share on Facebook
- Tag @govkathyhochul, @senschumer
- Sample posts:
- Shame on you, @govkathyhochul and @senschumer: Why are you pulling strings for @WNYSTAMP?
- Hey @govkathyhochul and @senschumer! Stop greasing the wheels for @WNYSTAMP!
- Thanks, @JDale_Shoemaker for exposing undue political pressure by @govkathyhochul and @senschumer on behalf of @WNYSTAMP. Stop corruption, stop the STAMP!
- Shame on you, @govkathyhochul and @senschumer: Why are you pulling strings for @WNYSTAMP?
Post on Instagram
- Tag @govkathyhochul, @senschumer
- Sample posts:
- Shame on you, @govkathyhochul and @senschumer: Why are you pulling strings for @WNYSTAMP?
- Hey @govkathyhochul and @senschumer! Stop greasing the wheels for @WNYSTAMP!
- Thanks, @JDale_Shoemaker for exposing undue political pressure by @govkathyhochul and @senschumer on behalf of @WNYSTAMP. Stop corruption, stop the STAMP!
- Shame on you, @govkathyhochul and @senschumer: Why are you pulling strings for @WNYSTAMP?
