Watkins students protest gas storage

Watkins students protest gas storage

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen high school’s Model United Nations and Global Class (MUNAGI) held two anti-Inergy LLC protest rallies in the village, last Wednesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 23.
    People from the community were also invited to participate. There were approximately 20 people at the first rally and some 25 at the second one.  Student Rachel Miller explained the peaceful protests were part of the class’ objectives of creating a resolution. She said the class was split into three groups focusing on the new state gun laws, anti-fracking and liquid gas storage, and support for the survivors of the Boston marathon bombing. Each group then wrote resolution papers and the class voted on which topic they would actually pursue.
    Miller said the group selected liquid natural gas storage and decided to specifically focus on Inergy, which is proposing to store gas and propane in underground salt caverns as part of a transfer facility in Reading. Miller explained “we realized the source of our area’s income is tourism.” The students’ resolution says increasing the number of transport trucks will obstruct traffic during the tourist season, as well as endanger the lake. The students call for no gas storage under Seneca Lake, no drilling in the area, and no drainage of the freshwater system.
    “Our class is behind the protest, it’s our class project/resolution and we picked this project because it directly affects us and our future,” said Miller.
    As part of the class, the students heard from the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development last Wednesday. Inergy was also scheduled to speak with the class this Thursday, May 30. Miller added a number of students—either for, against, or neutral—will also hold a debate, June 15, before the Schuyler County Legislature.
    The student sponsors for resolution are Samantha Gill, Miller, Tyler Cummings, LynnAnn Caslin, Lydia Myers, Mikayla Elliot, Zach Butler, Nate Beaumont, Matt Doyle, Bryce De La Osa Cruz and Kyle Hancharik. Gas Free Seneca, an anti-gas storage group, also attended the rallies last week.