ALBANY -- An environmental and food safety advocacy group is using the state Freedom of Information Law to uncover the history of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's meetings on natural gas hydraulic fracturing and the Indian Point nuclear power reactor.
The Washington, D.C.-based Food & Water Watch filed its request Thursday for written records kept by the governor concerning meetings that dealt with hydrofracking and the nuclear power plant that supplies New York City.
Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the group, said there was "insufficient public information" on past meetings -- including who met with the governor on those topics -- that the governor has reported on a state website that provides an edited version of his daily schedule.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto declined to comment.
The website -- found at http://www.governor.ny.gov/citizenconnects/ -- shows the governor held meetings March 7 and March 16 regarding energy or nuclear power, but does not identify who took part.
On March 22, the governor held a meeting on Indian Point, attended by Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens, State Operations Director Howard Glaser, and Assistant Energy Secretary Tom Congdon. Cuomo also reported attending a public news conference on Indian Point later on March 22.
The only meeting on hydrofracking reported by the governor was June 27, and was attended by Glaser, Executive Deputy Secretary Joseph Percoco, then-Secretary Steve Cohen and Drew Zambelli, a counsel and senior advisor to the governor.
"Given the intensity of the debate around these issues and their importance to New Yorkers, it is shocking that there have been so few meetings to address them," Hauter said.
Hauter said her group also noticed an official of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, which represents the drilling industry that wants the state to permit hydorfracking in the massive, gas-rich Marcellus Shale, spoke publicly during a Philadelphia natural gas conference about having a meeting with the governor. The group does not appear on the governor's scheduling website.
She said her group is concerned that Cuomo might decide to replace nuclear energy from Indian Point, which the governor wants to see closed, with natural gas derived from hyrofracking.
Reach Nearing at 454-5094 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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