By Howard Koplowitz
State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) disputed a claim by his opponent, City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), that he flip-flopped his position on drilling for natural gas upstate near the city's watershed.
Gennaro said the a bill Padavan voted for, signed into law July 23 by Gov. David Paterson, opens the door for drilling natural gas deposits in western New York state that are 7,000 feet below a bed of Marcellus Shale, an area that extends to watersheds in Sullivan and Dutchess counties where the source of water for 9 million city residents is located.
The councilman, campaigning for Padavan's Senate seat, said Padavan voted for that bill and then last week reversed himself by saying he would introduce legislation to ban drilling in the area.
In a statement, Gennaro called Padavan's stance on the issue a “shameless and insulting election-year effort.”
The councilman said that various environmental groups said drilling upstate would likely pollute the city's water supply, but Padavan said such groups never told him the bill would harm the watershed.
Gennaro said environmental groups first learned of the bill after it was passed and argued that did not excuse Padavan's vote.
“That's no defense,” the councilman said. “It's up to Senator Padavan to understand what he's voting for. He's an engineer. He knows what it is to put a drill bit into the ground.”
Padavan said the bill he voted for came from Paterson and state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis.
“Both [Paterson] and the commissioner of the DEC explained safeguards to insure drilling for natural gas was done in a way to prevent contamination of the water supply,” Padavan said.
“Why isn't [Gennaro] criticizing the governor and Grannis?” the senator asked. “The fact remains [Gennaro] is so desperate, he seizes upon these things which are ridiculous. That's been his style.”
Gennaro also questioned the timing of an Sept. 4 news release sent out by Padavan announcing he would introduce legislation to ban drilling in the city watershed area.
The councilman said he and environmental groups announced they were holding a public hearing on the drilling issue the day before Padavan's news release.
“This is yet another example of vintage Padavan legislative sleight-of-hand,” Gennaro said in a statement. “His press release does nothing but expose him as the political chameleon he's always been.”
Padavan denied that the timing of his announcement was related to Gennaro's, noting that he worked on his bill with state Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Brooklyn).
“It had nothing to do with him,” the senator said.
He called Gennaro's statement “pure politics. Demagoguery, to say the least.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
