In response to today’s ruling by Justice Donald F. Cerio, Jr. for the Otsego County Supreme Court, the New York Water Rangers released the following statement:

“For the second time in one week, a state Supreme Court has ruled that state law does not prohibit communities from regulating the use of land by the oil and gas industry. New Yorkers in Middlefield, like their compatriots in Dryden, warmed up their slingshots and hoped for the best when they took aim and acted to prevent fracking for natural gas in their town.

The New York Water Rangers applaud the citizens of Middlefield and Dryden, NY, whose commitment to safeguarding their communities from fracking resulted in the zoning provisions upheld by the courts.

Like the Dryden ruling earlier this week, today’s ruling in the Town of Middlefield case proves again that ordinary citizens, and the local governments who listen to them, have power to determine the character of their communities for themselves.”