Blogs > The Watchdog > A thank you to DEC’s Joe Martens: Thoughtful stewardship on fracking issue

A thank you to DEC’s Joe Martens: Thoughtful stewardship on fracking issue

On the occasion of Joe Martens’ announcement that he is leaving the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation after over four years as its Commissioner, the Riverkeeper team thanks Mr. Martens for his deep dedication to New York’s environment, manifested most prominently in his thoughtful stewardship on the hydrofracking issue, where he did more to safeguard New York’s communities and environment than most commissioners can even dream of doing.

We hope his successor will carry forward Mr. Martens’ fine work in many areas, but will also rebuild the capacity of DEC and reverse the unprecedented and unacceptable 65 percent drop in Clean Water Act enforcement by the agency since 2010. Our environment will surely suffer in ways no New Yorker will want to see, if New York doesn’t adequately fund the DEC and change course on environmental law enforcement.

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