Robert H. Boyle in his letter ("DEC's Field misleads public," Aug.2) states that Bradley Field, the state Department of Environmental Conservation's minerals division director, should be fired due to Field's belief that convincing evidence of climate change caused by humans is lacking.
This stance apparently disqualifies Mr. Field from making a professional judgment about the scientific evidence regarding fracking, according to Mr. Boyle, and labels anything Mr. Field says as misleading the public.
Mr. Boyle's outrageous position is precisely why civil service is needed to protect government employees and to enable the public to get the best professional advice from all perspectives on important issues.
When I worked as research and development director at the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Mr. Field on oil and natural gas issues. I found him to be a serious, intelligent, diligent professional, concerned about ensuring the oil and gas industry followed all environmental regulations.
I have never met Mr. Boyle but know about his tactics to influence government. He wanted the proposed Cherry Valley Wind Farm stopped because it interfered with the view from his house. I refused to intervene with the project's developers.
The public is fortunate that bullies like Mr. Boyle can't result in the firing of competent government employees like Mr. Field. For the public's sake, I hope Mr. Field is not coerced into silence, and that his professional advice about fracking and necessary regulations is taken into account in upcoming decisions by the DEC.
Joe Visalli
Schodack