NORWICH – Representatives from the two major landowner groups in Chenango County told New York’s environmental regulating agency that hydrofracking into the natural gas rich Marcellus Shale could be performed “safely and in an environmentally secure way” and should be allowed to proceed.
Bryant Latourette, chairman of the Oxford Land Group, said members of coalitions have become increasingly frustrated by those who are opposed to the possibility of any type of natural gas exploration.
“While natural gas exploration has been conducted safely in New York for decades, the public has been misinformed repeatedly by extremists/obstructionist groups whose agenda is only to kill new investments in some of the state’s most economically deprived regions,” he said.
Latourette’s comments were among hundreds received since Sept. 30 when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released its 800-page environmental impact statement and began seeking public input. The fifth and final public hearing concluded two weeks ago, and less than five weeks remain for sending out comments by mail, e-mail and online.
Charles Rowe, representing the Central New York Landowners Coalition, said his group was united in favor of safe drilling for natural gas with strong oversight from the DEC. A fourth generation dairy farmer, Rowe said the environment is “very dear to us” and without land and water “we are nothing.”
“Let’s not have any more delays and get this (the regulations) done so New York State will be one of the top places for safe drilling in the world today and for many years to come.”
Rowe called upon the DEC to raise the lowest royalty payments from 12 percent to 25 percent or more in order to afford more state regulators on site to monitor drilling practices.
The DEC will deliberate and respond to comments received, and quite possibly clear the way for permits to be issued, perhaps as early as 2010. However, the comment period was already extended from Nov. 30 to Dec. 31, and could be again. Moreover, opponents, particularly those from downstate who fear their water resources could become contaminated by spills and accidents, could pose legal challenges that would further slow or even block the process.
Both Latourette and Rowe say the environmental groups opposed to drilling are not “true environmentalists.”
“True environmentalists want to see natural gas used as bridge fuel to lower carbon emissions. What’s more, they base their claims on evidence and scientific fact. These groups ... are obstructionists with the sole purpose to hijack the process and make sure natural gas exploration in New York State comes to an abrupt end,” said Latourette.
Chenango County Department of Planning and Development Director Donna A. Jones said planners from Delaware, Tioga, Madison, Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties would be writing a coordinated comment to the DEC. Among other items, the comment would push for the using propane as an alternative to conventional fracturing fluids that many say hold harmful chemicals. Gasfracking with propane would result in less damage to formations and leaves no residue underground, she said.
“That would really force all of the water issues down the drain,” said Jones.
The economic impact of 300 Marcellus Shale wells is estimated to exceed $1.4 billion, with $108 million going to landowners, $19 million to municipal taxes, $32 million to state coffers. Thousands of new jobs could also result.
Latourette said natural gas exploration in the Marcellus Shale holds economic potential for landowners, municipalities, counties and companies that service the industry and the state. “It will push the U.S. toward energy independence and it will help New York and its residents out of our deep recession,” he wrote.
Rowe, whose coalition represents more than 163,000 acres and is the largest in New York, said when gas and oil drilling start, it will bring “great financial help to our great state at a time of financial need.”
“You are the ones than can make it happen,” he writes in his comment to the DEC. “You have shown us here today you can make changes and you have done a remarkable job with this document. You have addressed our environmental concerns. We need to move on with the process.”