NORWICH – The Chenango County Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee has denied a request made by Norse Energy Inc. to conduct seismic testing on county-owned land in Preston.

Norse made the request to explore for natural gas on three acres of land off county Rt. 10 adjacent to the intersection with county Rt. 18. The Norwegian energy company has been allowed to cross several county highways in the past in order to collect data from leased, private land. Testing on county-owned land would be a first.

The committee’s denial was based upon a referral from the Chenango County Natural Gas Advisory Committee.

Natural Gas Advisory Committee Chairman and Preston Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan pointed out that in states that are much further along than New York when it comes to developing their natural gas reserves, energy companies not only pay for the rights to test, but also share the collected data.