State officials say drilling regulations delayed again
NORWICH – Recent comments from New York Governor David Paterson and the chief spokesman for the state’s environmental conservation department point to a further delay in the review process for permitting natural gas drilling into shale formations.
Speaking at an Earth Day event on Tuesday, Gov. Paterson said, “For us to be investing in any drilling of natural gas could only exist – and we have not made a final decision – if there is a finding that it’s safe and does not affect our environment, particularly the water that we drink.”
Paterson halted hyrofracking into shale formations in November 2008 until the completion of an environmental review and impact plan. After the public comment period on the proposed regulations ended last December, Department of Environmental Conservation officials indicated a March and, later, a June target date for issuing drilling permits.
Hydrofracking is a technology that utilizes a mixture of water, soap and chemicals to extract natural gas from tight subterranean shale formations, such as the Marcellus and Utica shales. Opponents to drilling say energy companies haven’t been up front with the quantities and mixtures of the chemicals they use, and that many of the elements are dangerous to human health and could taint the water supply. Land owners and the energy companies posed to lease their property to drill for the energy source say the process is safe. They point to the DEC’s track record in New York of successfully regulating oil and gas drilling activities, as well as the state’s need for the economic relief that the industry promises.
Last week, two Department of Environmental Conservation officials said reviewing and responding to the 13,500 comments received on the draft regulations has been time consuming. DEC Commissioner Alexander “Pete” Grannis said a staff shortage could further delay the process until late summer or early fall.
“As with every agency, we are understaffed,” Grannis said. “Men and women at the DEC are putting in collectively about 50 hours a day, all told, in going through the comments and writing up the responses. I guess if you had to pick a time, I think late summer, early fall, we’ll be nearing the end of the review process.”
DEC Director of Mineral Resources Bradley Field said the entire process, including the issuance of permits, would be finished in 2010.
Speaking at an Earth Day event on Tuesday, Gov. Paterson said, “For us to be investing in any drilling of natural gas could only exist – and we have not made a final decision – if there is a finding that it’s safe and does not affect our environment, particularly the water that we drink.”
Paterson halted hyrofracking into shale formations in November 2008 until the completion of an environmental review and impact plan. After the public comment period on the proposed regulations ended last December, Department of Environmental Conservation officials indicated a March and, later, a June target date for issuing drilling permits.
Hydrofracking is a technology that utilizes a mixture of water, soap and chemicals to extract natural gas from tight subterranean shale formations, such as the Marcellus and Utica shales. Opponents to drilling say energy companies haven’t been up front with the quantities and mixtures of the chemicals they use, and that many of the elements are dangerous to human health and could taint the water supply. Land owners and the energy companies posed to lease their property to drill for the energy source say the process is safe. They point to the DEC’s track record in New York of successfully regulating oil and gas drilling activities, as well as the state’s need for the economic relief that the industry promises.
Last week, two Department of Environmental Conservation officials said reviewing and responding to the 13,500 comments received on the draft regulations has been time consuming. DEC Commissioner Alexander “Pete” Grannis said a staff shortage could further delay the process until late summer or early fall.
“As with every agency, we are understaffed,” Grannis said. “Men and women at the DEC are putting in collectively about 50 hours a day, all told, in going through the comments and writing up the responses. I guess if you had to pick a time, I think late summer, early fall, we’ll be nearing the end of the review process.”
DEC Director of Mineral Resources Bradley Field said the entire process, including the issuance of permits, would be finished in 2010.
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