NORWICH – Senator Tom Libous, R-52nd District, said he expected shale gas drilling permits will be issued in New York sometime next year despite an extension granted Tuesday to a DEC sanctioned advisory panel’s safety review.
The panel, made up of environmental, industry and local government representatives, is tasked with developing recommendations for a system of oversight, monitoring and enforcement. It is currently collecting information from various state agencies to assess how much they will need in additional resources when drilling begins.
On Tuesday, the group decided to consider local resource needs along with state needs, DEC spokesman Michael Bopp said.
“It was anticipated that the panel’s report would be completed by early November. We’ve taken that deadline pressure off the table,” Bopp said Wednesday. “The group wants to learn more and study more.”
Libous, who advocates for safe, responsible natural gas drilling, said the panel could wrap up its work in January or February. He delivered his predictions to a group of Chenango County leaders yesterday at the Eaton Center in Norwich during a discussion of New York’s economic climate.
Joe Martens, who heads the Department of Environmental Conservation, said the report must be in place before his agency will issue permits for the controversial technology known as high water volume hydraulic fracturing. Martens had previously predicted that permits would be issued in 2012.
Brad Gill, an industry representative on the panel and executive with the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, said he’s also optimistic drilling will start in 2012.
“We respect the DEC’s desire to thoroughly analyze the needs of the various state agencies and counties, and their commitment to getting it right. We certainly hope this doesn’t delay the regulatory process, and we’re still optimistic that drilling will occur in 2012,” he wrote in an IOGA statement.
Gas-drilling opponents fear the anticipated high volume of gas well development in southern New York will cause environmental harm, pollute drinking water, and degrade the quality of life. Supporters say the fears aren’t backed up by facts and the industry will bring much-needed jobs and revenue to the state.
“Based on Commissioner Martens’ remarks yesterday, Governor Cuomo and the state are sending a message to New Yorkers – your concerns about fracking are being heard,” environmental advocates said in a statement Wednesday. “New York is showing a willingness to slow the rush to drill so the impacts of fracking can be fully considered.”
A public comment period on the DEC’s draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement is under way until Dec. 12. Four public hearings are scheduled in November.
Natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale region of southern New York has been on hold since 2008, when the state’s environmental review was launched.