Both sides of fracking debate uncertain of DEC’s plans
NORWICH – Statements from Albany indicating yet another delay in New York’s four-year long study of shale gas drilling has both sides of the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, debate up in arms.
Environmentalist activists say Gov. Cuomo’s announcement on Friday, that the Department of Environmental Conservation’s draft rules would be held up until his health commissioner reviews an already-completed health impact assessment, didn’t go far enough. Katherine Nadeau, Water & Natural Resources Program Director, said people “remain in the dark about what is really happening” and called on the administration to clarify whether any fracking permits will be issued prior to the regulations being finalized.
Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said Sunday the agency expects to miss a Nov. 29 deadline for finalizing regulations, making it necessary to reopen the process with at least one public hearing. But she said it remains “undetermined” whether an overall environmental study can be completed and permits issued while the agency revisits the regulations. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens had said last year that the agency would issue permits if the environmental review was completed before the regulations are adopted.
“While it is good that the state may go through another round of rulemaking and public involvement, there has not been a guarantee from the governor that his administration will hold off on issuing fracking permits until the entire rulemaking process has been completed. This important point must be clarified,” Nadeau said.
Landowner advocates for drilling, on the other hand, are partnering with farm bureaus, trade unions, chamber of commerces, tourism and economic development agencies, industry representatives, and dozens of coalitions to rally Albany on Oct. 15. Their statement: “Stop obstructing upstate’s growth through needless delays of drilling.”
In a release to members of the Central New York Landowners Coalition, Brian Conover, group president, said the event could be the “pivotal moment for landowner’s rights and the growth of upstate New York.”
“Please don’t leave this to others to do. Fight for your rights and the rights of all landowners by going to Albany. One day could mean the world for your future,” he said. The CNYLC is comprised of 215,000 acres in Chenango County. Most of the municipalities in the southern portion of the county, where the Marcellus shale is deep enough to drill, have placed their confidence in the DEC’s ability to safely regulate high water volume fracking.
While thousands of shale gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania and other states, developers in New York have met intense opposition. DEC proposed formal regulations for gas drilling last year and held the last of four public hearings on the regulations on Nov. 30. Under state law, the agency has one year after the last public hearing to finalize the regulations, although it can file for a 90-day extension. If it misses the Nov. 29 deadline, the rulemaking process restarts, including a new comment period. The DEC has already reviewed 80,000 public comments.
Meanwhile, a half dozen companies, including Hartz, Chesapeake and Gas Team, toured Chenango County this summer to determine where shale gas wells and pipeline might develop and where taps might benefit municipalities and businesses. Natural Gas Industry Consultant Steven Palmatier reported in August and September that investors want to deliver natural gas to local customers.
“There are lots of opportunities for towns near pipeline plans,” he said. A proposed Constitution Pipeline will transverse about 8 miles through Afton and Bainbridge, for example, and the former Norse Energy line from Preston north could be extended south to meet it. Norse, in 2011, sold most of its local assets to Emkey Resources, a new company operating out of Pennsylvania.
The Greene Industrial Park, high school and Raymond Corporation could possibly benefit from natural gas fired energy. In New Berlin, the village, Golden Artists and Chobani are also interested, Palmatier said, as is Sherburne Mayor Bill Acee.
There has been no drilling in Chenango County since the spring of 2011, when Norse withdrew all drilling plans and laid off employees.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Environmentalist activists say Gov. Cuomo’s announcement on Friday, that the Department of Environmental Conservation’s draft rules would be held up until his health commissioner reviews an already-completed health impact assessment, didn’t go far enough. Katherine Nadeau, Water & Natural Resources Program Director, said people “remain in the dark about what is really happening” and called on the administration to clarify whether any fracking permits will be issued prior to the regulations being finalized.
Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said Sunday the agency expects to miss a Nov. 29 deadline for finalizing regulations, making it necessary to reopen the process with at least one public hearing. But she said it remains “undetermined” whether an overall environmental study can be completed and permits issued while the agency revisits the regulations. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens had said last year that the agency would issue permits if the environmental review was completed before the regulations are adopted.
“While it is good that the state may go through another round of rulemaking and public involvement, there has not been a guarantee from the governor that his administration will hold off on issuing fracking permits until the entire rulemaking process has been completed. This important point must be clarified,” Nadeau said.
Landowner advocates for drilling, on the other hand, are partnering with farm bureaus, trade unions, chamber of commerces, tourism and economic development agencies, industry representatives, and dozens of coalitions to rally Albany on Oct. 15. Their statement: “Stop obstructing upstate’s growth through needless delays of drilling.”
In a release to members of the Central New York Landowners Coalition, Brian Conover, group president, said the event could be the “pivotal moment for landowner’s rights and the growth of upstate New York.”
“Please don’t leave this to others to do. Fight for your rights and the rights of all landowners by going to Albany. One day could mean the world for your future,” he said. The CNYLC is comprised of 215,000 acres in Chenango County. Most of the municipalities in the southern portion of the county, where the Marcellus shale is deep enough to drill, have placed their confidence in the DEC’s ability to safely regulate high water volume fracking.
While thousands of shale gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania and other states, developers in New York have met intense opposition. DEC proposed formal regulations for gas drilling last year and held the last of four public hearings on the regulations on Nov. 30. Under state law, the agency has one year after the last public hearing to finalize the regulations, although it can file for a 90-day extension. If it misses the Nov. 29 deadline, the rulemaking process restarts, including a new comment period. The DEC has already reviewed 80,000 public comments.
Meanwhile, a half dozen companies, including Hartz, Chesapeake and Gas Team, toured Chenango County this summer to determine where shale gas wells and pipeline might develop and where taps might benefit municipalities and businesses. Natural Gas Industry Consultant Steven Palmatier reported in August and September that investors want to deliver natural gas to local customers.
“There are lots of opportunities for towns near pipeline plans,” he said. A proposed Constitution Pipeline will transverse about 8 miles through Afton and Bainbridge, for example, and the former Norse Energy line from Preston north could be extended south to meet it. Norse, in 2011, sold most of its local assets to Emkey Resources, a new company operating out of Pennsylvania.
The Greene Industrial Park, high school and Raymond Corporation could possibly benefit from natural gas fired energy. In New Berlin, the village, Golden Artists and Chobani are also interested, Palmatier said, as is Sherburne Mayor Bill Acee.
There has been no drilling in Chenango County since the spring of 2011, when Norse withdrew all drilling plans and laid off employees.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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