OXFORD – Oxford’s Village Board of Trustees have decided to take another week before voting on a proposed zoning amendment that would limit, if not prohibit, the development of natural gas within the village.
While everyone who spoke at Tuesday night’s public hearing were in favor of the clarifying language proposed for the zoning ordinance, five out of the nearly 50 people in attendance spoke out in favor of the controversial practice of high water hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, while four were against it. The Chenango County Planning Board last week voted against Oxford’s proposed amendment. Village Mayor Terry Stark has described the suggested change as ‘clarifying or confirmatory’ language to existing code. Village Attorney Roger Monaco remained silent for the duration of the hearing.
First to address the board was businessman Bryant LaTourette Sr., who is also a member of the Central New York Landowner’s Coalition. LaTourette suggested the village wait for New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation to release new permitting regulations for fracking, and for the conclusion of two legal cases on the issue currently in the courts in the towns of Dryden and Middlefield.
“We have looked over the amendment and it is well put together,” LaTourette said. “Speaking on behalf of the landowners and local businesses, you should vote it into law, but say Dryden gets overturned, what protection do you have in place? Do you have a safety lease in place?”
Oxford resident Mina Takahashi expressed her approval of the amendment, noting she believes its enactment would send a clear message to the county and the state that the village is willing to take advantage of its sovereign rights. Takahashi also voiced her concerns over the pending state regulations based on a draft she reviewed. “I read the new regulations, and I could not believe how many loopholes there were for gas companies to take advantage of,” she said.
Jeff Barrows, an Oxford-based contractor for Norse Energy Inc., (the county’s most prominent natural gas developer) voiced his confidence in the safety of natural gas exploration based on his work. “Before we can get a permit, we have to show a comprehensive plan of how surface waters will be protected,” he said. Barrows went on to describe how Norse also conducts monthly safety reviews of wells even if the well has been plugged.
The nine people who addressed the board of trustees expressed myriad opinions on shale gas drilling, many of which diverged from the zoning ordinance amendment in question. After the trustees listened to the public comments, they decided to hold a special meeting Feb. 5 to vote on the ammendment, giving the board time to further review the county planning board’s letter and discuss it with them. Because the county planning board did not approve Oxford’s ordinance amendment, four members of the village board of trustees will have to vote in favor in order for it to be enacted.
The DEC has until Feb. 27 to either enact new permitting regulations for drilling into shale formations in New York such as the Marcellus or Utica, or to allow them to expire.