NY Landowner Coalition Sounds Alarm on New Delay Request

| | | |

sound the alarmThe Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) yesterday emailed an “urgent call to action” to New York landowners and those in the state who support natural gas drilling. The JLCNY has received a tip from “credible sources” that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been asked to once again delay the release of new drilling rules in New York, known as the SGEIS, until after the election on Nov. 6—effectively meaning “not until 2013.” The JLCNY call to action asks landowners and gas supporters to phone the governor’s office, along with the offices of other prominent politicians, asking them to not delay the release of new drilling rules.

The JLCNY does not comment on who the credible sources are, nor who is doing the asking for another delay. MDN has its own theories, but we’ll hold off for now on the speculation. The important thing (for those of us who support drilling and want the new DEC rules released NOW), is to pick up the phone and start calling.

Here’s the call to action email received by MDN:

Dear Friends, Landowners, and Natural Gas Supporters,

This is an URGENT CALL TO ACTION! We need your immediate assistance. Despite all of the positive news about the potential release of the final SGEIS, we have been advised by credible sources that the Governor has been asked to delay the release of the SGEIS until after the November elections.  While the final decision to delay has not yet been made, we believe it is crucial for you to call the Governor and certain key legislators advising them of the importance of approving the SGEIS immediately.

We simply cannot let the politics of the fall elections intrude on the decision-making process. Three Governors have presided over the Marcellus shale opportunity. Each election cycle newly elected legislators have asked for time to be brought up to speed on natural gas development and the SGEIS. A decision delaying the SGEIS release until after the elections will push the SGEIS release into 2013.

Governor Cuomo has said that the SGEIS would be released this summer.  He told Fred Dicker “I think it’s actually better that we do it when the Legislature is not here, because I don’t want a political discussion. He continued by saying: “I want to get the conversation back to facts and logic and science and information, and reduce the temperature of the conversation, pardon the pun.”

Even CBS News recently reported that it has learned that New York is expected to roll out guidelines after Labor Day.

Governor Cuomo has shown tremendous leadership on many New York issues. We have believed that he is a leader looking for real change in New York. We fully expect him to lead New York into a new era of economic prosperity.

Governor Corbett and Governor Kasich know the benefits drilling has brought to Pennsylvania and Ohio. President Obama called natural gas “an ideal energy source” and said “. . .natural gas actually burns cleaner than some other fossil fuels, and is an ideal fuel – energy source that we can potentially use for the next 100 years.” He also said: “So I want to encourage natural gas production. The key is to make sure that we do it safely and in a way that is environmentally sound. And the fact of the matter is that there a lot of folks right now that are engaging in hydraulic fracturing who are doing it safely.” Last week Bill Richardson, former US Energy Secretary under President Bill Clinton, gave an endorsement to Governor Cuomo’s efforts stating that “Natural gas is the future.”  And, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently stated that natural gas is critical to improve our air quality and public health.

Delay will make the release of the SGEIS a heated campaign issue, contrary to the Governor’s hope of avoiding continued political debate. Additionally, our members and communities are facing dire circumstances. Our farms, businesses and finances are precarious. Many individuals are holding on in expectation of being able to develop their property, but they cannot hold on much longer. Every day of delay means more will have to sell out.  Furthermore, perhaps no other region of the state has been harder hit by economic decline than our region. Responsible drilling is our best hope for resurgence.

Continued delay diminishes the economic benefits that could accrue to our state and our communities if drilling was permitted. In this regard, businesses are making investment decisions now that will mean jobs added in Pennsylvania instead of New York. We are aware of several instances recently where major support facilities linked to drilling have been constructed across the border rather than in New York. We have lost jobs and investment as a result.

Lastly, a delay will only serve to empower opponents, some of whom have now taken to civil disobedience and other disruptive acts. While everyone supports the right of people to express their views, we believe opponents are distorting the facts and trying to impose their views of what is right in our communities.

We must urge the Governor to direct the DEC to move forward as soon as possible with rules and regulations governing the process and to begin permitting. Please contact Governor Cuomo and these leaders in our Senate and urge them to approve the SGEIS immediately. A list of key talking points is attached.

Governor Cuomo      518 474 8390
Senator Bonacic    845 344 3311
Senator Skelos    518 455 3171
Senator Libous    877 854 2687
Senator Seward      607 432 5524
Senator Maziarz    716 434 0680
Senator O’Mara    607 776 3201

We have been fighting to bring opportunities to our communities for 4 years. We are closer to success than ever. I urge you to take a few minutes to make these important phone calls. Thank you.

Warm Regards,
Dan Fitzsimmons, President
Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, Inc.

Talking Points (for when you’re on the phone)

  • Governor Cuomo and the DEC have assured us that the SGEIS would be released this summer. It is crucial that the Governor direct the DEC to move forward as soon as possible with rules and regulations governing the process and to begin permitting.
  • The Governor has repeatedly stated and been quoted as to the importance of making sure this decision is based on the facts. Letting delay occur into the political season jeopardizes our hard work and energizes opponents.
  • Continued delay will thrust the release of the SGEIS into an even more heated political debate which is exactly what the Governor had hoped to avoid.
  • Natural Gas Development is supported by national and state leaders including President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg.
  • Our members and communities are facing dire circumstances. Our farms, businesses and finances are precarious. Many individuals are holding on in expectation of being able to develop their property, but they cannot hold on much longer. Every day of delay means more will have to sell out.
  • Our region of the state has been hard hit by economic decline. Responsible drilling is our best hope for resurgence.
  • Continued delay diminishes the economic benefits that could accrue to our state and our communities if drilling was permitted. Businesses are making investment decisions now that will mean jobs added in Pennsylvania instead of New York. We are aware of several instances recently where major support facilities linked to drilling have been constructed across the border rather than in New York. We have lost jobs and investment as a result.
  • A delay will only serve to empower opponents, some of whom have now taken to civil disobedience and other disruptive acts. These baseless attacks could alter the landscape for support.
  • We need State leadership to present a clear and consistent regulatory structure across the state. The DEC, based on the expertise of its employees and advisors, needs to release a final set of standards to ensure safe development of our natural gas resources.