New York

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Gov. Cuomo Signals Drilling Not Likely to Happen in 2012
January 17, 2012January 17, 2012

Although pro-drilling groups in New York are attempting to put a positive face on it, yesterday NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state has not yet made a determination on whether fracking will be allowed. Not “when” it will be allowed, but “whether” it will be allowed. He said, “We haven’t made that determination.” His remarks in context were about whether the state will add funding in this year’s budget (being released today) for an estimated 140 regulators that would be needed if fracking were to begin.

At a minimum, it seems Cuomo is saying that fracking won’t be a resolved issue during this budget year, although his remarks are not exactly clear.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

EPA’s Judith Enck Critiques NY Fracking Regulations
January 13, 2012January 13, 2012

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a 26-page critique of New York’s draft hydraulic fracturing regulations, known as the SGEIS, three hours before the filing deadline on Wednesday (a copy of the letter is embedded below). This is the same EPA that just started a multi-year study of fracking that’s not due to be completed until 2014. Funny how they can be experts on fracking now, although their plan for how to study fracking was only released two months ago and they’ve barely begun to study it (see this MDN story).

This is also the same EPA who decided there was no problem with drinking water in Dimock, then said there’s gaps in the data, decided to ship water to Dimock residents, recanted on the water shipments less than 24 hours later, and has been silent since. Yeah, that EPA.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Today: NY Deadline Day for Comments on New Drilling Regs
January 11, 2012January 11, 2012

Today is the latest deadline from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens to file comments on New York’s proposed new drilling rules, known as the SGEIS. Yesterday, both pro- and anti-drilling groups descended on Albany with thousands of letters of support (or opposition). Prior to yesterday the DEC reported having received over 20,000 written statements. That number, after yesterday, is likely to double.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

NYT: Kerfuffle Among Anti-Drilling Groups in New York
January 10, 2012January 10, 2012

A surprisingly balanced article in the New York Times yesterday takes a look at the anti-drilling movement in New York State. The article, written by Peter Applebome, focuses on the “divide” in the anti-drilling movement between those who want strict drilling laws in New York versus those who want to ban drilling outright.

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Energy Companies | New York | Norse Energy | Statewide NY

Norse Energy Converts $3.5M in Bonds into Stock Ownership
January 9, 2012January 9, 2012

Norse Energy, with substantial leases in New York State, clings to the hope that New York will soon allow shale gas drilling. In the meantime, they continue to try and hold on. Last week they sold some of their NY acreage along with a slice of the royalty rights on acreage they retain for $26.7 million (see this MDN story). Today we learn that Norse is converting $3.5 million worth of debt they owe into equity. That is, they’ve sold off another slice of the company by swapping bonds for stocks.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

New Fracking Moratorium Bill Coming in NY Legislature
January 6, 2012January 6, 2012

Gannett reporter Jon Campbell reports that a bill to extend New York’s moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until June 2013 is now circulating in Albany and is expected to be introduced soon by the the Assembly environmental chairman:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Gov. Cuomo Dumps Reference to Fracking in Big Speech
January 5, 2012January 5, 2012

Yesterday, all eyes were on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his second “State of the State” address, delivered in Albany. The popular governor has walked a tightrope on the issue of hydraulic fracturing, but after yesterday’s speech, MDN wonders if he’s fallen off that tightrope.

Since his inauguration in 2011, Gov. Cuomo has seemed to be on the side of allowing gas drilling, but then, good politicians “seem” to be on everyone’s side at one point or another. Gov. Cuomo was due to address the issue of fracking in yesterday’s speech. In fact, there’s a short 125 words dedicated to it under the subtitle of “Hydraulic Fracturing in the Southern Tier.” The interesting thing is, he left that section out when he delivered the speech—he never uttered the words. Here’s what he was going to say:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Anti-Frackers in NY Target Cuomo with Home Rule Legislation
January 3, 2012January 3, 2012

In the ongoing struggle to start gas drilling in New York State, those who oppose it, including State Senator James Seward of Oneonta (a RINO), are trying a new tactic. That new tactic is to take the fight local, in town by town, by using “home rule” laws. But they have a hurdle to jump first: New York State law currently does not permit local municipalities to regulate oil and gas drilling.

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Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | New York | Norse Energy | Statewide NY

Norse Energy Sells Some of Its NY Acreage/Interests
January 3, 2012January 3, 2012

Norwegian gas driller Norse Energy has sold off some of its leased acreage in Central New York State, along with a slice of future royalties in acreage for which it retains control. The complicated deal to an unnamed buyer for $26.7 million is to sell all interests in 22,700 acres, and various rates of royalty interests on other leases that Norse retains (see the press release below).

Norse will retain control of 160,000 leased acres in New York, of which 110,000 acres are located in the Marcellus and Utica Shale play areas, in the hope that New York will soon release final drilling rules that will allow it to tap into shale gas in the state.

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Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

The Real Story Behind Binghamton’s Fracking Ban
January 2, 2012January 2, 2012

MDN recently covered the vote to enact a two-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the City of Binghamton (see MDN stories here). It took some time, but we finally received a copy of the actual legislation that was enacted. The legislation is embedded below, along with all of the associated paperwork that goes with it.

Tom Shepstone, head of Energy in Depth’s Northeast Marcellus Initiative, was also at the Binghamton City Council public hearing and the vote that followed. Tom has written an excellent article titled, “Pulling the Curtain Back on the Binghamton Ban Vote.” MDN recommends you read it for a proper understanding of just what went on behind the scenes.

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Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Binghamton Fracking Ban Will Stay; The Real Impact
December 23, 2011December 23, 2011

It now looks as though the fracking ban in Binghamton, NY will stay in place for the next two years. Binghamton City Council voted to pass the legislation Wednesday night (see MDN’s coverage here). Yesterday, Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan signed the legislation into law. Interviews with several of the incoming new Council members, including Republicans, show there is no appetite to attempt a repeal of the new law.

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Broome County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Laser Northeast Gathering | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Susquehanna County | Williams

Laser Northeast Pipeline Selling to Williams for $750M
December 23, 2011December 23, 2011

Laser Northeast Gathering, a 33-mile natural gas pipeline that cost $55 million to build and stretches from the very active Marcellus Shale drilling area of Susquehanna County (in northeastern PA) to Broome County (in New York’s Southern Tier), connecting to the interstate Millennium Pipeline, announced yesterday the company is selling itself to Williams Partners for $750 million. The deal covers Laser’s contracts to expand the pipeline and commitments from customers already signed on. When the project is fully completed it will have 75 miles of pipeline. Laser is a subsidiary of Delphi Midstream Partners.

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Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Binghamton Bans Fracking; Serious Allegation by Councilman
December 22, 2011December 22, 2011

After a 3 1/2 hour public hearing and a short recess, Binghamton (NY) City Council last night convened in regular session to vote on several matters, including Local Law 11-7, a law “to effect a prohibition of natural gas and petroleum exploration and extraction activities, underground storage of natural gas, and disposal of natural gas or petroleum extraction, exploration and production wastes.” City Council members voted 6-1 in favor of the two-year ban on fracking, joining other cities around the state like Buffalo and Syracuse that have done the same.

A vote like this must be viewed in context. The Binghamton City Council has seven members, all of whom are Democrats. Just a little over a month ago in the fall election, all seven seats were up for election. Three of those seats were won by Republicans who will join City Council on January 1, 2012. Additionally, two of the sitting Democrat council members did not run for re-election and will be replaced by new Democrats. Bottom line, five of the seven Council members in 2012 will be new—four Democrats and three Republicans. This was legislation passed by a very lame-duck group of officials with an agenda.

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Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Binghamton Public Hearing on Proposed Fracking Ban
December 22, 2011December 22, 2011

Last night, to the frustration of some area residents, and to the glee of others, Binghamton City Council members made a loud political statement that the city is not interested in the natural gas drilling industry and the potential prosperity it would bring to the region. Council members voted 6-1 in favor of a two-year moratorium on drilling in the city. MDN attended the public hearing that preceded the vote, and stayed for the vote that followed. It was a long night.

The public hearing, which ran from 6:30 to 10:00 pm, heard from both residents and non-residents, each of whom was given three minutes to make a statement to Council members. MDN editor Jim Willis was among those commenting. By the time Council members had their say about why they would or would not support the ban, and then voted, it was close to 11:00 pm.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY DEC Joe Martens – Another Week, Another Delay in Fracking
December 21, 2011December 21, 2011

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens continues the delay and stall tactics he’s become known for on the issue of shale gas drilling in the state. The latest Martens delay came this week when he asked an outside consulting firm—Ecology & Environment—to take a closer look at costs fracking would create for local communities.

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Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion | Statewide NY | Statewide PA

Cornell Conference: Majorities in NY & PA Support Drilling
December 15, 2011December 15, 2011

Results from two different surveys on resident’s attitudes toward shale gas drilling in New York and Pennsylvania were delivered at the Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference, held Dec. 13 at Cornell University. Richard Stedman, associate professor of natural resources at Cornell, reported the following from a survey of 6,000 residents in both New York and Pennsylvania:

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