New York

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    Public Hearings on the New York Draft SGEIS for Marcellus Shale Drilling

    New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (Oct 13):
    Press Release: DEC Schedules Public Hearings on Marcellus Shale Drilling Draft SGEIS

    Landowners will want to attend the public hearings being held by the New York DEC on the draft regulations for drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The regulations are called the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS). Why attend? To educate yourself on the regulations, and (if you’re so inclined), to offer your comments of support. You can be sure the anti-drillers will be out and vocal–so you need to be out and vocal too if you’re interested in ever seeing drilling commence in New York State. Here are the dates for hearings so far:

    • Wednesday, Oct. 28, Sullivan County Community College, E Building, Seelig Theater, 112 College Rd., Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 10, Stuyvesant High School, High School Auditorium, 345 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10282.
    • Thursday, Nov. 12, Chenango Valley High School, High School Auditorium, 221 Chenango Bridge Rd., Chenango Bridge, NY 13901.
    • Elmira – Corning, TBD.

    The doors will open at 6 p.m. for individual questions and speaker sign up (first come, first called for commenting on the record). The public comment session will start at 7 p.m. Check the DEC web site for possible changes in time or location.

    From the press release:

    DEC staff will be available prior to the start of each session to answer individual questions about the format and contents of the draft SGEIS. The following procedures will guide the public hearings:

    • To accommodate as many people as possible, there will be a five-minute limit on oral presentations.
    • Speakers may supplement their oral presentations with written comments. Written and oral comments receive equal consideration.
    • Formal presentations (PowerPoint, etc.) cannot be accommodated.
    • Individuals intending to speak will be required to sign-in upon arrival and will be called in the order registered.

    To view (or download) the 809-page draft SGEIS, go to this page: www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html

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    Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition Presents One-Sided Argurments

    WBNG-TV Action News (Oct 18):
    Drilling Effects for Tioga County

    A short segment on Channel 12 “Action News” starts out like this:

    An environmentalist weighs the pro’s and con’s of tapping into the Marcellus Shale in the Southern Tier. Chair of the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition, Chris Burger, spoke at the Tioga Trails café in Owego tonight.

    I think it was more like just the “cons” of drilling were covered. Channel 12 needs to put a little more “action” into their Action News. The BRSC is dead set against–and actively opposes–drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Know who your opponents are folks. Don’t fall for the lie that they’re presenting “fair and balanced environmental viewpoints” on the topic of drilling. They are not.

    See for yourself: Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition.

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    Fortuna and Hess Royalty & Signing Bonus Numbers

    Elmira Star-Gazette (Oct 17):
    Slow down in gas drilling activity allows chance for consideration

    A generally anti-drilling “article” by the business writer for the Elimra Star-Gazette. But he includes some helpful and interesting information for landowners:

    I’m also watching how Fortuna and Hess are slugging it out for leasing rights in the counties to our east. What started here as a 12.5 percent production royalty and signing bonuses of a few hundred dollars per acre has morphed into the 20 percent royalty figure and signing bonuses of several thousand dollars per acre being offered in Broome and the surrounding counties on either side of the border.

    Landowners and landowner groups take notice! Be sure you’re getting the best prices you can from your contracts.

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    Sen. Gillibrand Trying to Slow Down Drilling in New York

    Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (Oct 15):
    Gillibrand urges N.Y. extend comment period on gas drill rules

    More delay tactics from the Democrats. Enough already! From the article:

    U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on Thursday urged New York to extend the public comment period on proposed regulations governing development of the gas-rich Marcellus Shale.

    New York state released its environmental impact statement Sept. 30 and scheduled a series of public meetings, beginning on Oct. 28 . The state provided a 60-day period for public comment; Gillibrand, D-N.Y., recommended a 90-day public comment period, to Dec. 30.

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    Anti-drilling Crowd Calls for “Balance” Between Energy and Environment

    Poughkeepsie Journal (Oct 8):
    Outdoors: Balance must be struck between energy, environment

    More misinformation from the anti-drilling crowd. The “reporter” for this article, Bill Conners, starts with general information that is of interest for everyone in New York:

    According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, there have been more than 75,000 oil and gas wells drilled here since the late 1800s; some 14,000 remain active.

    He then briefly describes hydrofracturing, and moves on to cite the Dunkard Creek problem of fish dying along the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. As previously noted in MDN, the problem is about an overgrowth of algae, of a strain of algae not normally found in the creek. There may or may not be a tie with gas drilling. The link that is being made is “perhaps” the algae somehow got onto drilling equipment and trucks used in drilling and hitchhiked to the Dunkard Creek. This is highly speculative at best. More science please!

    But the anti-drilling crowd is in a rush to tie Dunkard Creek to the thought in readers’ minds that “drilling causes fish to die where ever it’s used.” Mr. Conners, in this article, does not detail the issue of Dunkard Creek, he merely mentions lots of fish dying and that it is somehow tied to drilling–leaving the impression that chemicals are the cause. Here is the sum total, in context, of what he says on the matter:

    Unfortunately, there are risks associated with using the [hydrofacturing drilling] technique. The various fluids used can, and sometimes do, damage aquifers and nearby water bodies. In early September in Blacksville, W.Va., residents started noticing dead fish along Dunkard Creek, just below the border of Pennsylvania. It wasn’t long before the entire fish population was wiped out along 35 miles of the previously fertile stream. It is virtually impossible to know how long it will take for the damage to be mitigated, whether by remediation or by Mother Nature.

    There are charges flying back and forth, and there is an ongoing investigation as to whether or not the damage to Dunkard Creek came as the result of a spill from a drilling operation along the creek. Nationwide, it is estimated that 90 percent of the wells are drilled using fracking. It is not hard for things to go wrong, and when they do, property is damaged and lives turned on end.

    Here is the story as told in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from last week:

    An invasive toxic algae, blamed for contributing to the massive Dunkard Creek fish kill along the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border, may have hitchhiked to the region aboard equipment used in Marcellus shale drilling.

    And this:

    But the West Virginia agency [Department of Environmental Protection] doesn’t know how the algae got into the creek.

    “We might never know how it got there,” said spokewoman Kathy Cosco. “We are trying to determine if it’s present already in other water bodies or has spread.”

    Investigators also are looking at the possibility that someone illegally dumped drilling wastewater into the creek.

    Yes, wastewater from drilling is one of the possible scenarios being looked at, but that, as well as “hitchhiking algae” are pure speculation right now. There is no science, no proof, no direct tie-in with drilling. But you won’t find that in this story because it doesn’t fit the template of the anti-drilling crowd. Read your news carefully.

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    Pro-drilling Editorial from Corning Leader

    Corning Leader (Oct 7):
    Gas drilling an important opportunity

    Well, what do you know? A positive editorial from a news outlet (for a change). This one from the Corning Leader says in part:

    [S]ometime next spring or summer we’ll see the beginning of what could be a drilling bonanza in the Southern Tier. Hundreds of wells have already been tapped in Pennsylvania and the same level of activity could happen here.

    Potentially, that could generate billions in new revenue for a sustained period of time. Gas companies, support companies, engineering firms and so on are expected to follow others that have already located in the Southern Tier to tap into the northern tip of the Marcellus Shale. Those companies will create jobs, pay taxes and have a beneficial ripple effect through other sectors that could revive one of the poorest areas of the country.

    Thank you for talking about the positive side of drilling!

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    More Work Ahead in New York Before Drilling Begins

    Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (Oct 7):
    Much more work ahead

    An editorial in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, no doubt written in part by Tom Wilbur, anti-drilling shill for the eco-nut groups. It acknowledges what MDN has already noted: The New York DEC is interested in pushing forward with responsible drilling in New York, eco-nut groups are not. The battle is only beginning. Landowners need to write and call and make their voices heard on the proposed drilling regulations.

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    Natural gas quest: Technical report carving deep divisions between gas companies and industry critics

    Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (Oct 4):
    Natural gas quest: Technical report carving deep divisions between gas companies and industry critics

    The eco-nuts are in a snit over the Department of Enviromental Conservation’s proposed new Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement for drilling in the Marcellus Shale in New York State. As previously posted on Marcellus Drilling News, in a cursory glance at the proposed new rules for New York, I believe the rules are somewhat over-restrictive, but not as bad as they could be. It appears the eco-nuts read it the same way and this article, authored by eco-nut stenographer Tom Wilbur (who dutifully “reports” the anti-drilling side in every article he writes), chronicles the apoplexy going on inside the eco-nut movement. I am encouraged. Let’s hope the New York DEC quickly adopts the SGEIC so drilling can finally begin.

    Likewise, let’s hope Maurice Hinchey (Democrat Congressman from Upstate New York) is unsuccessful in passing a bill in Congress that would effectively bring control of all gas drilling under the jurisdiction of the rogue Environmental Protection Agency under the guise that the EPA is the only agency who can properly protect drinking water supplies. It is an attempt by the federal government to grab power away from the states. New York (and all states) must resist this legislation. Beat back the eco-nuts! Let the drilling begin.

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    New York State Releases Draft Rules for Drilling in the Marcellus Shale

    Originally run on RSSBinghamton.com on October 1st:

    The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finally released its Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement for drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Instead of making drilling companies do an environmental impact statement for each well they drill, the DEC decided to do one “generic” environmental impact statement that will apply to all drilling sites throughout the state. You can read the document for yourself here: //www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html.

    I have not yet had a chance to fully digest the 500+ page document. I have reviewed some of it (a lot of it is technical). An article in the Press & Sun-Bulletin purports to cover some of the highlights. Read the P&SB article here: NY regulators propose pre-emptive checks of gas wells in Marcellus Shale. But let me warn you that Tom Wilber, the P&SB writer, shades all of his Marcellus drilling articles with anti-drilling sentiment. For example, he says:

    The DEC’s regulatory overhaul began after Southern Tier residents crowded into school auditoriums and town halls to attend public information sessions hosted by the agency in the summer of 2008. Those sessions often became heated, as regulators were unable to satisfactorily answer questions about water consumption, waste disposal, chemical handling and other aspects of large scale Marcellus drilling.

    Perhaps so Mr. Wilber. Maybe that’s why New York decided to do a complete review in the first place. But in the interests of being fair and balanced, why didn’t you also mention the rally held just recently (this past summer) in Afton, where thousands of landowners showed up to support drilling? There were more people in one location at one time to support drilling than there ever have been in any location who oppose it.

    He also asserts in the article:

    DEC officials have watched and learned from developments in Dimock Township, Pa., where Cabot Oil & Gas recently had to shut down some operations after repeated spills and environmental problems. Explosive levels of methane contaminated some drinking water supplies earlier this year. More recently, an 8,000 gallon spill of chemicals used to stimulate well production polluted a creek and wetland.

    Yes, Cabot has had problems and they are being appropriately spanked for it by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA’s version of our DEC). The situation is being carefully monitored and handled. But again, the lingering sentiment from the paragraph seems to be that all drilling is unsafe and all drilling companies are out to screw the populace. What about the hundreds (thousands?) of other natural gas wells in PA that are doing just fine with their operations? No spills or contamination of anything. No mention of that.

    My very preliminary take on the new DEC proposed regulations: Likely overbearing and restrictive, but at least we’re moving again. After a public comment period until Nov. 30, the DEC will hopefully sew this thing up and drilling can finally begin in New York.

    Stay tuned as more will surely come out about the proposed new regulations as people have time to review them in detail.

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    Natural gas quest: DEC investigating disposal of fluids by drilling vendor

    Press & Sun-Bulletin (Oct 3):
    Natural gas quest: DEC investigating disposal of fluids by drilling vendor

    Pretty much a non-story story, typical “hit piece” by leftist media. There is a company providing chemicals for drilling, for Pennsylvania companies (PA because so far, since there IS no drilling in New York). Said company, Northeast Mud Services Co. of Bridgeport, W.Va. (NEMSCo), is alleged to have leaked chemicals at their warehouse facility. Problem is, no one can find any leaks. The other complaint is that they have the audacity to wash their trucks, the fear being that an eye-dropper full of chemical may have contaminated the mud through which the trucks travel and then affixed itself to the truck, and so spray washing the trucks to keep them clean is a no-no. Both allegations came from an anonymous “tip”.

    You can expect more of this nonsensical reporting to ramp up in the coming months as the New York DEC tries to sign off on the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement.

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    Steuben County League of Women Voters Go on Record as Anti-Drilling in the Marcellus

    It seems anti-drilling groups, although small in numbers, are popping up like dandelions in the spring. The latest is the Steuben County League of Women Voters, a supposedly non-partisan group (but that’s a lie, LWV is an extremely partisan group). WENY-TV has video from a recent meeting held by the League. The meeting started with a propaganda movie about drilling in Colorado to whip up the crowd.

    Read the account and watch the WENY segment: Steuben County League of Women Voters Holds Natural Gas Drilling Meeting

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    Marcellus Anti-Drilling Protesters Assemble in Cooperstown Outside SPE Convention

    The Daily Star (Oneonta) reports that upward of 50 protesters from the Southern Tier and central New York gathered outside of Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown to voice their disapproval of drilling in the Marcellus. Inside the hotel was a meeting/convention of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

    The Daily Star dutifully recounts the nightmarish (and inaccurate) party line of anti-drilling proponents. But to their credit, The Daily Star also reports a few counter arguments from a few people who are in the know and educated about these things–the engineers attending the SPE meeting whose job it is to safely get gas (and oil) from the ground.

    Read the full article: 50 protest gas drilling at Otesaga

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    Downstate New Yorkers Demand Total Ban on Drilling in Upstate’s Marcellus Shale

    Marcellus Drilling News sees a growing chorus of voices from New York City who believe the city’s water supply, 90% of which comes from the Catskill/Delaware watershed area in Upstate, is directly threatened by drilling activity in the Marcellus. And they are becoming vocal in their demands to stop the drilling before it even starts.

    Some demand no drilling only in the watershed region itself (take note landowners in those counties). Others want a blanket ban throughout the state. From a recent article in The Villager covering a forum held in New York City:

    Worried about an imminent threat to the Catskill/Delaware watershed, which supplies New York City with 90 percent of its water, Community Board 2 [C.B. 2] last week voted unanimously to demand a ban on drilling for natural gas in New York State.

    And this:

    “We can’t let the bad economy and people wanting to cash in on natural gas provoke wholesale drilling,” said Queens Councilmember James Gennaro at a March 18 forum held by the C.B. 2 Environmental Committee at Judson Church. “We can’t be the generation that loses New York City’s water supply to the lure of natural gas,” said Gennaro, who is a trained geologist.

    Gennaro is the sponsor of City Council legislation calling on the state Legislature, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Governor Paterson to prohibit drilling for natural gas within the watershed’s boundaries in Delaware, Greene, Ulster and Sullivan Counties.

    The article quotes a parade of officials and heads of environmental groups in NYC that are opposed to any and all drilling in New York. Will the growing chorus of protests make a difference? Perhaps. Landowners need to make their voices heard just as loudly to counter the din that will come from Downstate. Contact Governor Paterson and your state representatives in the Assembly and Senate.

    An aside: No one is in favor of contaminating the water supply, least of all our own! The issue of what chemicals are used and in what concentrations is an important one and must be dealt with fairly. Energy companies would do well to diffuse the issue by revealing at least general information about the chemicals they use. However, a blanket ban on all drilling is nonsensical. The problem is, there’s a lot of nonsensical things that happen in our great state. So we must be vigilant to protect our rights as landowners. Let’s not let “the mob” (little “m”) dictate what we can and cannot do with our land. We still have a (precious) few rights left, among them the right to own property. We can protect the water supply and still drill safely in the Marcellus. Let’s figure it out.

    Read the full article: No fracking way! C.B. 2 forum warns about water

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    Central New York Starting to Heat Up with Marcellus Drilling

    A recent article published in The Oneonta Star covered two gas drilling “forums” that were conducted in Otsego County by the anti-drilling group Sustainable Otsego. The article is a lazy, biased view of a complicated issue–but there’s no surprise there. The mainstream media is not an impartial, investigative source of information as it once was. For example, the “reporter” didn’t bother to interview people attending the forums, but instead interviewed the people presenting the biased material. Go figure.

    Amidst the standard talking points and mountain of…(ahem) less than objective information (ahem)…in the article, are a few nuggets of useful intelligence on drilling activities in the central region of New York State. Forthwith:

    According to geologists, Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties are potentially rich in gas deposited in the Marcellus Shale formation below ground. Groups representing landowners and gas company representatives have said the findings may make some landowners wealthy.

    On how much land has been leased in Otsego County:

    The Otsego County Conservation Association reports that 8.7 percent of acreage in Otsego County is leased for natural gas drilling, according to a media release from the group issued Monday. The rate is up from 7 percent reported previously by OCCA.

    OCCA said since the beginning of the year, an additional 204 parcels have been signed, totaling 12,190 acres. Parcels now under lease contract number 839, with total acreage rising to 54,443 acres.

    And on test wells:

    Test wells several thousand feet deep have already been drilled in Springfield and Cherry Valley.

    And this on applications for new drilling:

    The DEC has received 31 applications for horizontal drilling wells, [Yancey] Roy [DEC spokesman] said, and the breakdown by county is Delaware 23; Tioga, four; Chenango two, and Chemung, two.

    Read the full article: Gas drilling forums wrap up

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    Is New York State Understaffed to Handle Marcellus Drilling Activity?

    The Ithaca Journal and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (Democrat, Endwell, NY), say that while Pennsylvania has staffed up to handle permits and oversight of drilling activities, New York remains woefully understaffed:

    In Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Protection is creating 37 new positions – despite a statewide hiring freeze – to oversee Marcellus production. The positions will be added to Pennsylvania’s Office of Mineral Resources Management, which oversees nearly 600 employees who handle many issues in addition to natural gas production.

    Officials in New York, however, have few answers as to how 19 employees in the Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation – part of the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation – will be able to handle a rush of permits and intensive drilling activity on this side of the border.

    “Clearly, we are not staffed to do the job,” said Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo, D-Endwell.

    Of course the obvious truth is this: New York is not granting any permits to drill right now. So there’s no reason to staff up to high levels just yet. Marcellus Drilling News thinks when New York finally stops dithering over what regulations they’ll impose and get around to granting permits, the state DEC will add more positions. Why pay people to sit on their rear-ends? Oh that’s right, it IS the NY government!

    Read the full article: New York understaffed to handle gas rush