Reaction from Both Sides to NY Release of No-Frack Regulations
The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has just published their Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FSGEIS), the rules and regulations document that would govern fracking in the Empire State, should it ever be allowed by the Democratic dictatorship of Andrew Cuomo and his underling DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. As we pointed out yesterday, the final act will come in a few weeks (or months) when Martens issues a “Findings statement” that will essentially say fracking is just too risky to attempt for now (see NY Releases Final Fracking Rules – Don’t Get Your Hopes Up). We have reaction to the release the FSGEIS from two representative groups–the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY), which fights for landowners and their Constitutional property rights–and Earthjustice, an anti-fossil fuel group that fights against freedom and property rights and for the tyranny of big government…
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The third shale play in the northeast–or more accurate the Appalachian region–is often referred to as the Upper Devonian layer. An article in Ohio Gas & Oil Magazine calls it “the little brother to Utica & Marcellus.” An apt description. The article is full of interesting facts. Fact #1: the more accurate name is the Burket/Geneseo Shale. Fact #2: 85 horizontal shale wells have now been drilled in the Burket/Geneseo. Fact #3: Early indicators are that Burket/Geneseo wells are not nearly as productive as Utica and Marcellus wells, but since the layer is stacked over top of the other two, why not drill it too? Here’s a few more interesting pickings about the Utica/Marcellus’ little brother…
We finally have the final version of the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) from the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This is the document that would control where and how (and if) fracking is done in the Empire State. The Final SGEIS (or FSGEIS), a full copy embedded below, is more than 2,000 pages long. No, we’ve not yet read it. But what we do know is that if drillers can drill and frack a well using less than 300,000 gallons of water, it’s permitted under this FSGEIS. Is such a thing possible? Probably not–at least not economically. You won’t make any money, so it’s a moot point. The FSGEIS is not the final document that will be issued. The very last thing to come will be a “Findings statement” by DEC Commissioner (and anti-driller) Joe Martens. According to state law, Martens cannot issue the Findings statement before 10 days from issuing the FSGEIS. Martens knows he’s going to get his rear-end sued from now until he leaves office, so he’ll take his time before releasing the Findings statement, which will essentially say “we don’t have enough science to prove fracking doesn’t harm people or the environment, so the safe thing to do is disallow it for now.” The phraseology he uses will be scrutinized and will be the basis of what we predict is at least several, possibly many lawsuits. Pro-drillers are not going away. Our property rights have been unconstitutionally stripped away. We will fight until we win…