MDN does not want to depress and demoralize the good citizen landowners (and drillers) of New York State, but we must share some disheartening news. It seems comments made today by New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis, the man who heads the very agency working on new rules for drilling in New York, indicate drilling in New York State will not begin until spring or summer 2011.

As part of an Earth Day speech at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse, Grannis made some revealing comments:

Grannis predicted the DEC will finish drafting regulations that companies will have to follow to receive drilling permits by fall. He said he expects drilling to begin by spring or summer 2011.*

Why is it bad for landowners and drillers? The longer we go without drilling, the more likely it simply won’t happen at all—ever. In addition, every month that passes with no drilling in New York means thousands of more jobs permanently relocated to other states in the Marcellus Shale, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where drilling is already happening. Once drilling companies decide on where to locate their headquarters and branch offices, and once other businesses like wastewater treatment plants and trucking firms get established, they almost never relocate. If those jobs and capital investments go to PA and WV, New York will never see them. A real shame.

Finally, waiting until 2011 is bad because it means the next governor of New York, likely Andrew Cuomo, will have to sign off before drilling can begin. If Cuomo is elected, it’s not at all clear whether he would be favorable to drilling. In fact, it is likely he will be opposed.

There’s still time. Landowners and concerned citizens who recognize just how important this is to New York’s future need to make their voices heard loud and clear to their elected representatives—and people like Cuomo need to understand elections may very well hinge on how they come down on the drilling debate.

It’s time to turn up the heat on the DEC—they’ve had long enough. They are intentionally delaying and stalling for political reasons—not safety reasons.

*Syracuse Post-Standard (Apr 20) – Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis says hydrofracking likely to begin in New York in spring or summer 2011

When will the new Marcellus shale drilling regulations be ready in New York State? That’s the multi-million dollar question for both energy companies and landowners. Pro-drilling groups are pushing for the new regs to be released by early summer, but the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the agency tasked with rewriting the regulations, is now making noise about “late summer or early fall.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Alexander “Pete” Grannis, speaking to the state Business Council on Thursday, said the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) could be finalized by late summer or early fall, according to media reports.

The reports also indicated drilling permits could be issued by the end of the year.*

According to Richard Downey, a landowner and member of the Unatego Area Landowners Association:

“This is the first time he’s [Grannis] said it and I tend to believe him,” Downey said. “My own opinion is the man has always kept his word and his own schedule.”*

*Oneonta Daily Star (Apr 19) – Drilling regs could be final by fall

Also see: Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (Apr 15) – N.Y. review of Marcellus hits snags