Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy

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The following links are provided to help our community learn more about the potential effects of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
Essential Reading on Shale Gas Extraction Useful Materials for Town Meetings County Resolutions The Marcellus Shale Maps Shale Gas Extraction Environmental and Health Risks Water Testing Economic Impact Impact on Communities Drilling in Our National Forests The 2010 EPA Study: Potential Relationships Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources Pseudo-Science: The Flawed 2004 EPA Study of Hydraulic Fracturing The Oil and Gas Industry: Exempt From Our Most Important Environmental Laws Pending Federal Legislation New York State Laws & Regulations Pending NYS Legislation NYS Legislation and Regulatons We Need to See Industry Lobbying Expenditures Compulsory Integration Local Regulation Legal Tools Best Management Practices Scoping for the SGEIS The NYS Draft SGEIS Comments on the NYS Draft SGEIS Protecting the NYC Watershed The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) Gas Leasing Sesimic Testing Gasland Videos Public Opinion Candidates Take a Stand Catskill Citizens Updates Opinion
Essential Reading on Shale Gas Extraction ESSENTIAL READING ON UNCONVENTIONAL SHALE GAS EXTRACTION A one page guide to some of the best sources of information on shale gas extraction. Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets SUMMARY OF FINDINGS by Common Cause Our state is engaged in a debate between job creation during difficult economic times and ensuring environmental stewardship; a conversation weighing the exploitation of domestic energy sources and providing meaningful assurances that the public drinking water supply is clean. Regardless of what the final state regulations say regarding hydrofracking, this debate is likely to rage on. There are no easy answers and passions run high. For that reason, it is critical that New Yorkers consider who the decision-makers are, how the decisions are being made and how outside interests might be influencing their elected and appointed officials and the regulatory and legislative process that they conduct. Common Cause/New York’s analysis of lobbying filings shows that the natural gas industry has begun to pull out the stops, using its significant financial resources to try to shut down attempts to regulate or slow the head-long rush to quickly exploit the “Marcellus Shale Play.” Natural gas industry lobbying expenditures total more than $2 million from the beginning of 2005 through the first 4 months of 2010, with the lion’s share spent in the past 2 years. Industry expenditures have increased more than six-fold since 2007, landing natural gas giant Chesapeake Energy among New York State’s top 50 lobbying spenders for 2009, the only energy company on the list.	[top]
Useful Materials for Town Meetings Talking Points for Town Meetings A guide for a discussion of drilling issues. Talking Points for Town Meetings (Sullivan County Version) This version contains information specific to Sullivan County. Proposed Resolution This resolution is designed for Towns that wish to express their support for NYS legislation that would restore home rule and impose a moratorium on shale gas extraction until the EPA has concluded it's study of fracking and drinking water safety. Proposed Resolution (Sullivan County Version) A version of the proposed resolution designed for use in Sullivan County. Conflicts of Interest in Land Use Decision-Making Elected and appointed officials involved in land use decision-making must not be tainted with prejudice when deciding on matters that come before them. Such prejudice exists when the individual finds herself with a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest arises when a public servant is in the position of deciding between public duty and private interests. By Gary D. Taylor, Iowa State University. Dealing with Drillers Town of Lebanon Supervisor Jim Goldstein describes his experience dealing with natural gas corporations. IMPACTS AND INCIDENTS INVOLVING HIGH-VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY An invaluable catalog of instances of fracking contamination compiled by Riverkeeper. Tompkins County Calls for a Ban on Hydrofracking GAS DRILLING RESOLUTION for Tompkins County Legislature, May 18, 2010Calling on the Governor and the Legislature of the State of New York to Ban Hydrofracking Pending Further Independent Scientific Assessments to Determine the Risks, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Social and Economic Costs Associated With Hydrofracking Acquifer Protection Law The Town of Virgil creates and aquifer protection district. April 8, 2010. Presentations to Cochecton Planning Board Presentations delivered by grassroots group Keep Cochecton Green* in response to Cochecton's intention to explicitly zone for natural gas drilling in 90% of the town.*	[top]
County Resolutions New York counties take a stand against fracking. Tompkins County Calls for a Ban on Hydrofracking A May 2010 resolution calling for a temporary ban on fracking.	[top]
The Marcellus Shale Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale A United States Geological Report concludes that the environmental impact of drilling in the Marcellus Shale is poorly understood. The Marcellus Shale - America's next super giant Catskill MountainKeeper reports on the Marcellus Shale Geology News Earth Science Current Events Geology.com articles on the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale A Congressional Research Service Report, september 2009. Shale Gas: Focus on The Marcellus Shale This report focuses on the Marcellus shale, located in the Appalachian region of the U.S. Interest and exploratory drilling in the Marcellus shale is on the rise. This report was created to highlight some of the potential issues that may be important to consider if full-scale. DEC map of the Marcellus Shale Formation in NY Includes Marcellus Shale, New York City Watershed and Catskill Park Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale Formation A background document from the Delaware River Basin Commission Marcellus Shale and Natural Gas Well Development Project Review from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission The Drillers Are Coming Companies and regulators are squaring off over a controversial technique that yields natural gas but threatens to pollute water supplies. Scientific American reports on the Marcellus gas play. By Mark Fischetti, 2010.	[top]
Maps DEC map of the Marcellus Shale NE PA Gas Exploration & Pipelines Central NY Wells NEPA Gas Exploration & Central NY Wells Delaware River Basin Map Delaware River Basin Flow Corrections Fault Lines in Delaware and Sullivan County A map depicting fault lines in Delaware adn Sulllivan counties, overlaid with gas leases. The Open Space Institute, Decmeber 2008.	[top]
Shale Gas Extraction How Fracturing Works Engineers design a fracturing operation based on the unique characteristics of the formation and reservoir. Basic components of the fracturing design include the injection pressure, and the types and volumes of materials (e.g., chemicals, fluids, gases, proppants) needed to achieve the desired stimulation of the formation. How a gas well is drilled down into the ground, and what can go wrong The purpose of this “slide show” is to illustrate how a gas (or oil) well is drilled down into the ground. Hydraulic Fracturing 101 An introduction to hydaulic fracturing from Earthworks. How will High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing of the Marcellus Shale Differ from Traditional Hydraulic Fracturing? The gas industry (and the NYS DEC and PA DEP) like to pretend that the method used to extract gas from the Marcellus has been around for years, but that's not true. Dr. Anthony Ingraffea speaking about Hydrofracking / Marcellus Shale Part 1 Video of a presentation given on March 2, 2010. Dr. Anthony Ingraffea on fracking Cornell Professr Dr. Anthony Ingraffea discusses the engineering challenges and the regulatory structure that governs hydraulic fracturing. Video of a presentation given in Pulteney, New York, February 11, 2010. Old Technology - But New Use: Hydro-fracking Needs More Scrutiny A retired DEC Environmental Engineer looks at fracking the Marcellus. This article was originally published in the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY. August 20, 2009 Preliminary Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions A complete consideration of all emissions from using natural gas seems likely to make natural gas far less attractive than other fossil fuels in terms of the consequences for global warming. A draft report by Robert W. Howarth, David R. Aktinson Professor of Ecology & Environmental Biology, Cornell University and Chair, International SCOPE Biofuels Project International Council of Science 11 March 2010 Draft Disposal Wells: A Solution for Marcellus Waste? A presentation by Cornell Professor Dr. Anthony Ingraffea. Ithaca, NY. May 3, 2010	[top]
Environmental and Health Risks Oil and gas Pollution A two page fact sheet form the Oil and Gas Accountability Project. IMPACTS AND INCIDENTS INVOLVING HIGH-VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY An invaluable catalog of instances of comtamination linked to fracking compiled by Riverkeeper. Radioactivity and the Marcellus Shale Cornell Professor Peter J. Davis discusses radioactive materials found in the the Marcellus Shale. Radioactivity in the Marcellus Shale Radioactive Waste Management Associates considers how to handle the "relatively highly radioactive and regionally extensive" waste found in drill cuttings and produced water. April 7, 2010. Natural Gas Migration Problems in Western Pennsylvania If gas migrates through the bedrock and soil, it can result in an explosion capable of damagingproperty and causing loss of life. A PA DEP report bublished by the Pittsburgh Geological Society. Stray Natural Gas Migration Associated with Oil and Gas Wells An October 2009 draft report by the PA DEP details instances of gas migration. Potential Exposure-Related Human Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development: A White Paper Potential Exposure-Related Human Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development: A Literature Review (2003-2008) In September, 2008, experts at the University of Colorado School of Public Health's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health completed a review of hundreds of published, peer-reviewed scientific articles to examine what is known concerning the health effects of oil and gas drilling and production on neighboring communities. They also reviewed available empirical data regarding communities in western Colorado. They found that the many hazardous chemicals being used and produced pose a potential health risk for local residents, and recommend a thorough health impact assessment before future expansion of oil and gas activities. Their findings are detailed in these two papers. See NRDC site for appendices. Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Impacts A power point presentation by Wilma Subra. June 23, 2009. Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Impacts Text to Dr. Subra's power point presentation. June 23, 2009 Drillilng Around the Law Companies that drill for natural gas and oil are skirting federal law and injecting toxic petroleum distillates into thousands of wells, threatening drinking water supplies from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. Federal and state regulators, meanwhile, largely look the other way. A January 2010 report by the Environmental Working Group. Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale and Pennsylvania’s Coldwater Resources PA Trout Unlimited believes the Marcellus Shale gas boom has the potential to significantly damage Pennsylvania’s coldwater resources and trout fisheries, if not managed properly. How Many Truckloads Does It Take? An attempt to estimate the amount of tanker truck traffic that would be generated by the development of a single high volume hydro-fracked well.(Author unknown.) Fracking Fluid Chemicals used in Natural Gas Development and Delivery The Endocrine Disruption Exchange's pioneering work on the health effects of the hundreds of chemicals used in fracking and other stages of natural gas production. (Click on "Chemicals and Natural Gas".) Colorado's Chemical Injection Oil and gas companies in Colorado are injecting wells with millions of gallons of unknown fluids that contain dozens of dangerous chemicals linked to respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and other disorders, including cancer. Chemicals Used in Fracking an Ohio Well Material Safety Data Sheets and other inforMation on the chemicals used in fracking fluid. The Safety of Fracturing Fluids – A Quantitative Assessment In response to a FOIL request to New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, the Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes received a list of 48 toxic substances (as defined by the DEC or EPA) permitted for use to hydro-frack Marcellus Shale wells in New York State. By Steve Coffman, August 2009. Water Contamination Drinking Water at Risk What EPA and the Oil And Gas Industry Don't Want Us to Know About Hydraulic Fracturing Hydrology and the Marcellus Shale An analysis by hydrologist Tom Myers submitted to the NYS DEC in response to the Draft SGEIS. Decemeber 2009. Natural Gas Invasion of Aquifers A 2008 Report on the Natural Gas Invasion of Aquifers in Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management. Evaluating Ground-Water Contamination Due to Gas Drilling Geologist Samuel S. Harrison's 1983 study of drilling related ground-water contamination in northwest Pennsylvania. Review of Phase II Hydrogeologic Study A study commissioned by Garfield County show increasing levels of methane and chlorides in groundwater coincident with increased drilling. Documenting Contamination of Private Water Supplies by Gas Well Drilling in New York State There is solid evidence that gas wells have contaminated drinking water wells in the past. However, very few systematic studies have been done, and exact numbers are hard to come by. By Stephen Penningroth, Ph.D., Executive Director, Community Science Institute. Incidents where hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause of drinking water contamination Below is a list of incidents where drinking water has been contaminated and hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause. By NRDC's Amy Mall. April 6, 2010 Private Home & Water Well Reportedly Impacted by Hydrofracking... An interview with a homeowner living near Corning, NY whose water well water was contaminated with natural gas after a well was fracked near his house. Acccording to the homowner they NYS DEC "aren't taking care of the problem." A ten minute video produced by Toxics Targeting. Dimock, Pennsylvania In the matter of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation The state of Pennsylvania settles with the driller who destroyed home water wells in a small Pennsylvania town Notice of Violation April 8, 2010 For Cabot's spill number four! Drilling in Dimock Photographer Rober Barnett documents shale gas extraction in Dimock Greenhouse Emissions Preliminary Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions A complete consideration of all emissions from using natural gas seems likely to make natural gas far less attractive than other fossil fuels in terms of the consequences for global warming. A draft report by Robert W. Howarth, David R. Aktinson Professor of Ecology & Environmental Biology, Cornell University and Chair, International SCOPE Biofuels Project International Council of Science 11 March 2010 Draft DISH, Texas Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents EARTHWORKS’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project reports on the health problems of residents of a a small town with with extensive natural gas infrastructure. New technology finds huge methane plumes around shale gas drilling and processing facilities Yesterday a team of environmental scientists presented findings from a novel two day emissions gas detection project showing methane levels as much as 20 times above normal background levels in the air around several counties in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In D-FW, 'sobering' asthma numbers Asthma rates soar in the heart of the Barnett Shale. A Star-Telegram article, January 15, 2010. DISH Mayor Calvin Tillman's PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX file) Available in two additional formats: PowerPoint Show format PDF format DISH Mayor Calvin Tillman Answers His Critics The gas industry confronts the Mayor questions and the Mayor sets the record straight.	[top]
Water Testing Documenting Contamination of Private Water Supplies by Gas Well Drilling in New York State If you are a landowner who has signed a lease with an energy company to drill a gas well on your land, or if you own land nearby, you may wonder about the possibility that water on your property, particularly your private well, might become contaminated. By Stephen Penningroth, Ph.D.,Executive Director, Community Science Institute. April 2009 Private Water Well Testing The NYS DEC Draft SGEIS proposes private water well testing. A08784 This bill would require drillers to test ground water and well water. A Water Testing Protocol This protocol developed by the Northern Wayne Property Owner's Association is subject ot revisision as more data becomes available.	[top]
Economic Impact Fossil Fuel Extraction as a County Economic Development Strategy: Are Energy-focusing Counties Benefiting? Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonprofit research group, takes a hard look at the economic impact of gas drilling. Unanswered Questions About The Economic Impact of Gas Drilling In the Marcellus Shale: Don’t Jump to Conclusions The economic impact of drilling in several states does not support the conclusion that shale gas extraction will benefit New York State. Prepared by: Jannette M. Barth, Ph.D., JM Barth & Associates, Inc. March 2010. Wyoming Boomtowns: Local Government Impacts & Natural Gas Drilling A 2008 Penn State power point that looks at the three stages of natural gas development. Economic Impact and the Draft SGEIS Economist Jannette Barth, Phd. faults the analysis of economic impact in the Draft SGEIS. A Critique of the Flawed Economic Study Cited by the NYS DEC Economist Jannette Barth critiques “Potential Economic and Fiscal Impacts from Natural Gas Production in Broome County, New York”, the flawed study cited by the NYS DEC in the Draft SGEIS. Unclear Economic Impact: Outdated and Flawed Economic Analysis Economist Jannette Barth explains that shale gas extraction in New York State could have a negative economic impact on the state's economy. Prospects and Economic Impacts of Developing the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Play An industry funded study paints a rosy view of economic impact. Penn State Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. August 2009. Real Estate, Insurance & Mortgages U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD won't insure provide mortgages for homes near gas wells.	[top]
Impact on Communities LOCAL LEADERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARNETT SHALE This 2009 study uncovered numerous negative impacts associated with shale gas extraction in Texas,	[top]
Drilling in Our National Forests The Allegheny Defense Projects Photo Gallery The Allegheny Defense Project documents the devastation of the forests in Pennsylvania. Forests, Water and People Drinking water supply and forest lands in the Northeast and Midwest United States. A report by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. June 2009	[top]
The 2010 EPA Study: Potential Relationships Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources The Environmenatl Protection Agency has announced that it will conduct the first comprehensive study of the safety of hydraulic fracturing. Potential Relationships Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources The EPA's "scoping" document. Scoping Comments by Riverkeeper and other NGO's Marche 29, 2010 The overall carbon footprint of HVHF and the undocumented assertion that gas is “cleaner” than other fossil fuels. The Tompkins County Leigislature weighs in the EPA's scoping document. April 8, 2010 Input to Initial Design of EPA Research Study The Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association comments on the EPA scoping document. March 27, 2010 CCSE Comments to the EPA CCSE fully supports the recommendation made by Committee Member Dr. Paul Westerhoff that private water wells in rural areas be specifically researched, as EPA usually only covers analysis of public water supplies. EPA to study hydraulic fracturing, again. This time (hopefully) with science. Yesterday, the U.S. EPA announced that they will spend more than $1.9 million to study the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health. EPA did a similar study in 2004 which concluded not only that fracking constitutes no risk to drinking water, but that no further study of the issue should be conducted. A march 19, 2010 press release from Earthworks.	[top]
Pseudo-Science: The Flawed 2004 EPA Study of Hydraulic Fracturing Study to Evaluate the Impacts to USDWs by Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs The 2004 EPA study that was rewritten by Vice President Dick Cheney's office to conceal the public health risks posed by fracking. EPA Findings on Hydraulic Fracturing Deemed “Unsupportable” When an EPA study concluding that hydraulic fracturing "poses little or no threat" to drinking water supplies was published in 2004,¹ several EPA scientists challenged the study's methodology and questioned the impartiality of the expert panel that reviewed its findings. The Bush administration has strongly supported hydraulic fracturing, an oil extraction technique developed by Halliburton Co., but environmental groups as well as scientists within the EPA have warned that the practice may contaminate drinking water and needs to be regulated. EPA Scientist Blows the Whistle on the 2004 Study Weston Willaim calls the '04 report "scientifically unsound and contrary to the purpose of the law." Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation vs United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA The landmark federal court decision that ordered the EPA to regulate hydraulic fracturing.	[top]
The Oil and Gas Industry: Exempt From Our Most Important Environmental Laws The Oil and Gas Industry’s Exclusions and Exemptions to Major Environmental Statutes The oil and gas industry enjoys sweeping exemptions from provisions in the major federal environmental statutes intended to protect human health and the environment. Congress Should Close the Halliburton Loophole Hydraulic fracturing should be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act Drilling Around the Law Companies that drill for natural gas and oil are skirting federal law and injecting toxic petroleum distillates into thousands of wells, threatening drinking water supplies from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. Federal and state regulators, meanwhile, largely look the other way. A January 2010 report by the Environmental Working Group. Hearing on Oil and Gas Exemptions in Federal Environmental Protections (Hearing Summary) On Wednesday, October 31, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on the applicability of federal environmental and health requirements to onshore oil and gas development. Testimony before the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Al Appleton testifies that shale gas extraction is inherently dangerous and needs to be strictly regulated. June 4, 2009 The applicability of federal requirements that protect public health and the environment to oil & gas development Congressional testimony by the NRDC's Amy Mall. October 31, 2007. Dr. Theo Colburn's testimony at Hearing on Oil and Gas Exemptions in Federal Environmental Protections October 25, 2007	[top]
Pending Federal Legislation The FRAC Act (H. R. 7231) Will restore hydraulic fracturing to Federal oversight subject to the Safe Drinking Water Act, and require gas companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking fluids. The Endocrine Disruption Chemical Act To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct a research program on endocrine disruption, to prevent and reduce the production of, and exposure to, chemicals that can undermine the development of children before they are born and cause lifelong impairment to their health and function, and for other purposes. Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009 S.1700 Mining and oil drilling are multibillion-dollar industries in some of the world's poorest countries. And yet, many people in these countries are only getting poorer. S.1700 will require disclosure of payments to foreign governments for the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals. Poor communities have a right to follow the money – and to call for a fair share for schools, health care and jobs. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that the President should disclose any payment relating to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals on Federal land, and for other purposes.	[top]
New York State Laws & Regulations Under state law, local communities have almost no control over the oil and gas companies. Towns are only allowed to regulate the use of roads and real property tax law. Environmental Conservation Law Article 23 Article 23 of ECL strips Towns of the ability to regulate drilling. "The provisions of this article shall supersede all local laws or ordinances relating to the regulation of the oil, gas and solution mining industries; but shall not supersede local government jurisdiction over local roads or the rights of local governments under the real property tax law. Go to: "http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi" select "Main Menu" select "Laws of New York" then selct "ENV", select "Article 23" then "Title 3" then selct "23-0303 - Administration of article". Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program The 1992 document that considers the environmental impact of gas extraction in New York State Well spacing and compulsory integration The law that allows gas companies to take your gas even if you oppose drilling. State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production This report helps reveal the choices state regulators make in protecting the public from the array of detrimental environmental and public health side effects that accompany oil and gas drilling operations Re: Well Casing "The state with the most disappointingly sparse regulation is New York." State Environmental Quality Control Act (SEQR)- SEQR requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate significant environmental impacts of the activity that it is proposing or permitting. See	[top]
Pending NYS Legislation Legislation We Support A10490A /S07592A Establishes a moratorium on conducting hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas or oil until 120 days after federal Environmental Protection Agency issues a report on the effects of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health. SPONSOR Englebright (MS) COSPNSR Sweeney, Meng, Dinowitz, Skartados, Lifton, Colton, Gottfried,Rosenthal, Christensen,Gunther, Titone, Castro, Millman, Crespo,Glick, Miller M, Barron, Jaffee, Markey, Jacobs, Fields, Brennan,Magnarelli, Schimel, Hyer-Spencer, Kavanagh, Cymbrowitz, Wright,Rivera P, Koon,MLTSPNSR Ball, Bing, Castelli, Lentol, Magee, Nolan, O'Donnell, Pheffer, Scarborough, Thiele, Weisenberg The Amercian Academy of Peidatrics, Distirct II, New York State supports A10490A/S7592A The American Academy of Pediatrics, District II, NYS, representing more than 6,000 pediatricians and the millions of children we care for across the state, strongly supports A10940/S7592. June 7, 2010. The League of Women Voters of New York State MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF: S.7592A/ADDABBO & ENGLEBRIGHT/A.10490A DATE: JUNE 4, 2010. A11443B/S08129 Suspends hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas or oil until May 15, 2011; suspends the issuance of new permits for such drilling. SPONSOR Rules (Sweeney) COSPNSR Silver, Fields, Rivera P, Rosenthal A10633/S8043 An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to allowing local governments to enact or enforce certain laws and ordinances SPONSOR Lifton (MS) COSPNSR Christensen, Colton, Gunther, Kellner, O'Donnell, Weisenberg, Kavanagh MLTSPNSR Brennan, Crespo, Gottfried, Magee, Millman, Nolan, Schimel, Thiele A08784/S 7861 Requires permit holders to test groundwater prior to and after drilling wells for oil and natural gas. Sponsor Sweeney (MS) COSPNSR Cahill, Jaffee, Stirpe, Colton, Fields, Reilly, Schimel, O'Donnell, Lifton, Gunther MLTSPNSR Brennan, Castro, Christensen, Cook, Galef, Glick, Gottfried, Hevesi,Hooper, John, Koon, Magee, Maisel, Mayersohn, Millman, Perry, Pheffer, Weisenberg A09414/S07377 Establishes the natural gas exploration and extraction liability act of 2010. SPONSOR Lifton (MS) COSPNSR Glick, O'Donnell, Gottfried, Miller M, Millman, Schimel, Castro, Colton MLTSPNSR Cook, Koon, Markey, Pheffer, Weisenberg A10088 Prohibits the on-site storage of flowback water. SPONSOR Sweeney (MS) COSPNSR Zebrowski, Brennan, Lifton, Jaffee, Kavanagh, Espaillat, Titone, Colton, Cymbrowitz, John, Magnarelli, Reilly, Spano, Paulin, Castro, Rivera N, Rivera P, Rosenthal, Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Perry, Ortiz, Cook, Weisenberg, Schimel, Fields, Barron MLTSPNSR Destito, Gottfried, Lentol, Magee, Markey, McEneny, Thiele A10090A Prohibits the disposal of drill cuttings at the drilling site. Another bill introduced by ECon Chair Bob Sweeney, it seeks to prevent soil and groundwater contamination by requiring that toxic and radioactive drill cuttings be removed from well sites. SPONSOR Sweeney (MS) COSPNSR Lifton, Jaffee, Zebrowski, Kavanagh, Espaillat, Titone, Cymbrowitz, Magnarelli, Reilly, Spano, Castro, Rivera P, Rosenthal, Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Perry, Ortiz, Brennan, Cook, Weisenberg, Schimel, Fields,Colton, Barron, MLTSPNSR Destito, Gottfried, Magee, Markey, McEneny, Millman, Thiele A10091 The purpose of this bill is to provide greater regulation of the use of hydraulic fracturing fluids used for oil and gas drilling. This bill would require the Department of Environmental Conservation to develop the following rules and regulations: requiring the disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluids; prohibiting the use of hydraulic fracturing fluids containing chemicals that pose a risk to human health including, but not limited to, fluids that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (as defined by the EPA)or are known mutagen. SPONSOR Sweeney (MS)COSPNSR Zebrowski, Lifton, Jaffee, Magnarelli, Kavanagh, Espaillat, Titone,Cymbrowitz, Reilly, Spano, Castro, Rivera N, Rivera P, Rosenthal,Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Perry, Ortiz, Brennan, Cook, Pheffer, Weisenberg, Schimel, Fields, Colton, Barron MLTSPNSR Destito, Gottfried, Lentol, Magee, Markey, McEneny, Millman, Thiele A10092 Requires an environmental impact statement to be prepared for any natural gas or oil drilling involving the use of hydraulic fracturing fluid. SPONSOR Sweeney (MS) COSPNSR Jaffee, Zebrowski, Magnarelli, Kavanagh, Espaillat, Titone, Colton,Cymbrowitz, Reilly, Spano, Paulin, Castro, Rivera P, Rosenthal,Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Perry, Ortiz, Brennan, Cook, Weisenberg,Schimel, Fields, Barron MLTSPNSR Destito, Gottfried, Lentol, Magee, Markey, McEneny, Thiele A07918B / S 3657-B This bill seeks to reinvigorate the New York State Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Advisory Board. Expands membership from thirteen members to fifteen members; provide that the board discuss and provide recommendations on, among other things, the best practices of the industry, protection of water supplies and other related topics; provides for appointments from the minority leaders of the Senate and Assembly; Includes the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets as an ex-officio member of the board. Other A00542 Prohibits oil or natural gas drilling operations or pipelines on or beneath the lands under the waters of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the connecting bays and harbors of such lakes, the connecting waterways of such lakes or along their shorelines; applies to all contracts; includes leases, entered into or renewed on and after January 1, 2010 and does not apply to contracts, including leases, then in force and those entered into before such date. SPONSOR Hoyt (MS) COSPNSR Brodsky, Cahill, Englebright, Glick, John, Millman, Robinson A01322/S 6654-A Establishes a moratorium on the issuance of permits for the drilling of wells and prohibits drilling within five miles of the New York city water supply infrastructure. SPONSOR Brennan (MS) COSPNSR Colton, Hyer-Spencer, Skartados MLTSPNSR Gottfried, Lifton, Millman, Pheffer, Rosenthal A02370 Extends the cancellation period for a gas or oil lease from 3 days to 5 days. SPONSOR Magee COSPNSR MLTSPNSR A04542/S02996 Relates to rights and obligations of a municipality electing integrated non-participating owner status in gas and oil wells; provides that such municipal owner shall not have obligations for taxes, charges, fees or liability for personal injury or damages. SPONSOR Parment (MS) COSPNSR Lifton MLTSPNSR Magee A04614/S2997 Relates to the protection of water supplies; requires an oil and gas driller or producer who affects a public or private potable water supply to restore or replace such water supply. SPONSOR Parment (MS) COSPNSR Lifton MLTSPNSR Magee A06490 Provides that oil, gas, and mineral rights shall be sold along with any property sold pursuant to a tax foreclosure sale. SPONSOR Crouch, COSPNSR Finch, MLTSPNSR Bacalles, Burling, Jordan, Magee, McDonough, Townsend A06953 Prohibits the use of toxic fracing solutions during hydraulic fracturing. SPONSOR Ortiz (MS) COSPNSR Colton, Zebrowski, Lifton, Glick, Hooper, Koon, McEneny, Weisenberg A08748 / S6244 Relates to the regulation of the drilling of natural gas resources. SPONSOR Brennan (MS) COSPNSR Colton, Millman, Castro, Lifton, Lentol, Clark, Hyer-Spencer, Kellner, Lancman, Paulin, Barron, Kavanagh, Skartados, Camara, Crespo, Titone, Schimel, Meng, Fields MLTSPNSR Cook, Cymbrowitz, Glick, Gottfried, Jacobs, Latimer, Maisel, Nolan,Pheffer, Robinson, Rosenthal, Weisenberg A08806 Relates to the implementation of water withdrawal permits. SPONSOR Sweeney COSPNSR Jaffee, Stirpe, Weisenberg, Reilly, Colton, Koon, Lupardo, Schimel,Lifton, Rosenthal MLTSPNSR Fields, Glick, O'Donnell A09070/S07170 Provides for the lapse of oil and gas and interests located within Allegany state park if unused for 20 years prior to effective date of act unless a statement of claim is filed by the owner prior to the end of the 20 year period or within 2 years of the effective date of the act, whichever is later; provides upon such lapse ownership shall revert to New York state; procedures and definitions. SPONSOR Hoyt COSPNSR Colton A09073 Seeks to protect the public trust in the natural resources in state parks and historic sites by protecting their natural resources (i.e., timber, forest products, oil, gas, sand, rock, gravel or minerals derived from or originating in a state park or historic site) from certain commercial uses; prohibits the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation (and officers and employees thereof) from engaging in various activities related to commercial use of natural resources, that is: entering into leases or contracts with a private party to log timber; selling or exchanging timber, forest products or other natural resources for use outside the park or site; conversion of any natural resource, etc.; the extension of existing leases or contracts for the conversion of natural resources; or the construction of logging roads or skids; defines the terms "conversion", "forest product", "private party" and "timber". SPONSOR Hoyt COSPNSR Colton A09727/S 6325 Authorizes counties to lease county land for natural gas exploration, development and production for five years or as long as gas is produced in commercially paying quantities. SPONSOR Magee (MS) COSPNSR Crouch, Finch, Lopez P A09978 The bill provides that an integrated royalty owner shall receive a royalty in an amount equal to the average royalty of all existing leases within a spacing unit (rather than an amount equal to the lowest royalty, that is not less than 1/8, in an existing lease within a spacing unit). SPONSOR Crouch COSPNSR Finch, Hawley, Jordan MLTSPNSR Burling, Calhoun, Errigo, Kolb, Lopez P A10234 Establishes the New York state indigenous natural gas value added task force to prepare a report on the value added opportunities of the Marcellus shale natural gas. SPONSOR Parment A10292 Relates to permits to drill oil and gas wells. SPONSOR Sweeney (MS) COSPNSR Brennan, Lifton, Jaffee, Zebrowski, Kavanagh, Espaillat, Titone, Cymbrowitz, John, Magnarelli, Reilly, Spano, Paulin, Castro, Rivera N, Rivera P, Rosenthal, Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Perry, Ortiz, Cook, Weisenberg, Schimel, Fields MLTSPNSR Destito, Gottfried, Magee, Markey, McEneny, Millman, Thiele A10710 Establishes a moratorium on the acceptance, disposal and/or processing of any fluid which was used in a hydraulic fracturing process performed outside of the state until 120 days after federal Environmental Protection Agency issues a report on the effects of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health. SPONSOR Maisel (MS) COSPNSR Englebright A10956/S07758 Provides that integrated royalty owners in the New York Marcellus Shale region shall receive a royalty equal to the highest royalty in an existing lease in the spacing unit, but no less than 18.75 percent. SPONSOR Lupardo/SPONSOR VALESKY S03410 Establishes a natural gas and oil well security fund to enable natural gas and oil producers to meet the financial security requirements in the environmental conservation law for the permitting, operation, maintenance and plugging of natural gas and oil wells. From the bill: "THE RATE OF PAYMENT INTO THE FUND SHALL BE TEN DOLLARS PER WELL PER YEAR." Ten dollars per well per year - that's supposed to protect the taxpayer from incurring costs if drillers shirk their responabilities? S06269 Requires permit holders engaging in the drilling, casing, operation, plugging, and replugging of gas wells to post a bond which will allow for the construction or reconstruction of any water supply deemed proximate to any permitted work. One lawyer writes: "Pros: It would require the posting of a bond against water contamination, so that if an entity bankrupted itself, there would still be a chance for a damaged property owner to collect; it also provides for a low-cost arbitration system so that remedies could more easily be obtained. Cons: it gives a ton of discretion to the DEC commissioner regarding bond amount, structure and rules of the arbitration system and rights to recovery. I think it's more a sop than a solution. S06335 Relates to the regulation of the use of the state's water resources; requires permits for interbasin diversions of water and approval of modification to existing systems; increases fees for water supply permits. SPONSOR THOMPSON Awful A05585 Establishes the "Natural Gas Infrastructure Act"; further creates the natural gas infrastructure grant fund for the purpose of subsidizing up to fifty percent of the total cost of projects by the county industrial development agency intended to extend natural gas supply facilities to rural areas for economic development purposes by the construction of natural gas distribution facilities. In other words the taxpayer is supposed to pay to build gas infrastructure while the drillers while they take the profits!	[top]
NYS Legislation and Regulatons We Need to See New York State (NYS) Casing Regulation Recommendations A report commissioned by the NRDC ecommends stricter standards well casing standards for New York State. Testimony from Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Testimony by Wes Gillingham of Catskill Mountainkeeper Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Testimony by Deborah Goldberg, Environmental Advocates of New York Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Katherine Nadeau, Environmental Advocates of New York Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Kate Sinding, Attorney for the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Restore Home Rule Now! An op ed by Catskill Citizens member Bruce Ferguson. (Sullivan County Democrat, February 23, 2010.) What Local Governments Can Do To Minimize the Negative Impacts of Gas Drilling Local government officials are only beginning to hear about the unanticipated consequences of gas drilling on nearby communities These impacts will cost the local government money and thus affect all of us whether we signed a lease or own any land. Produced by CDOG (Chenango Delaware Otsego Gas Group). Natural Gas and Municipal Considerations A lawfirm contends that towns may be able to regulate drilling under ECL 23. Natural Gas and Municipal Home Rule in New York A New York Zoning and Practice Report discusses the possible limits of ECL 23 Articel 23 re:home rule.	[top]
Industry Lobbying Expenditures Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets Expenditures of the Natural Gas Industry in New York to Influence Public Polciy. A June 10 report by Common Cause.	[top]
Compulsory Integration New York State Law can compell landowners to have natural gas extracted from their property against the will of the owner. If the gas company succeeds in leasing 60% of the land in a "production unit", they forcilby "integrate" the other 40% of the land. Outline of Statutory Unitization Gas leasing attorney Chris Denton charts the vaious ways in which gas companies can extract gas - either by leasing or various forms of compulsory integration.	[top]
Local Regulation Preparing for Natural Gas Development: Understanding Impacts and Protecting Public Assets Sullivan County reports on what Towns can do to prepare for gas drilling. Observations Concerning the Role of Local Government in Relation to Natural Gas Exploration and Production in the Marcellus Shale in the Southern Tier East Region of New York State This technical paper has been prepared by the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board to assist local governments within its region in responding to recent activity concerning natural gas exploration on the Marcellus Shale which underlies large portions of the Southern Tier East Region of New York State. Supervisor Jim Goldstein, Lebanon Township, Madison County, NY Gas drillers have been operating in the Town of Lebanon since the late ‘90’s, and in recent years the pace of drilling has accelerated. About 55 wells have been drilled in the Township, and another 30 are in various stages of development. Supervisor Jim Goldstein has had to deal with virtually every issue that can arise when drillers come to town. SAMPLE ROAD USE AGREEMENT A sample road use agreement drafted by the Northern Wayne Property Owner's Association. Highway Work Permit in the town of New Berlin New regulations control many of the impacts of drilling, including seismic testing, use of dangerous elements, noise and odor. Aquifer Protection Law THe Town of Virgil creates an aquifer protection district. April 8, 2010.	[top]
Legal Tools SUMMARY OF VARIOUS LEGAL TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ACTIVISTS CONCERNED ABOUT NATURAL GAS DRILLING Lawyers can be helpful to activists, but only as a tool, the way you dig up a weed with a tool. Sometimes a trowel will do the trick, sometimes you need a backhoe. But the tool cannot do it without the driver, the muscle of the people who want to achieve a goal. By Mary Jo Long.	[top]
Best Management Practices What the oil and gas industry could do to protect the public. Chemicals Used in Fracking an Ohio Well Material Safety Data Sheets and other infomration on the chemicals used in fracking fluid. The Oil and Gas Accountability Project Best Practices Includes alternatives for use during the drilling and completion phase as well as suggestions for minimizing impact during production phase. Drill-Right Texas Best Oil & Gas Development Practices for Texas In the struggle to meet our energy demands, we need to balance the interests of the oil and gas industry and mineral owners with the rights of landowners, and the rights of Texans to have clean air and water. Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project, March 2010. Operators Handbook for Nonfederal Oil and Gas Development in Units of the National Park System The National Park Service has developed this handbook to help oil and gas operatorswork safely on federal lands.( See the NPS regulations at 36 C.F.R. Part 9 Subpart B, and "§ 9.32) . This file is a 13MB PDF file. Santa Fe County This New Mexico county has drafted some of the most progressive gas regulations in the United States.	[top]
Scoping for the SGEIS The Scoping document preceded the Draft SGEIS. It was supposed to give the public the opportunity to comment on the range of issues to be considered in the SGEIS. Final Scope for Draft Supplemental GEIS (Executive Summary) Cover Letter for Final Scope New York State Department of Environmental ConservationSEQR Notice Final Scope for Draft Supplemental Generic IMpact Statement (dSGEIS) on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program Describes the issues that the DEC thinks should be considered when setting regulations for drilling in the Marcellus Shale	[top]
The NYS Draft SGEIS DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (SGEIS) A five page summary of the Draft SGEIS. The full 809 page document can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html. The Draft SGEIS The full monty - all 809 pages.	[top]
Comments on the NYS Draft SGEIS Comments by NYS Public Employees Federation, Division 169 Even the DEC's own scientists and technicians find the Draft "inadequate". Comments by the Environmental Protection Agency The federal EPA faults New Yorks's plan for shale gas extraction. Impact Assessment of Natural Gas Production in the New York City Water Supply Watershed New York City's Department of Environmental Protection commissioned this study that concluded that shale gas extraction posed an unacceptable risk to the NYC watershed. Comments by the NRDC Comments submitted by Kate Sinding and Eric Goldstein, Senior Attorneys for the NRDC Comments by Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy weighs in on the fatally flawed Draft SGEIS. Comments by Citizens' Environmental Coalition Comments by CEC Executive Director Barbara Warren. Comments by Stephen Penningroth, Executive Director of the Community Science Institue Delaware Riverkeeper's Talking Points Talking points developed by Delaware Riverkeeper. Testimony by Andrew Zepp, Executive Director Finger Lakes Land Trust Submitted to NYS Senate Standing Committee Roundtable. Testimony by Anthony G. Hay Cornell Associate Professor of Microbiology and Soil Ecotoxicology Anthony Hay finds alarmingly high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in fracking fluid. Submitted to the NYS Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, October 15, 2009. Comments by Catskill Citizens Member Bruce Ferguson Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009. Comments by Delaware Riverkeeper's Tracy Carluccio Tracy Carluccio is Deputy Director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009 Comments by Catskill Citizens member Jane Blake Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009 Comments by Senator Antoine M. Thompson Chair, NYS Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Comments by the Chair of the NYS Senate Environmental Committee. Comments by Sullivan County College student Anthony Romano Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009	[top]
Protecting the NYC Watershed Oversight: Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Drinking Water Watershed New York City Council Briefing Paper NYC DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd seeks special consideration for the NYC watershed Commissioner Lloyd's July 8, 2008 letter to DEC Commissioner Grannis asks the DEC to recognize the NYC watershed as "unique resource requiring special protection." Testimony of Alexander B. Grannis, Commissioner New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection Hearing: Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Drinking Water Watershed September 10, 2008 Testimony of Assemblymember Deborah Glick Testimony before the New York City Council regarding natural gas drilling in the City's upstate watershed. September 10, 2008 Statement of Dusty Horwitt, JD, Senior Analyst for Public Lands, Environmental Working Group Oversight Hearing on Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Watershed, Part II. Before the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection, Friday, December 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. CCSE Testimony on the New York City Watershed Testimony before the Environmental Committee of the New York City Council 9/10/2008 Oil & Gas Accountability Project Testimony on the New York City Watershed Testimony before the Environmental Committee of the New York City Council 9/10/2008	[top]
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) "A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure." (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1931 Delaware River Diversion Case) DRBC's Regulatory Implications of Natural Gas Exploration/Production in the Marcellus Shale Formation in the Delaware River Basin Presentation by William J. Muszynski P.E. & Gregory J. Cavallo P.G., July 16, 2008 Delaware River Basin Map DOCKET NO. D-2009-13-1 Stone Energy's application to take 7000,000 gallons a day from the Special Proteciton waters of the Lackawaxen River. Comments by Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Re: Docket D-2009-13-1 "It would be irresponsible for the Delaware River Basin Commission to approve the Stone Energy Docket D-2009-13-1 (or any other water withdrawal dockets that would facilitate hydraulic fracturing) at this time. The scientific data necessary to make an informed decision is lacking, and regulatory bodies at every level of government are still struggling to figure out how to safely regulate unconventional shale gas extraction." CCSE comments on the Stone Energy water withdrawal docket. April 12, 2010. Hinchey Calls on Delaware River Basin Commission to Conduct Cumulative Impact Study Hinchey Calls on Delaware River Basin Commission to Conduct Cumulative Impact Study Before Allowing Natural Gas Extraction Water Withdrawals. April 29, 2010	[top]
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) The SRBC Compact The 1968 document that controls the use of water from the Susquehanna River Basin Commisssion. Signed by the governors of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland and teh US Department of the Interior.	[top]
Gas Leasing Percent Leaseholders Compared to Total Residents in Tompkins County MAP - Tompkins uncovers some surprising facts. Attorney General Cuomo Cautions Comsumers About the Potential Pitfalls of Oil & Gas Leases Thinking of Signing a Gas Lease? What to Know and What to Do When a Landman Comes to Your Door. Tips from the Chenango County Farm Bureau Six Tricks of Landsmen & Gas Company Reps What Some Landmen Say and What the Real Answer Is From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Minimum Rules for the Examination and Review of an Oil or Gas Lease From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Some Examples of Deceptive Practices or Abuses in Leasing From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Landman Report Card Landowners rate the landsmen who come knocking at their door. Impact of Gas Drilling on Small Landowners Sullivan County resident considers how small landowners might be impacted by shale gas extraction.	[top]
Sesimic Testing Limited License for Seismic Testing A model lease prepared by the Chenango County Farm Bureau.	[top]
Gasland The award winning movie that exposed the fracker's dirty secrets. Affirming Gasland Director Josh Fox and others rebut specious industry claims.	[top]
Videos StandUpNewYork.org 3 minute video on the Dangers of Fracking Independently developed by Agit-Pop and available at www.StandUpNewYork.org, the 3 minute movie is geared to a general, fracking-innocent audience. It provides a sense of place/what's at stake, a brief "fracking for dummies" animation narrated by "Tony Hayward" and a connection between the uncertainties of fracking in NY to how similar uncertainties played out in the Gulf, leading up to a challenge "Stand Up!" Soundtrack is of Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash. The ask at the end is to take action at cleanwaternotdirtydrilling.org. Gas Exploitation Angers Residents of Fort Worth, TX This 3 and a half minute video briefly discribes hydraulic fracturing and some of the impacts it's having on residents. Dead animals, air born contaminents, and the inability of the landowner to control access to the property once a lease is signed are described. This video was put on by AljazeeraEnglish. Impact of Drilling on PA Resident Stephanie Hallowich of Washington County, PA gives in two videos (9 and 8 minutes long) a first hand narrative what it is like to live next door to four natural gas drilling wells, a water compound, a compressor station, and natural gas processing facility. Her main message is to stop the drilling and let the regulators catch up to the industry. In a power point and audio presentation she describes the before, during, and after affects of drilling including air, water, noise pollution and impact of increased truck traffic on rural roads. Washington County is 28 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. Water contaminated by Devon Energy hydraulic fracturing This video to good music is about the Smith's water. The gray stuff is bentonite which is used in hydraulic fracturing. The video is 3 minutes long. ABC News Looks at Natural Gas Drilling Impact on Citizens Natural Gas Drilling May Not Be Healthy Many children and adults who live near. ABC report of 6/13/2010 is 3 minutes in duration. Toll Of Oil Drilling Felt In Peru's Amazon Basin An unusually revealing story on NPR Morning Edition on June 22, 2010 on the terrible chronic diseases suffered by the Achuar people of Peru whose streams, rivers and ground water have been poisoned by oil, lead and cadmium from oil drilling on their lands. They suffer fainting spells, vomiting, chronic diarrhea, headaches and skin infections. Most of the kids suffer from the chronic stomachaches, fainting, vomiting and fevers. Some also have developmental problems. Then the oil company decides to clear cut their community garden for a helicopter pad without consulting them. 7 Minutes in duration Vanity Fair Interviews Northeastern PA Residents Impacted by Drilling June 22, 2010--In this 11 minute video, Christopher Batement travels to Northeastern PA including Dimock and interviews citizens impacted by natural gas drilling. Drill Baby Drill: Stop the Bribes/ Demand Clean Energy This two minute video highlights some political figures who supported drilling and accepted lobbying monies from the oil and gas industry.	[top]
Public Opinion New York Opinon Index Empire State Poll 2010 New Yorkers attitude toward natural gas drilling from the Cornell University Survey Research Institute.	[top]
Candidates Take a Stand Pennsylvania Governor Joe Hoeffel: RESPONSIBLE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: THE MARCELLUS SHALE The extraction of Marcellus Shale natural gas represents an entirely new economy for Pennsylvania. It has the potential to create thousands of jobs, drive local economies, and build revenue for the commonwealth. Drilling in the Marcellus Shale also opens up new environmental concerns with extremely serious consequences for all Pennsylvanians. NYS Senate 42nd District David Sager: On Shale Gas Extraction The race in New York's 42nd Senate District is shaping up as a referendum on shale gs extraction	[top]
Catskill Citizens Updates CCSE Update 2/28/2010 CCSE Update 2/13/2010 CCSE Update 1/12/2010 CCSE Update 1/1/2010 CCSE Update 11/12/2009 CCSE Update 11/03/2009 CCSE Update 10/19/2009 CCSE News Update (11/15/2008) CCSE News Update (10/11/2008) News from Albany and suggested legislation. CCSE News Update (9/27/2008) New York City Council holds hearings on gas drilling within the city watershed. CCSE News Update (8/23/2008) A Report on the Meeting with NYS DEC Executive Deputy Commissioner Stuart Gruskin Where are the Gas Companies? (7/24/2008) When landsman and gas companies began snapping up leases in our area last fall, virtually none of us had ever heard of the Marcellus Shale or hydraulic fracturing. None of us could imagine that in just a few years our quiet part of the country might become a scene of intense industrial activity. Stealth Politics and Some Progress (7/1/2008) The gas well spacing bill referred to as A10526/S8169 was passed by the State legislature and signed into law by Governor Paterson. Where We Are... What We Can Do (6/15/2008) Many of us wish gas drilling would just go away. So much of what we value seems threatened by the intensive industrial development that gas extraction will bring.	[top]
Opinion Tragic Gas Well Explosion Kills Two People by Kate Sinding of NRDC Tragically, two people were killed on Friday when a gas well exploded in Indiana Township, Pennsylvania. Black smoke belched from the well for hours, and firefighters are still at the scene trying to salvage the area. The well is situated in a rural, wooded area-albeit only 15 miles northeast of Pittsburgh-keeping the human toll of this tragic accident thankfully low. But this explosion is not an anomaly. Rather, it is the third explosion of the summer in the Marcellus Shale region, and only one incident in a long list of accidents, spills, leaks, and unexplained health complaints. On June 3, a gas well in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, erupted into a 75-foot geyser of gas, wastewater, and sludge. It could not be controlled until after the well had spewed 35,000 gallons of waste, over the course of 16 hours. The company didn't install an appropriate pressure-control system-a basic safety requirement. Four days later, a Marcellus gas well in West Virginia, just southwest of Pittsburgh, exploded and severely burned seven people. The gas industry is expanding voraciously in Pennsylvania, drilling more and more wells every day. Well pads, condensate tanks, waste pits, pipelines, and access roads are often placed only a few hundred feet from residential homes. A single well pad can contain 16 wells, spaced as little as 10 feet apart - shale gas drilling has industrialized countless acres of rural landscape and is already starting to encroach upon neighborhoods and schools. Reports of air pollution, water contamination, fish kills, livestock deaths, and health problems are piling up in Wyoming, Ohio, Colorado, West Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, and right next door in Pennsylvania. "Putting a ban on hydrofracking is...in the public interest" -- Alan Chartok in July 6th Legislative Gazette Three reasons why we may not need the Legislature... Alan S. Chartok looks at hydrofracking, sugar tax and the SUNY fiscal crisis. He writes "In New York politics, money has always trumped all." Concerning hydrofracking he says "putting a ban on hydrofracking is ...in the public interest..." Horizontal Hydrofracking of Shale Gas in New York by James Northrup at the Ostego County Public Form, July 2010 James Northrup was in the energy business for 30 years. Having sold a company to Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) in the late 1970¹s, he was a Planning Manager at ARCO. He has been an independent oil and gas producer in Texas and New Mexico and has owned onshore and offshore drilling rigs, in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, west Afr "The proposed DEC regulations should be scrapped. The state should wait for the EPA to issue its new guidelines on horizontal hydrofracking of shale gas wells. And the state should wait for Congress to close the "Halliburton loophole" in the Clean Water Act – as recently proposed by Congressman Acuri, so that such wells are once again brought under federal jurisdiction, like they were before the 2005 Energy Act exempted them from regulation." The Real Cost of Hydrofracking by Steve Coffman When it comes to the prospect of the Marcellus Shale Gas Boom, the main question we need to ask is: What is the value that we as a region stand to gain versus the value of what we are likely to lose? Inverse Condemnation Are restrictions on gas extraction a 'taking' of property rights? An editorial from "Breathing is Political" by Liz Bucar. Did Somebody Put Something in the Water in Albany? Tyler Caruso, a graduate student in Environmental Policy and Sustainability, talks sense about shale gas extraction. Letter to the Alexander Grannis A concerned citizen write to Alexander Grannis, Commissioner NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Letter to the Editor A concerned citizen comments on NY's environmental safety record. A Geologist Weighs In Geologist David Hutchison comments on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. A Summer View of Drilling Greening Sullivan, No. 74 by Dick Riseling Economic Impact Report Preliminary Research on the Economic Impact of Gas Drilling in the Catskills Put the Burden of Testing Where it Belongs Gas companies should pay for water testing.	[top]