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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The following links are provided to help our community learn more about the potential effects of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

Latest Additions
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An Introduction to Shale Gas Extraction & Hydraulic Fracturing
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Environmental and Health Risks
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        History of Oil and Gas Well Abandonment in New York
          by Ronald E. Bishop, Ph.D., C.H.O, Chemistry & Biochemistry Departmetn at SUNY College, Oneonta. Published by Sustainable Otsego, January 2012.

        New York State Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources 1995
          From the Division of Mineral Resources Annual Report: One of the biggest challenges facing the oil and gas regulatory program is the growing liability of idle and abandoned wells. In most cases financial security, even for operators in compliance with current regulations, does not provide sufficient funding to plug the covered wells. When operators default on their tax bills and counties foreclose on properties that contain unplugged wells, those wells become a liability for local taxpayers. This is not a hypothetical worst-case scenario, but reflect current events already happening in the counties.

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        Toxicosis in Sheep Following Ingestion of Natural Gas Condensate
          Thirty sheep died or were put down "following a 1-day accidental exposure to natural gas condensate. Despite access to potable well water, the poisoned ewes willingly consumed toxic doses of condensate that contaminated surface water." By R. ADLER, H. J. BOERMANS, J. E. MOULTON, AND D. A. MOORE, Departments of Veterinary Pathology (RA, JEM), Pharmacology & Toxicology (HJB), and Medicine (DAM), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA

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        Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing
          US House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce Minority Report, April, 2011.

        Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations
          "As natural gas production rapidly increases across the U.S., its associated pollution has reached the stage where it is contaminating essential life support systems." by The Endocrine Disruption Exchange.

        The Fossil Fuel Connection
          To many people, however, our work on the chemicals used during natural gas operations and our work on prenatal exposure to EDCs has seemed like a two-headed monster.. Now, we have a one-page statement that pulls it all together. From TEDX, August 25, 201.

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        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".)

        Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing
          US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff, April 2011

        Fracking Chemical Database
          SkyTruth maintains a database of chemicals that were reported by oil and gas drilling operators as being used in hydraulic fracturing operations. The database contains records for more than 27,000 frack operations from January 2011 through August 2012 in 24 US states.

        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.

        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.

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Water Testing and Best Management Practices
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The Economics of Shale Gas Extraction
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        Perverse Incentives
          The Untold Story of Federal Subsidies to Fossil Fuels. A Powerpoint presentation by Robert Rejeski, Director, Program in Science and Innovation, Environmental Law Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Institue for Scholars. September 18, 2009.

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        Fossil Fuel Front Groups on the Front Page
          An in-depth analysis by the Checks and Balances Project indicates that a transactional relationship of contributions in exchange for national media traction is playing out and paying off for corporations and foundations that donate to these groups.

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Pipelines, Compressor Station and LNG Terminals
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LNG Exports
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        H.R.1189 American Natural Gas Security and Consumer Protection Act
          Would require "NEPA REVIEW- The Secretary of Energy shall issue a detailed statement under … the National Environmental Policy Act … including … an analysis of the impacts of extraction of exported natural gas on the environment in communities where the natural gas is extracted. Introduced March 13, 2013 by Reps. Markey and Holt.

        H.R.1191 -- Keep American Natural Gas Here Act
          To provide that the Secretary of the Interior may accept bids on any new oil and gas leases of Federal lands (including submerged lands) only from bidders certifying that all natural gas produced pursuant to such leases shall be offered for sale only in the United States, and for other purposes. Introduced March 14, 2013 by Reps. Markey and Holt

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        Liquefied Natural Gas for Europe – Some Important Issues for Consideration
          A European Commission Joint Research Centre report on LNG which investigates four important issues that may have a significant impact on future patterns of LNG supply and demand in the EU by 2020-2030: 1) Security, diversity and affordability of natural gas supply; 2) Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions; 3) LNG quality and 4) Shipping of LNG. 2009.

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Home Rule and Municipal Control
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        Road Use Planning
          April 11, 2011 Mike Wieszchowski, P.E., PTOE Professional Traffic Operations Engineer

        New Berlin HIghway Work Permit
          New regulations control many of the impacts of drilling, including seismic testing, use of dangerous elements, noise and odor.

        SAMPLE ROAD USE AGREEMENT
          A sample road use agreement drafted by the Northern Wayne Property Owner's Association.

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        NEW YORK STATE'S TOWN LAW 272A
          The participation of citizens in an open, responsible and flexible planning process is essential to the designing of the optimum town comprehensive plan.

        Zoning and the Comprehensive Plan
          "The comprehensive plan should provide the backbone for the local zoning law." A publication from the NYS Department of State.

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Sustainable Alternatives
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The NYS DEC
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        Well Information Summaries and Other Docs
          These documents, obtained under FOIL, indicate the high-volume hydraulic fracturing was underway in NYS as early as 2006. The 1992 GEIS discussed frack jobs of 20 to 80,000 gallons. The Frost F2 well was fracked with 640,550 gallons of fluid. Webster T-1 with 646,000 gallons, Beagall-2 with 336,924 gallons, Bender-1 with 270,000 gallons, WG-10 with 111,720 gallons, Maxwell with 436,000 gallons, McDaniels with 200,000 gallons, Bush with 600,000 gallons. There is also evidence that benzene, toluene and xylene were used in these fracking operations. See for example the Well Information Summary for the Calabro T-1 well.

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        Field of Distortions
          The article that revealed that Division of MIneral Resources Director Bradley J. Field is a climate change denier. By Robert H. Boyle and Bruce Ferguson. In Metroland, June 29, 2012.

        Fracked Memory
          Division of Mineral Resources Director Bradley J. Field claims he 'does not recall" singing the petition that disavowed climate change and denies the fact that high-volume fracking has already taken place in NYS despite hard evidence to the contrary. By Robert H. Boyle and Bruce Ferguson. Metroland, August 30, 2012.

        Why Field Should be Fired.

        SOME STILL WAIT FOR THEIR WATER BROOKFIELD SUPERVISOR SAYS MANY PROBLEMS WITH WELLS REMAIN UNSOLVED.
          The truth about the drilling accident in the Town of Brookfield that DMR Field dismissed as having "muddied up a bunch of wells". From the Syracuse Post-Standard May 8, 2007

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New York's Revised Draft SGEIS
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New York State Laws and Pending Legislation
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      Legislation We Support
        A05424A
          This bill would suspend, until May 15, 2015, the issuance of permits for natural gas extraction in low permeability natural gas reservoirs such as the Marcellus and Utica shale formations and would require a school of public health to conduct a comprehensive health impacts.

        A01685/S00673 Prohibits Hydraulic Fracturing
          Prohibits the use of hydraulic fracturing in the extraction of oil and gas; prohibits acceptance, disposal and/or processing of any fluid used in a hydraulic fracturing process.

        A05653 (Moratorium linked to the EPA Study)
          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.

        A06922/S 4834
          Assigns liability to a producer for actions leading to a public water system's failure to meet filtration avoidance criteria resulting in the loss of a filtration avoidance criteria waiver.

        S03397
          Requires the promulgation of regulations requiring treatment works to test waste from hydraulic fracturing operations to test for radioactivity.

        A2890/S6345 (Flowback water)
          Would prohibit the onsite storage of flowback water.

        A00300/ S06097
          Establishes a moratorium on the acceptance, disposal and/or processing of any fluid which was used in and drill cuttings from a hydraulic fracturing process performed outside of the state.

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Leasing and Compulsory Integration
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Impacts on Communities - Organizing and Outreach
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Eyewitness Accounts
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Handouts
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Vote Where It Counts

        VOTE WHERE IT COUNTS
          New Yorkers have the right to vote from their second homes. This is an important tool that can be used to elect local officials that will protect us from dangerous drilling. (Revised April 2011 to reflect changes in registration procedures and in the format of the registration cards.)

        VOTE WHERE IT COUNTS
          This generic version does not reference gas extraction or Catskill Citizens.

        Country Vote "Vote where your heart is"
          A website with info on second home voting.

        Download a NYS voter registration form here.
          Enter your second home address on line 7 and your preferred mailing address on line 8. ? If you have occupied your second home for a total of 30 days, you are legally entitled to sign the Affidavit on the bottom right of the form. (The days of occupancy do not have to have been consecutive.) ? If you want to receive an absentee ballot, make sure you check the box on line 14. You will be asked to provide proof of residence so you may want to include a copy of a utility bill or your tax bill when you mail in your completed form.

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Polls
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Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy
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The Federal Government
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Energy Policy
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)
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The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC)
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Pennsylvania
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Video
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