http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-976625.mp3
New Paltz, NY – Industry and environmental groups, along with many New Yorkers, are preparing to analyze lengthy state recommendations regarding the process of high-volume hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of extracting natural gas. As WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Greg Fry reports, one issue likely to get plenty of attention is the use of state-owned land...
When New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens unveiled his agency's recommendations regarding high-volume hydraulic fracturing, he gave an explanation as to why surface drilling on state-owned land was taken off the table. Martens says the industrial activity is inconsistent with the purposes for which the areas were required.
Dennis Holbrook is a Director with the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, and is also an Executive Vice President with Norse Energy. He says that recommendation by the DEC could be significant, and calls it a "missed opportunity" for the state. Holbrook says in Pennsylvania, the state derives tremendous economic benefit by the opportunity to drill on state land.
Kate Sinding is a Senior Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. She will also serve on a panel, which will advise the DEC on issues related to oversight and monitoring of the industry, as well as issues related to impacts on local governments. She says most in the environmental community have agreed that the recommendation should be adopted moving forward. Sinding says the state should not be profiting from royalties from drilling on its land. She brings up a potential conflict of interest.
However, one argument has become familiar in the debate over natural gas exploration. It's an argument brought up by Katherine Nadeau with Environmental Advocates of New York, who asks if it's not safe enough to do on state-owned lands, how is it safe statewide?
The argument has also been raised in relation to the protection of watershed areas that supply drinking water to the New York City and Syracuse areas.
While the recommendations would limit the use of state-owned land, Holbrook holds out hope that more land would be opened up to high-volume hydraulic fracturing. He says they have acreage that borders state land, and are hopeful they'll be able to access that land.
While the DEC's recommendations would keep well pads from popping up in state forests and wildlife management areas, it doesn't mean exploration would stop in those areas. The DEC's Executive Summary states that horizontal extraction of gas resources underneath state lands from well pads located outside the area would not significantly impact the valuable habitat on forested state lands.