In response to the increased interest of natural gas exploration of the Marcellus Shale and the environmental safeguards needed to protect the public during this process, the New York State Assembly held a hearing on oil and gas drilling on Tuesday, October 15.

Click here to read a statement from Brad Gill, Executive Director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York .

Click here to read testimony from NYS DEC Commissioner Alexander B. Grannis.

Click here to read testimony from Roger Willis, President of Universal Well Services, on behalf of IOGA.

Click here to view testimony visuals from Roger Willis, President of Universal Well Services, on behalf of IOGA.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued a draft scoping document outlining the issues of high-volume hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells in New York’s natural gas-bearing Marcellus and Utica shale formations.

Click here for additional information.

Click here to download the draft scope.

On October 15, the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation will hold a hearing that will examine the environmental protections needed in the Department of Environmental Conservation’s natural gas and oil drilling regulatory structure.

Click here to read the complete notice.

In an effort to educate New Yorker’s about oil and gas leases, the Attorney General’s Office issued a Consumer Alert on Wednesday, September 10 in which Attorney General Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers to be aware of their rights when dealing with oil and gas leases.

Click here to view the AG’s Land Owner Rights brochure.

Additionally, representatives from the Attorney General’s Office will be taking part in a Landowners’ Rights Forum on September 16 in Binghamton, NY.