IOGA of NY to Deliver Testimony at Tuesday’s DEC Hearings

Burdensome drilling permit requirements and regulations are unnecessary and arbitrary.

Hamburg, N.Y. – As proposed, draft regulations and permit guidelines governing oil and natural gas development are arbitrary and will limit any real opportunity for Upstate communities to truly prosper, the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA of NY) said today.

IOGA of NY, which represents more than 400 individuals and businesses employing nearly 5,000 people, said the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) and companion regulations single out the industry and are based on unrealistic worst-case scenarios.

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Energy In Depth Takes on the New York Times

Article in Nov. 20 Sunday Magazine is scrutinized and debunked.

If it’s true that the definition of a good compromise is one in which both sides leave unhappy, it might seem that the 5,700-word piece on Marcellus development in Washington Co., Pa. filed this past weekend in the Sunday magazine of The New York Times comes close to being one heck of a deal.

Writing about the piece on the environmental website Grist – no friend to shale – Sarah Laskow concludes that “anyone who already understands the issue should probably skip it, to avoid getting ticked off.” For what it’s worth, we happen to agree — albeit for different reasons.

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State Regulators Discount Role of Small-Business Community in Natural Gas Debate

Proposed regulations would limit market competition.

Hamburg, N.Y. – The Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA of NY) today charged that state regulators are failing to consider the impact proposed regulations and permitting guidelines associated with the exploration of natural gas reserves will have on the small business community, in particular privately owned and operated energy exploration companies based in New York State.

IOGA of New York specifically cited the following New York State Register entry (September 28, 2011: Page 15: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2011/sep28/pdfs/rules.pdf) referencing the proposed Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) rules associated with natural gas exploration. It reads: … the regulated community which is the focus of the proposed rules related to HVHF (High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing) are typically large national and international corporations. It is not expected that small businesses or local government will be engaged in HVHF.

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Natural Gas IOGA Releases Another Educational Video

The origin of shale gas and oil is the subject of latest segment.

Hamburg, NY – Decaying plants and animals that layered the sea floor over millions of years resulted in the creation of oil- and gas-rich shale formations, including the Marcellus Shale in New York, a new video from the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York explains.

“In the Beginning,” the eighth video released in the “Fuel For Thought” series, features Brad Gill, a petroleum geologist and IOGA of NY’s executive director.

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‘Fuel For Thought’ Community Forum Comes to Geneva

Residents invited to meet with oil and gas industry experts.

Hamburg, NY – Representatives from in the natural gas industry will address Geneva-area residents at “Fuel For Thought: A Community Conversation,” 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the North Street School, 400 W. North St., Geneva.

The dialogue is presented by the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York.

“Answering questions and providing solid, fact-based information to the community is part of our trade association’s mission,” said John Holko, chair of IOGA of NY’s public education committee and one of three industry professionals taking part in Tuesday’s event. “These community conversations are designed to be an open forum for discussion, just questions asked and answered by working professionals in the field.”

Holko, John A. Wilson, an environmental, health and safety risk consultant, and attorney Adam Schultz from Gilberti, Stinziano, Heintz and Smith in Syracuse will field questions. Jeff Heller from the Steuben County Landowners Coalition is the moderator. Representatives from America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) also will be on hand.

These forums are IOGA’s live counterpart to the video series of the same name, which is accessible on IOGA of NY’s Facebook page.

The final stop in series for this year will be Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning. The event is free and open to the public. Details are at www.iogany.org, or by calling 716-202-4688.

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