Two years of DEC review, combined with already strict environmental regulations, will protect New York’s environment.
Albany, N.Y. – The Independent Oil & Gas Industry, joined by a coalition of 30 industry and business groups, urged New York State legislators to oppose a proposed bill to place a moratorium on natural gas exploration until May 15, 2011.
The Senate today may take up a bill by Sen. Antoine Thompson (D-Buffalo) that, as drafted, would put a halt to all permits for horizontal drilling when hydraulic fracturing would be used.
The Marcellus is perhaps the largest natural gas reserve in the United States with the potential to dramatically increase America’s energy independence while vastly improving economic recovery and job creation throughout New York. The moratorium bill is proposed at a time when the state Department of Environmental Conservation is completing a two-plus year review of the state’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS), which will set new parameters that apply statewide for SEQRA review of gas-well permitting.
“Even before the DEC’s review began in 2008, its staff had already been evaluating the potential environmental impacts of drilling and hydraulic fracturing. That review has lasted for more than 15 years,” said Brad Gill, IOGA of NY executive director. “It would be irresponsible to see lawmakers cave to the scare tactics of radical opponents, and it would be a slap in the face to landowners, New York taxpayers, all the people of the Southern Tier, as well as the DEC, to allow a moratorium bill to pass in the Legislature.”
Natural gas exploration using hydraulic fracturing has been shown to be safe in New York State and by the U.S. Department of Environmental Conservation, the Ground Water Protection Council and by more than one million instances where it has been successfully used nationwide.
The economic impacts also cannot be ignored. A recent American Petroleum Institute study showed Marcellus Shale developed in New York and Pennsylvania could create 280,000 new American jobs and add $6 billion in new tax revenues over the next decade. In addition, application fees paid each year to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation total approximately $1 million. These revenues, combined with the additional revenues from new Marcellus Shale permits, would be lost during the moratorium.
Supporters include the following New York employers
Independent Gas & Oil Association of NY
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Independent Power Producers of NY
The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
Unshackle Upstate
New York State Economic Development Council
National Federation of Independent Business
New York Construction Materials Association
New York State Petroleum Council
New York State Motor Truck Association
Conrad Geoscience Corp.
Palmerton Group
Southern Tier Economic Group
Owego Harford Railway
New York & Ogdensburg Railroad Company
Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Energy In Depth
Enervest Operating, LLC
Marcellus Shale Coalition
New York & Lake Erie Railroad
Walking Ridge Development, LLC
Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad Company
Inflection Energy
Elexco Land Services
B & H Rail Corporation/Livonia
Livonia, Avon, Lakeville Railroad Corporation
Railroads of New York, Inc.
Canadian Pacific Railway
Chautauqua Energy Management, Inc.
