NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Marcellus Shale

NYSDEC Main Page on Marcellus Shale.

Hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale will require large volumes of water to fracture the rocks and produce the desired amount of gas. Each well may use more than one million gallons of water.

See also: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): Bureau of Oil and Gas Regulation

NYSDEC is criticized for not having enough personnel to monitor gas drilling.

There is currently no Section Chief for the Compliance and Enforcement Section of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Bureau of Oil and Gas Regulation. Jack K. Dahl, Director. (518) 402-8056.

See also: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program

The draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) for potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale formation was available for public review and comment through 12/31/09.

The draft SGEIS supplements the existing Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) and analyzes the range of potential impacts of shale gas development using horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing.

The draft SGEIS outlines safety measures, protection standards and mitigation strategies that operators would have to follow to obtain permits.

Comments – The public comment period ended on 12/31/09 and the Department is now evaluating the many comments received. Watch this page for updates.

See also: Earthworks. Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FSGEIS) on High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF).

What is wrong with New York in regards to gas drilling?

See also: The U.S. Forest Service page below.

In New York, the Finger Lakes National Forest – Projects & Planning page contained no information on Oil and Gas Leasing.

See also: U.S. Forest Service web page regarding Oil and Gas Leasing on Lands Administered by the Dixie National Forest, Utah.

See: Priscilla Summers v. Earth Island Institute Supreme Court Decision : ACOEL

See: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) sent to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) during the public comment period closing 12/31/09

See: Hydro-Fracking Resource and Action Center

See: New York State Assembly Passes Moratorium on Hydrofracking | Governor Vetoes Bill