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RateDEC shale drilling rules up for comment
Proposed area includes Greene County’ mountaintop region
By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
ALBANY — The rules for Marcellus shale drilling for natural gas in NYS are working their way towards adoption.
In a hefty Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DSGEIS) released at the beginning of the month, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced its proposed regulations for horizontal drilling using the hydraulic fracturing method, with comments accepted on them through Nov. 30.
There will be only four public hearings on the proposed regulations, the closest being in Loch Sheldrake, Sullivan County, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. for speaker sign-up, with public comment beginning at 7 p.m.
The session will be at Sullivan County Community College, E Building, Seelig Theatre, 112 College Road.
However, DEC has also made a special on-line comment form available at their Web site, and interested parties can also send e-mails and postal letters, as well.
Marcellus shale is a potential new source for natural gas, and requires the shale to be fractured, or split, with large amounts of water, raising concerns that groundwater supplies and wells could be affected.
The sanctity of NYC’s upstate water supply is also among topics being discussed as a potential issue.
Of the industry’s plans, the draft EIS notes that, in addition to Marcellus shale, “There is also potential for development of the Utica Shale” using the same method, adding that “other shale and low-permeability formations in New York may be targeted for future application” if the Marcellus and Utica areas are successful.
It does not clarify what additional areas might see horizontal drilling, but does describes the area currently identified.
“The prospective region for the extraction of natural gas from Marcellus and Utica Shales has been roughly described as an area extending from Chautauqua County eastward to Greene, Ulster, and Sullivan counties, and from the Pennsylvania border north to the approximate location of the east-west portion of the NYS Thruway between Schenectady and Auburn,” it states.
It adds, however, that the process might also “someday” see use from the Vermont and Massachusetts border — ostensibly thus including Columbia County — up to the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain region.
It clarifies that “drilling will not occur on State-owned lands” in the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve because of the prohibition against leasing or selling them, and the requirement to keep them “forever wild.”
The draft EIS adds, however, “In the Appalachian region, which extends into New York” — this apparently includes the Catskills region — “the Marcellus Shale is expected to develop into a major natural gas production area.”
Of import, it adds, “According to Penn State University, the Marcellus Shale is the largest known shale deposit in the world.”
Regarding the NYC watershed region — not counting the surface area of the City’s six reservoirs — the draft EIS states that the City’s land, plus that of the state’s Forest Preserve, equal about 30.5-percent of the total physical watershed area, none of which could be drilled upon.
Conversely, the other 69.5-percent of watershed lands are not prohibited from having hydraulic fracturing operations on them, stating, “The entire watershed area is within the fairways of shale gas development … and consequently, the 1,077 square miles of the watershed that are not protected, potentially are available for the placement of well pads for the development of shale gas reservoirs.”
This would apparently include all privately owned lands in the Mountaintop towns of Windham, Hunter, Jewett, Ashland, Lexington, Prattsville, and Halcott.
According to the draft EIS’ assorted maps, substantial lands in Greene County’s valley and river towns are also part of the underground shale deposit.
The full DSGEIS is available to download or read on-line through a link at www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html.
***
To reach reporter Jim Planck, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3324, or e-mail jplanck@thedailymail.net.
In a hefty Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DSGEIS) released at the beginning of the month, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced its proposed regulations for horizontal drilling using the hydraulic fracturing method, with comments accepted on them through Nov. 30.
There will be only four public hearings on the proposed regulations, the closest being in Loch Sheldrake, Sullivan County, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. for speaker sign-up, with public comment beginning at 7 p.m.
The session will be at Sullivan County Community College, E Building, Seelig Theatre, 112 College Road.
However, DEC has also made a special on-line comment form available at their Web site, and interested parties can also send e-mails and postal letters, as well.
Marcellus shale is a potential new source for natural gas, and requires the shale to be fractured, or split, with large amounts of water, raising concerns that groundwater supplies and wells could be affected.
The sanctity of NYC’s upstate water supply is also among topics being discussed as a potential issue.
Of the industry’s plans, the draft EIS notes that, in addition to Marcellus shale, “There is also potential for development of the Utica Shale” using the same method, adding that “other shale and low-permeability formations in New York may be targeted for future application” if the Marcellus and Utica areas are successful.
It does not clarify what additional areas might see horizontal drilling, but does describes the area currently identified.
“The prospective region for the extraction of natural gas from Marcellus and Utica Shales has been roughly described as an area extending from Chautauqua County eastward to Greene, Ulster, and Sullivan counties, and from the Pennsylvania border north to the approximate location of the east-west portion of the NYS Thruway between Schenectady and Auburn,” it states.
It adds, however, that the process might also “someday” see use from the Vermont and Massachusetts border — ostensibly thus including Columbia County — up to the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain region.
It clarifies that “drilling will not occur on State-owned lands” in the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve because of the prohibition against leasing or selling them, and the requirement to keep them “forever wild.”
The draft EIS adds, however, “In the Appalachian region, which extends into New York” — this apparently includes the Catskills region — “the Marcellus Shale is expected to develop into a major natural gas production area.”
Of import, it adds, “According to Penn State University, the Marcellus Shale is the largest known shale deposit in the world.”
Regarding the NYC watershed region — not counting the surface area of the City’s six reservoirs — the draft EIS states that the City’s land, plus that of the state’s Forest Preserve, equal about 30.5-percent of the total physical watershed area, none of which could be drilled upon.
Conversely, the other 69.5-percent of watershed lands are not prohibited from having hydraulic fracturing operations on them, stating, “The entire watershed area is within the fairways of shale gas development … and consequently, the 1,077 square miles of the watershed that are not protected, potentially are available for the placement of well pads for the development of shale gas reservoirs.”
This would apparently include all privately owned lands in the Mountaintop towns of Windham, Hunter, Jewett, Ashland, Lexington, Prattsville, and Halcott.
According to the draft EIS’ assorted maps, substantial lands in Greene County’s valley and river towns are also part of the underground shale deposit.
The full DSGEIS is available to download or read on-line through a link at www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html.
***
To reach reporter Jim Planck, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3324, or e-mail jplanck@thedailymail.net.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thedailymail.net.
patrick wrote on Oct 20, 2009 10:05 PM:
" My sister in Pa had her farm destroyed by these evil trolls. Giulliani is in their pay by the way. The should be destroyed. "
RiverRider wrote on Oct 20, 2009 11:13 PM:
" Listen up to what Catskill Native has to say here,
regardless of how neat and harmless the above one-sided article makes it all sound,
HORIZONTAL DRILLING IS A CATASROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN !
So EDUATE YOURSELVES ABOUT THE DANGERS and TAKE ACTION TO STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS !
Don't let this be a case of hindsight is 20/20,
PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAY NO TO THIS TOXIC DRILLING !
We don't want to have to say told you so as you sit teary eyed at your loved one's bedside as they slowly die of cancers that could have been prevented...
STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS !
NO SHALE DRILLING IN UPSTATE NY >>> "
regardless of how neat and harmless the above one-sided article makes it all sound,
HORIZONTAL DRILLING IS A CATASROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN !
So EDUATE YOURSELVES ABOUT THE DANGERS and TAKE ACTION TO STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS !
Don't let this be a case of hindsight is 20/20,
PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAY NO TO THIS TOXIC DRILLING !
We don't want to have to say told you so as you sit teary eyed at your loved one's bedside as they slowly die of cancers that could have been prevented...
STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS !
NO SHALE DRILLING IN UPSTATE NY >>> "
patrick wrote on Oct 21, 2009 8:45 AM:
" www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html
Wow. If the FBI published a report that a group of middle eastern terrorists had been caught plotting to inject millions of tons of toxic chemicals into our soil and water table up here in the Catskills, I think some of you might take notice. Well, read the above link, which unlike the one in the article you can copy and paste without having it fail because it contains an extra punctuation at the end like Jim's up in his article.
THIS IS SCARY SCARY STUFF!!! "
Wow. If the FBI published a report that a group of middle eastern terrorists had been caught plotting to inject millions of tons of toxic chemicals into our soil and water table up here in the Catskills, I think some of you might take notice. Well, read the above link, which unlike the one in the article you can copy and paste without having it fail because it contains an extra punctuation at the end like Jim's up in his article.
THIS IS SCARY SCARY STUFF!!! "
Joe The Real wrote on Oct 21, 2009 11:04 AM:
" Would you let your neighbor build a tunnel under your land and steal a bunch of gold nuggets that were yours? Well guess what, that's what 'horizontal drilling' permits. Worse, it allows Halliburton to poison your land without your consent from miles away.
The process owned by Halliburton called "fracing" (pronounced "Fracking"), involves the injection of high pressure steam and toxic chemicals, mostly solvents and toxic chemical salts and lye compounds into shale deposits to "free up" the petroleum they contain. Of course lots of other 'stuff' is 'freed up' as well. But, don't worry, they would never let anything BAD happen to you or your loved ones, because Halliburton cares more about America that anybody. Halliburton loves you. And, just to prove it, they'd like to take really special care of your elected representatives. "
The process owned by Halliburton called "fracing" (pronounced "Fracking"), involves the injection of high pressure steam and toxic chemicals, mostly solvents and toxic chemical salts and lye compounds into shale deposits to "free up" the petroleum they contain. Of course lots of other 'stuff' is 'freed up' as well. But, don't worry, they would never let anything BAD happen to you or your loved ones, because Halliburton cares more about America that anybody. Halliburton loves you. And, just to prove it, they'd like to take really special care of your elected representatives. "
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Catskill Native wrote on Oct 20, 2009 6:02 PM:
You want to read the TOXINS that they pump into shale to 'frac' it: Toluene, sodium hydroxide (That's DRANO for the non-chemists out there), Acetone (hey, pour some on your car and see what happens to the finish), terpines (great for children with asthma), aromatic ketones (hey don't worry, you're already going to get cancer from the nice cementville folks over in Ravena).
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE IF THEY LEFT ANY TOXINS OFF THEIR LIST OF WHAT THEY WANT TO INJECT IN THE SHALE, OR WHAT THEY WILL PRODUCE BY WAY OF WASTE AND BYPRODUCT WHEN THEY INJECT IT.
But, listen to the nice local Republicans who just raised your mortgage tax and they'll tell you that this will get rid of your gas woes and make you independent of the arabs. Oh, and you can move to a nice state like Florida after they turn Catskill into Chernobyl.
Don't take my word for it, check out the table on pages 5-52-60 (Chapter 5 pages 52 - 60/61).
UNFRIGGING BELIEVABLE!!!! I'D RATHER INVITE OSAMA FOR A FLYOVER. "