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Experts agree: Fracking moratorium 'symbolic'
The state Assembly's vote in favor of a six-month moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial drilling technique essential to tapping the natural gas reserves of the Marcellus Shale, is drawing mixed reactions from legislators and advocates on both sides of the drilling debate.
"We already have a de facto moratorium on horizontal hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale, and as far as I'm concerned, this really was a big mistake from the beginning," said Ithaca-based anti-drilling activist Walter Hang.
The moratorium, if signed into law, would overlap with an already existing ban on the use of high-pressure hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells, which has been on hold in the state for 2 1/2 years.
In July 2008, Gov. David Paterson issued an executive order halting permits for horizontal hydraulic fracturing until the state Department of Environmental Conservation completes its review of the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement.
While the new moratorium would last until May 15, 2011, few expect the DEC to complete its review of the draft SGEIS before then. In all likelihood, the SGEIS will be challenged in court.
The new moratorium would also extend the current ban to include hydraulic fracturing in both vertical and horizontal wells.
"It was a badly drafted bill," said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Endwell, who voted against the moratorium.
Lupardo said Assembly members who supported the bill "felt the need to send a message on behalf of the people who are concerned about hydrofracking," but did not understand the consequences of banning vertical drilling.
"This should not be viewed as a referendum on gas drilling -- the bill itself had problems," she said. "As important an issue as this is, I think it's important to pass legislation that really gets to the heart of what we want to do, and I think this misses the boat."
The moratorium was passed by the state Senate in August with only nine senators -- including Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton -- voting against it.
After the Assembly's 93-43 vote Monday, the bill is currently awaiting the approval of the governor who said he was undecided on whether to sign it.
"The legislative action, I think, is well intended, but whether or not we need it is uncertain," Paterson said in an interview Tuesday with Gannett's Albany Bureau.
"In many ways, this is political cover, this is window dressing," Hang said. "You ask anyone, and they basically say this is a symbolic victory."
Hang feels the moratorium fails to address any of the substantive issues involved in the state's review of the environmental impacts of natural gas drilling.
"I really believe that it is a well-meaning effort," Hang said, "but it's completely separate from the main challenge at hand, which is withdrawing the fatally flawed draft of the SGEIS, revising the scope and then coming up with a final that can adequately protect the public health and the environment."
Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, agreed with Hang, at least in part.
Gill said many legislators who supported the moratorium were ill-informed about the difference between vertical drilling, which has been used for decades, and horizontal drilling, which is more controversial.
They simply wanted to pass the bill to send a message, he said.
"We had over 800 wells permitted and drilled last year, and over 90 percent of those wells were hydraulically fractured," he said. "But those are not the wells that the oppositionists are concerned about."
The moratorium would put the 300 businesses and 5,000 jobs across the state that rely on vertical drilling in danger, according to Gill.
"Despite our best efforts, I believe that a very large portion of the Assembly either didn't understand it or didn't care that they didn't understand it," he said. "But again, that's so typical of New York."
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Arcuri Wants New York to Start Over on Fracking
Congressman Michael Arcuri focuses on fracking while meeting with voters in Oneonta.
Arcuri spoke to voters about the importance of drilling areas, and how many rigs can be set up in a mile radius.
He says New York needs to start over on addressing regulations for horizontal drilling, also called hydrofracking.
Arcuri says we must know how fracking will affect an active fault line.
The Congressman says monitoring fracking fluids is important to insure safety and keep our water clean.
"What are we going to do with the frack fluids, what are we going to do with the water that comes out of the ground, that's going to be contaminated, it's going to have brine in it; It's going to have chemicals in it, do we treat it locally? Well, if we treat it locally, can our water systems our sewer systems handle it?" says Arcuri.
He wants the state to do more work, and making sure they cover these issues before re-submitting the study.
"The state needs to make sure they're doing all the things that they need to do... They need to re-submit the study, they need to do a little more work on it, make sure they're covering all these issues and discuss them a little, and get a little more science, a little more background," the Congressman says.
Hinchey joins opposition to drilling review
U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey said he hopes to draw a clear line between his stance on slickwater hydraulic fracturing and that of his opponent, George Phillips, in the race for the 22nd Congressional District.
Hinchey on Wednesday joined more than 10,000 others in signing a letter urging Gov. David Paterson to withdraw a draft environmental impact statement on oil and gas drilling in the state.
Hinchey signed the letter, drafted by local environmental activist and president of Ithaca company Toxics Targeting Walter Hang, at an event on The Commons.
Hang said he was glad to see Hinchey join the coalition of residents who signed the letter.
"We can't regulate this activity until the DEC (state Department of Environmental Conservation) is fixed," he said.
Hang said it's been a long fight to get to 10,000 signatures, and especially to get local politicians to sign on.
"I think when they saw (recently fired DEC Commissioner) Pete Grannis get sacked it really had an effect," he said. Grannis was fired over a leaked memo, which he said he did not leak, that was critical of impending layoffs in the department. The letter also urged the governor not to cut DEC staff or pollution control programs further.
Phillips has expressed opposition to Hinchey's plan to federally regulate the industry under the Clean Drinking Water Act, from which drillers are now exempt. He has touted the economic potential of natural gas development and said he doesn't have many concerns about the process.
Hinchey said Wednesday he will continue to push for strict environmental regulations before hydrofracking is permitted in New York.
"After the massive oil spill in the Gulf, which wrecked that local economy and caused irreparable harm to the environment, we just can't afford to move forward with reckless, unsafe drilling just because the drillers say it will be safe," Hinchey said.
"Let's not make New York another example of what happens when we let the 'Drill, baby, drill' crowd run roughshod over the environment," he said.
Hinchey Signs Petition Asking Paterson to Withdraw DEC Statement
ITHACA-- The future of Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing in New York faces more push-back from local politicians.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) was in Ithaca Wednesday to sign a letter asking Gov. Paterson to withdraw the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) the state Department of Environmental Conservation released last year.
Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, wrote the letter last year. Former congressman Eric Massa and Rep. Mike Arcuri's names are also on that petition.
Hinchey sent his own letter to former DEC commissioner Pete Grannis last December. He called the draft statement deeply flawed, and the drilling regulations inadequate.
“We're gonna make sure that this frack drilling does not occur in New York,” until adequate environmental safeguards are in place, Hinchey said.
Hang said, “It's very, very tough to take a stand like this, where it's very black and white. I'm just glad that he's done it.”
Hinchey also said he's disappointed DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis was fired last week. He said the future of the DEC and its ability to protect the state is shakier now, more than ever.
Arcuri joins call to withdraw DEC drilling statement
TRUMANSBURG -- Congressman Michael A. Arcuri has literally signed on to an effort activists believe will ensure safer natural-gas drilling in New York.
Arcuri put his name on the "Withdraw the Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) Coalition Letter," Monday afternoon at the Taughannock Falls overlook. The letter, composed by Toxics Targeting President Walter Hang, was sent to Gov. David Paterson and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
About a dozen people were on hand for Arcuri's visit, including Hang, Ulysses Supervisor Roxanne Marino, Trumansburg Mayor Martin Petrovic, Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, and a number of environmental activists.
Arcuri, a Utica Democrat seeking a third term from the 24th District, signed the letter because he believes that the SGEIS doesn't go far enough to protect the environment and public from the potential hazards from natural gas drilling, according to a statement from his office. The DEC issued the draft SGEIS in September to analyze the effects of shale gas development using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
More than 10,000 people have signed the letter, which will be re-sent to Paterson with Arcuri's signature, Hang said. He culled through tens of thousands of DEC spill reports and found that fires, explosions, wastewater discharge and water contamination had occurred in areas where drilling and hydrofracking had been done, he added.
Arcuri's opponent, businessman Richard Hanna, said last week the does not support hydraulic fracturing but the decision should left to science.
"What we're asking is, ... let's take a step back, let's pump the brakes a little bit and let's make sure before we take this dramatic step forward, that we're taking every possible precaution," Arcuri said.
While commending Paterson's budget efforts, Arcuri stressed that cutting DEC funding when there may be increased drilling is "a recipe for disaster," and drilling licensing fees are supposed to pay for DEC staff who ensure safe drilling.
We need gas and oil, but while we can live without those things, we can't live without water, he added.
Arcuri's signature is important because his district includes a huge part of the shale formation, Hang said.
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