What a Wonderful Christmas Present ...NOT!

Because of New York State's fiscal crisis, the Department of Environmental Conservation, along with other state agencies, is currently reducing its workforce. As a result, DEC will close both the Rogers (Chenango County) and Stony Kill (Dutchess County) Environmental Education Centers. DEC apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks past supporters of the centers. The centers are expected to be closed as of January 1, 2011."

The staffs of both facilities were notified on November 17^th and asked to wait till we received the official wording above before we contacted our colleagues. This arrived Monday.

I am very sorry for the short notice on this. If you want to write letters, you can contact:

Laurel Remus

Division Director

Office of Public Affairs and Education

NYSDEC

625 Broadway 2^nd Floor

Albany, NY 12233-4500

Peter Iwanowicz

Acting Commissioner

NYS DEC

625 Broadway 14^th Floor

Albany, NY 12233-1010

Comment and Info on NY Marcellus Shale Drilling

My firm represents ANGA (America's Natural Gas Alliance).  I'm a conservationist, dedicated outdoorsman who hunts, fishes and camps a lot.  I'm also a very involved Boy Scout leader.   Before we took ANGA on as a client I did a lot of independent research including speaking to independent hydrogeologists, engineers and the President of SUNY ESF.  I've been on rig tours in PA and researched news accounts of alleged contamination extensively.  I'm comfortable in our choice to represent ANGA and have confidence in the technology.

First, hydrofracing has been in use in the U.S. for 60 years.  It's track record over time has been excellent.   In NY there are already over 13,000 straight line and/or low volume hydrofraced wells.  There has been one surface spill that was reclaimed since 1971.  DEC has done an excellent job in its regulatory oversight.

What is currently at stake in NY is an expansion of the volume of fracing fluid that is authorized for use, and permission to horizontally frac multiple drill lines from a single well head.   This reduces the surface footprint substantially.   The horizontal fraced veins of gas are between 5,000 and 8,000 below the surface.  The average NY well is less than 300 feet.  Their waters sources are separated by 1000's of feet of impermeable bedrock and the water sources do not mix.  The dSGEIS document currently being reviewed by DEC is not an "if" document - drilling in NY already exists.  It is a "how" and "how much" policy document

The Marcellus Shale area, primarily the Southern Tier into the Catskills, is the second largest natural gas field in the world.  It is a gold mine, and could on its own power the nation from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coast for a minimum of 50 years.  Many landowners, farmers, hunting clubs, businesses and local governments would make a substantial amount of money if this moves forward.

With regards to the fracing fluid - it is proprietary to the drilling companies (they are business competitors, after all), but nearly all have voluntarily agreed to disclose their "recipe" to regulators, and we expect DEC to require that.  It is over 99% water and sand; the rest is common materials also found in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.  The fracing fluid is necessary to release and channel the natural gas for extraction through minimal invasive fractures in the shale.

With regards to contamination - there have been surface spills that can be and are cleaned-up.  There has not been a casing leak in a drill shaft, ever, in NY.  There are no cases that I am aware of a modern drill casing leaking.  Again, DEC will require the most stringent standards, and the industry expects them to. 

I'm a lifelong NY'er with three kids.  I don't want to see our water contaminated, and I don't believe for an instant that they will be.

With regards to methane, benzine, etc.  These are naturally occurring chemicals in nature.  I was at a landowners meeting in Norwich with about 600 people earlier this year.  Nearly 10% could light their well water on fire due to methane content.  There are NO hydrofraced drills on those properties.  The sensationalism without scientific proof of "Gasland" has pulled at heartstrings but its claims don't past objective muster. 

In fact, some companies have found that in pre-testing before drilling, as many as 40% of landowners in some areas of PA find methane in their drinking water.   Companies haven't always pre-tested, so the "conclusion" in the past is that drilling caused the methane.  Now the companies do pre-test.   They won't drill on property with methane present because the trial lawyers will line-up to sue.  This naturally occurring phenomenon is now denying landowners lucrative leases for fear of frivolous lawsuits. 

The same goes for claims of radiation.  Everything has some degree of radiation.  Many have screamed about radiation of rock material drawn up when a drill is tapped.  That may in fact occur and is tested and dealt with.  Rock drawn up in wells in NY historically have less radiation than a cheeseburger from McDonald's. 

Water - It is a water intensive process, but it is a literal drop in the bucket for NY's water sources.  Natural Gas drilling is being done in Texas and Wyoming where you drive for hundreds of miles without seeing water.  I've spoken to many hydrogeologists and this is an unfounded concern to those who know best.

Waste Water - It can and will be treated at waste water facilities just like other industrial waste, sewage, pharmaceutical waste water, etc.  The industry pays for it and it is yet another financial benefit to local governments.

With regards to "Gasland".   This is a Michale Moore-esqe hit job that makes for great theater and alarm, but it's very short on actual facts or science based proof.  I encourage you to extend your research past Hollywood sensationalism. 

Last, the process:  The actual drilling process takes 6-8 weeks during which many trucks and water tanks will be on site.  After that, a small single wellhead is left on about a 1/4 acre with a minimal industrial humming noise intrusion.  The land is reclaimed and replanted to original or better condition.   Roads are often completely rebuilt to company specifications for their occasional trucks - usually far exceeding local government standards. 

Will it interrupt hunting?  Generally no, and you may wish to address this in your lease if NY allows this to move forward.  After the drilling is done and the wellhead is established I would consider the interruption to be nil.

Bottom line, this is the only industry that is readty to go - right now - and doesn't want a tax break, Empire Zone, PILOT agreement or anything else.   The industry has asked DEC to dramatically increase the permit application fee to ensure proper funding for regulatory staffing.  State officials response so far: "We can't dedicate funds".  This, of course, is false.  The state legislature would love the revenue but wants first crack at it's use. 

This is an emotional issue for many.  I firmly believe that much of the emotion is due to false and misleading information by environmentalists that are not our friends on drilling any more than they are on hunting.  The opposition is extremely well funded out of NYC and have done their job well.  They are a tough foe.  Their alarm can be sounded in 10 seconds (Don't ruin our water!).  My explanation just took 20 minutes to type.  I have an obligation to be correct based on facts.  My opponents have no such limitation.

Finally, please visit this website that my company manages.   It can help shed some more light on information regarding natural gas drilling:  http://www.friendsofnaturalgasny.com/

I hoped this has helped.  There will be those that disagree.  If you want to continue the discussion all I ask is that you come armed with facts. 
---Ray Merlo
for America's Natural Gas Alliance

Rogers Center Winter Living Celebration

from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Highlights include horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, story telling, performances by the Susquehanna String Band and a special guest appearance by popular signer songwriter Tom Chapin, who agreed to perform at the event to show his support. Snowshoes and skis, which are typically rented at the center, will be provided free to the public for the event. Admission is also free, but donations will be accepted. The celebration will also feature dozens of exhibitors, food vendors, performances and educational programs.

Sadly, it may be the last time this Sunday, Rogers Environmental Education Center will host its annual Winter Living Celebration. The event had to be rescheduled from its regular January date after the New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced the center’s closure by Dec. 31 and the elimination of five full-time positions at the facility. The event has taken on a more profound meaning for those opposed to the center’s closure and organizers are hoping it will attract a high number of supporters this weekend.

Three Items of Note

• I hope most everyone had the opportunity laat Saturday to join Don Windsor during his book-signing session, celebrating the final installment of his historic book series on Chenango County, Congratulations, Don.
• Don't forget to attend this Sunday's Winter Living Celebration event at Rogers Env.Education Center since a strong show of attendance may just be the protest needed to keep this valuable facility open.
• Governor-elect Cuomo has hunted that he might move the entire NYSDEC to the NYS Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Places. Most employees who would be affected feel this would be devastating to all the programs that would be impacted by such an "apples-and-oranges" merger.

Initial Budget Cuts Make Little Sense, Could Make Matters Worse

It's amazing--at least to me--that the Div. of Budget and Albany leaders have chosen the absolute worst time to be seemingly decimating the NYSDEC's ability to do its job. If or when the temporary ban on hydrofracking expires, the need for DEC's Mining division's inspections will become ever more critical to insure the proper and lawful procedures are being strictly adhered to.

DEC Education Centers Closings

Has anyone wondered about the wisdom of closing such valuable facilities as Rogers Center? And what happened to the funds generated by the Conservation Fund and Return a Gift to Wildlife tax return donation program, two of the funding vehicles intended to keep these centers operating?

It's almost as though the budget cutting procedure is being done from the bottom up, rather than truly determining the value and cost savings of the cuts being made

To Use Our EMC Blog

In addition to our CCEMC website, we also have a Blog (/http://marcellusgasmining.blogspot.com/). In many ways the blog page is similar to a website. The exception being that it offers the opportunity for blog visitors—and members—to post their own responses and thoughts on various issues.

What is a Blog?—The best definition of a blog page is “a website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal while readers may comment on posts. ...”

How do I post a comment on it?—To post comments or create new posts or comments, you first need to acquire a free Google account.name and password.

Acquiring a Google/blogger account – Go to Google Blogger’s Homepage and simply follow the instructions.

   ... Bob McNitt

    CCEMC Webmaster   

Historical Look at Natural Gas Mining in Chenango

Don, you bring up some valid points. And you reminded me of the long-standing natural gas line which runs through our county and has been there for decades. Once the covering soil was seeded, both manually and naturally, it provided badly needed low growth flora and grass and sedges that benefited many species of wildlife.Even today, many years after the line was finished, a walk along it will reveal a variety of birds and other wildlife enjoying the habitat that has and is rapidly disappearing from our county, being replaced by brush and emerging forest species.