Natural gas drilling advocates have had their New York Marcellus Shale aspirations on hold since July 2008, and a bill awaiting Assembly approval would extend their wait until mid-May at the earliest.
Horizontal drilling in the Marcellus will remain on hold in New York, regardless of legislation, until the state Department of Environmental Conservation finishes its review of its Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, which will set rules and regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing. A mix of water, sand and chemicals is blasted deep underground to break up rock and free natural gas as part of the drilling technique.
"It appears now that (the DEC's) review will continue into 2011, and we have no indication that it will wrap up anytime soon," said Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo, D-Endwell. "I anticipate they will go well into 2011, so a May 15 moratorium deadline in light of the progress DEC is making seems arbitrary."
After months of back-and-forth lobbying between environmental and gas industry advocates, the state Senate passed the bill in an after-midnight, one-sided, bi-partisan vote Aug. 3 shortly before heading home for the end of legislative session. The Assembly was sent home without taking up the measure, but is expected to return in September to discuss additional legislation and distribute federal funds.
Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton, was one of nine senators to vote against the bill, as did Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira. Both pleaded to let the DEC finish its review rather than temporarily banning hydraulic fracturing altogether. Several local Assembly members agreed.
"From the standpoint of the legislature, we provide funding for the DEC," said Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Town of Binghamton. "And with a lot of the misinformation out there, a lot of the legislators have been tweaked into thinking we need a moratorium. If we don't have faith in DEC, why are we funding them?"
