Environmentalists, natural gas firms spar over drilling in Marcellus shale deposit
ALBANY — Environmentalists are pushing a bill to prohibit natural gas drilling permits in New York’s Marcellus shale until a federal study is complete. A group of drilling advocates called the proposal unnecessary.
Natural gas companies and some landowners are eager to begin drilling in the Marcellus shale formation, which is rich with gas. But environmentalists are worried about the potential impact of using hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, to help extract the gas.
Environmental advocacy groups say the practice, which uses a mix of water and chemicals to break up rock structures to make the gas more accessible, could have a harmful effect on the state’s drinking water. The Marcellus shale covers much of the Southern Tier and extends into other states. Hydrofracking is already being used in Pennsylvania.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens, and Assemblyman Steven Englebright, D-Suffolk County, would keep the state Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing drilling permits until 120 days after an impact study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is completed. The study began in March and a completion date has not been set.
“It’s a question about the type of drilling that we are really concerned with,” Addabbo said. “We just asked for a moratorium while we consider new types of drilling and maybe the process itself.”
Nadia Steinzor, of the national environmental group Earthworks, said the EPA study would include “some of the first clear scientific findings on the issue” of hydrofracking.
“We’re just asking New York to hit the pause button, slow down a little bit, and take a good look at this issue,” said Steinzor. “Wait until the science is out, because obviously to people across the state, drinking water is a key concern in hydrofracking.” Earthworks was one of 21 groups that lobbied state lawmakers this week to pass the bill.
But the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York has maintained the process is safe and would help create jobs and improve the state’s economy.
“This is an unnecessary bill that would add further delays while New York’s economy continues to fail and industry jobs leave New York for other states,” said Brad Gill, executive director of the association. “The EPA has already concluded on more than one occasion that hydraulic fracturing — a 60-year-old technology — is safe.”
The moratorium legislation is currently in the Environmental Conservation committees in both the Senate and Assembly.
Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D-Ithaca, has also sponsored a pair of drilling bills: one that would hold natural gas companies liable for any complications or contamination caused by drilling or hydrofracking; and one that would make the companies adhere to a municipality’s zoning laws, which would prevent them from placing a drilling rig on a school playground or similar places.
The liability bill was sponsored by Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan, in the Senate, while the zoning bill does not have a Senate sponsor.
Lifton also spoke in support of the moratorium. “Let’s slow down,” she said. “There has been way too much rushing on this. That gas is still going to be there in two years, in five years.”
