The state's top environmental official says New York City's watershed isn't immediately threatened by natural gas exploration because no drilling applications have been filed.
Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis planned to speak today at a hearing in Manhattan to air public concerns about the safety of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region, which includes parts of the Catskill Mountains surrounding the city's reservoirs.
In remarks prepared for the hearing, Grannis says the state hasn't received any applications for drilling near the city's watershed. He noted that the state is fully examining the potential environmental effects of any drilling.
The commissioner pointed out that DEC is undertaking a full examination of potential environmental impacts of horizontal drilling, including the use of large volumes of water, and encouraged the Council members and other interested parties to participate.
He said the state has not received any applications for drilling anywhere near the city's watershed in the Catskills, and that if any permit applications were received, a full assessment of potential environmental impacts specific to the city's watershed would be required.
The "emergency" hearing was called in response to reports speculating that a "filtration avoidance determination" _ the legal instrument issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allows the city to use unfiltered drinking water _ was at risk because of potential natural gas drilling in the city's watershed west of the Hudson River.
The Marcellus Shale formation, which runs from West Virginia to New York's Southern Tier and Catskills region, has received a great deal of recent attention because of the potential extent of the natural gas reserves, the efforts of energy companies to sign leases with upstate landowners, and the large amounts of water required for the hydraulic fracturing process used to release the gas.
In his testimony, Grannis pointed out that there are more than 13,000 active oil and gas wells in the state. However, given the large amounts of water that will be required for horizontal drilling in the Marcellus Shale, Grannis said DEC will be examining issues ranging from water withdrawal and consumption, to the composition of the "frac fluids," to the safe storage, transportation and legal disposal of waste water from the operations.
Gov. David A. Paterson directed DEC to address these impacts, and toward that end, this fall DEC will be holding public hearings
across the state in the potentially impacted areas, and then preparing a comprehensive supplement to the generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) that governs oil and gas drilling in the state.
The DEC has created a web page (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/46288.html#Information) to provide information regarding the potential Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.
inactive
September 10, 2008
Drilling not imminent in NYC watershed
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Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
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3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. - Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.
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3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. -
Outdoor biking program starts in city
ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m. -
Outdoor biking program starts in city
ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m. - Marc E. Guy DELHI _ A graveside memorial service for Marc E. Guy, 79, of Delhi, who passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Hospice of the Golden Isles,
- Bridge work to take place on I-88 today OTEGO _ Crews will be working on bridge maintenance on Interstate 88 eastbound between exit 12 in Otego and exit 13 in Oneonta beginning at 8 a.m. today, a media release said.
- David C. Yager ONEONTA _ Graveside services with military honors for David C. Yager, who passed away Feb. 7, 2010, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, in the West Oneonta Cemetery.
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Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
