Marcellus Shale - The Impact of Natural Gas Drilling

 
Click here for a detailed overview on natural gas drilling in the Catskills

Paterson approves law on risky gas drilling

But governor orders DEC to boost regulation of energy companies using hydrofracking technique.
Read the July 24, 2008 Albany Times Union article here

WNYC AND PROPUBLICA LAUNCH JOINT INVESTIGATION INTO NATURAL GAS DRILLING

July 22, 2008.  Listen to the Report and read the follow up stories below:

Morning Edition: Official Addresses Environmental Concern Over Drilling

All Things Considered: State Official Responds to WNYC/ProPublica Investigation

The Brian Lehrer Show: Unconventional PlayAn open well pit in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, holds the sediment from a freshly-drilled well.

The Takeaway: Investigative Report: Hastiness in natural gas drilling jeopardizes local water

Albany Times-Union: Upstate New York's looming natural gas nightmare

State Eases Natural Gas Drilling Rules

Natural Gas Could Transform Sullivan County

An open well pit in Susquehanna County,
 Pennsylvania, holds the sediment from
 a freshly-drilled well. (Edward Marritz)


Catskill Mountainkeeper Co-Sponsored Two Educational Forums

with experts from the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management, Oil and Gas Accountability Project as well as experts on law and community organizing 

The pace of gas drilling in New York State and its potential in the Upper Delaware Region has many property owners and municipal officials asking questions about the impacts of drilling on the environment, how gas leases should be written to protect the interests of property owners, and what regulations and land use approaches are available to protect the health and safety of local residents.

The Forums took place on Thursday, June 26 at the Walton Theater in Walton, NY, Delaware County and June 27th at the Liberty Highschool in Liberty, NY in Sullivan County.  The purpose of these educational forums was to cover these issues and offer case examples.
To view the panelists, please click here.

Read Peter Applebome's two part series about the Walton Forum in the New York Times 

Part 1: June 29, 2008, "Gas Drillers in Race for Hearts and Land."
Part 2: July 3, 2008,  "A Land Rush is Likely, so a Lawyer Gets Ready."

The River Reporter, July 10 - July 16, 2008

STICKING TOGETHER BY WES GILLINGHAM

There are two phrases that I hear a lot these days. The first is “it’s coming, so get used to it.” The second is “and there is nothing you can do about it.” To the first point I ask, what exactly is it that is coming that you need to get used to? To the second point: there is actually something you can do about it.

Catskill Mountainkeeper recently co-sponsored with the Sullivan County Planning Department a forum on natural gas drilling that included experts and community organizers from Wyoming and Colorado who shared the experience their communities had in dealing with natural gas development in their region. Jill Morrison, from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, said, “Our community is a poster child for how not to do it.” The message was loud and clear. If the gas companies are coming, your communities need to join together and get out in front of the issue from the beginning. The entire impact of the gas development needs to be considered including its impacts on water, county roads, crime emergency services and taxes.... continued


**UPDATE** NYRI filing again ruled incomplete; needs info on studies, ordinances   

The Public Service Commission has again found “deficiencies” in New York Regional Interconnect’s proposal for a 190-mile-long power line that would stretch from Utica to New Windsor and cut through Orange and Sullivan Counties. The PSC this week told NYRI it didn’t provide enough information on the supplement to its February filing, which itself was needed because the PSC found NYRI’s original 2006 application lacking.
Now the PSC wants more information on such matters as impact studies, local ordinances and historic structures along the route. Until the application is complete, the PSC won’t officially begin the review process or hold public hearings on the 10-story-tall line.
The state’s notice of deficiencies follows a similar notice from the federal government after NYRI applied for a reimbursement of its costs – to be paid by ratepayers.  Click here for the Times Herald Record story by Steve Israel, July  28, 2008.

Please join Mountainkeeper to keep updated on this issue.

Mountainkeeper leads Trek from Mountaintop to Tap

This past summer Wes Gillingham, Program Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper, led twelve students along a three week trek from the Catskill Mountains to New York City.  The students traveled the same path their drinking water did so they could tell their fellow New Yorkers about the journey their water takes.  There were six students from an upsate school and six students from a school in Brooklyn whose mission was to educate the public about the source of their drinking water.  The students hiked, canoed and boated their way through the Catskill Mountains along the Hudson River and into Central Park.  Along the way, the students assessed the quality of the water in streams, rivers, and reservoirs, talked to public officials and hosted press conferences to share with the public, from the trenches, what they learned.

Click Here to View the Trek Video
Click Here to View Other Mountainkeeper Videos

Our Mission

To protect the ecological integrity of the Catskill Mountain Region and the quality of life of all those who live here. Through a network of concerned citizens, we work to promote sustainable economic growth and the protection of natural resources essential to healthy communities.


Our office is located on Route 52 in Youngsville. 
The mailing address is:

Catskill Mountainkeeper
P.O. Box 381
Youngsville, NY 12791
845.482.5400

 
For more info email us at:  info@catskillmountainkeeper.org 


Other News and Information

> Everything you wanted to know about bluestone in the Catskills in this New York Times article by Anthony DiPalma. May 13, 2008 Read it here

> Program Director Gives Talk at Hartwick College

> Find out about invasive species and how to protect our streams and rivers

> USS Catskill was a 1335-ton warship that fought extensively in the Civil War

> Did the DEC release big flies to eat the caterpillars?  NO.  Find out here

> Forests of the Catskills: an overview here

    Working Together to Protect the Catskills

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"Living in the scenic Catskill Mountains allows us to enjoy the outdoors in so may ways.  As hunters, fishermen, farmers, sport enthusiasts, business owners and residents we are concerned about and responsible for preserving the Catskills for future generations."

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