PUBLIC MEETINGS SET FOR DEVELOPING SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS
PUBLIC MEETINGS SET FOR DEVELOPING SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR
HORIZONTAL DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE
Sessions in the Catskills and Southern Tier in November and December
As a first step in analyzing the potential environmental impacts of
high-volume hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells in New York’s
natural gas-bearing Marcellus and Utica shale formations, the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued a draft
scoping document outlining the issues to be covered in the analysis.
In the document, DEC delineates a number of factors it has proposed to
be included in the analysis. The public is invited to comment on the
scope at six meetings scheduled to be held throughout the Southern Tier
and Catskills in November and early December, and to submit written
comments.
The purpose of the scoping meetings is to make certain the public has
the opportunity to review issues to be included in the environmental
review of proposed horizontal drilling operations in the Marcellus and
Utica formations.
Although there is a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS)
covering gas and oil drilling in New York State generally, the State has
determined that a Supplement to the GEIS is needed in order to address
issues related to the large volumes of water required to “hydrofracture”
the shale to release the gas. Among other topics, the draft scope
proposes that the Supplement address water-management issues and the
composition of drilling fluids added to the water to assist the
fracturing process.
The GEIS was issued in 1992 and it covered hydraulic fracturing, a
practice that has been used for more than 50 years in New York for
releasing oil and gas trapped in otherwise impermeable geological
strata. At the time the GEIS was developed, most drilling operations
required less than 100,000 gallons of water per well for hydraulic
fracturing. Because of the depth and geologic characteristics of the
Marcellus Shale, greater volumes of water are necessary to tap into the
gas reserves, likely more than 1 million gallons per well.
Following the public meetings, DEC will review the comments and produce
the final scope, which will outline the factors that must be included in
the Supplement to the GEIS. DEC hopes to complete a draft Supplement by
next spring, a process that also will provide opportunities for the
public to provide input.
A schedule of the public hearings will be available on DEC’s Marcellus
Shale web page (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/
Environmental Notice Bulletin. Tentatively, meetings are planned for
-- Allegany (Cattaraugus County), Nov. 6.
-- Bath (Steuben County), Nov. 12.
-- Elmira (Chemung County), Nov. 13.
-- Binghamton (Broome County), Nov. 17.
-- Oneonta (Otsego County), Dec. 2.
-- Loch Sheldrake (Sullivan County Community College), Dec. 4.
DEC is awaiting confirmation about times and venues with host
communities; details will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.
The draft scope is available at:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/
submitting written comments are included in the scope.