DEC official updates Sullivan municipal leaders on hot issues

link to complete article is here:

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/February09/20/SCCG_Janeway-20Feb09.htm

MONTICELLO – There were more county legislators and officials than town supervisors on hand when a regional Department of Environmental Conservation official met with the Council of Governments this morning.

DEC Region 3 Director William Janeway touched on some of the hot issues, including prospecting for natural gas. He noted that one of the companies originally interested in possibly sinking wells in Sullivan now is not sure the Marcellus Shale reserves under the county are sufficient to make it worthwhile.

“We have essentially called a ‘time-out’ on the deep hydrofracking of the Marcellus Shale”, said Janeway. That, he says, gives them time to update the process of environmental review which will lead to sound guidelines that would apply to any permanent activity.

On other issues, Janeway said Sullivan retains the unique less-developed character long since lost in other area counties, such as Ulster and Dutchess, but large-scale development can happen if done carefully.

He also said the federal stimulus package has the right focus on one issue critical in Sullivan – clean water.