Otsego County Planning Department

A Completed Natural Gas

Well Head

WHY ALL THE SUDDEN INTREST IN GAS LEASING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK?

A primer on the gas well gold rush

The Marcellus Shale: An unconventional natural gas reservoir

The Marcellus and Utica Shales: Gas Potential (a technical article)

includes a map of the Marcellus Shale

Geology.com - Utica Shale

Geology.com - Marcellus Shale

Natural Gas Leasing in the News:

3 gas permits issued for Otsego County

NYC resolution calling on NYS legislature to to prohibit drilling for natural gas within the boundaries of the watershed of the New York City drinking water supply

Sullivan Co develops gas drilling scoping points

New Lisbon passes six-month moratorium on gas drilling

DEC wants more authority over water used in hydrofracturing

Nat Gas leasing activity cools down

Assembly holds hearings on nat gas drilling

Drilling boom revives hopes for natural gas

State legislation proposed that would require road bonding and  and allow local moratoria related to establishing baseline road conditions

SRBC tightens consumptive water use regs

DEC Announces Public Process to Review Potential Impacts of Drilling the Marcellus Shale Formation

NYS Assembly Bill 11527 - two year state moratorium on drilling new wells

Gov signs bill updating oil and gas law

Cooperstown Decides Not To Sell Water To Drillers

Natural-Gas Drillers May Tap 140 Wells

DEC looking at more protections

Sullivan County towns try to manage potential impacts from drilling with 6 month moratorium

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NYS DEC

GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

DEC GEIS Final Scoping Document (released 2/6/09)

DEC GEIS Draft Scoping Document

DEC's webpage on the Marcellus Shale - Includes the original 1992 GEIS

GEIS Draft Scope Hearings Set

Oil and Gas Accountability Project Comments

INFORMATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Sullivan County Natural Gas Taskforce Report Understanding Impacts and Protecting Public Assets

ENERGY BOOMTOWNS & NATURAL GAS : Implications for Marcellus Shale Local Governments & Rural Communities by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, the Pennsylvania State University

SUMMARY OF GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION OVER NATURAL GAS DRILLING OPERATIONS IN NEW YORK STATE

The Article 23, Title 3 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) delegates all authority to regulate natural gas drilling to the NYS DEC.  The ECL specifies that local governments retain jurisdiction over local roads and their rights under the Real Property Tax Law. 

Towns wishing to exert jurisdiction over local roads in an attempt to mitigate potential impacts have several options under Section 1660 of the Vehicle Traffic Laws. 

Strategies towns may employ include:

1. The Town Board may establishing truck routes for through traffic

CLICK HERE FOR THE LANGUAGE FROM THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC LAWS

2. Posting roads and establishing weight limits

CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE WEIGHT LIMIT LOCAL LAWS

CLICK HERE FOR DISCUSSION OF TEMPORARY (SPRING) WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS

3. Issuing hauling permits for local roads (this may be a simple as accepting the NYS DOT hauling permit as the local permit)

4. Controlling curb cuts through highway work permits

5. Establishing a Road Preservation Local Law that requires haulers to establish bonds

Call the Planning Dept for information on a Road Preservation Local Law

Broome County is currently considering a law that specifically targets traffic associated with natural gas activities.  Broome County's proposed law includes provisions for a permit to operate a natural gas vehicle, insurance, bonding, an escrow account and a road damage remediation account.  Contact the Planning Dept for information on this law. 

6. Adopt a highway work permit with special permit conditions that apply to seismic testing

CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE SPECIAL PERMIT CONDITIONS

(CALL THE PLANNING DEPT FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE IMPOSED.

7. Noise Ordinances to regulate noise from temporary noise sources (drill rigs), portable noise sources (portable generators and compressors), permanent non-portable noise sources (large generators and compressors at well heads and on transmission lines), mobile equipment (earth moving equipment, vibraseis trucks), etc. 

               CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE NOISE ORDINANCES AT

               THE NOISE POLLUTION CLEARINGHOUSE LAW

               LIBRARY

               We are currently researching noise ordiances for a

               local law that would be best suited to rural/

               agricultural areas.  Check back for future posting

The Planning Department encourages any towns or villages wishing to exercise any of the above strategies to contact the Association of Towns (518-465-7933) or the Cornell Local Roads Program (607-255-8033) and the town/village attorney.

 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

It is the Planning Department’s understanding that NYS DEC routinely requires natural gas companies to notify local governments via certified mail at the time a drilling permit is issued. The drilling permit will contain a condition that the natural gas company comply with all applicable regulations and required permits, however, it is unlikely that the permit will specifically mention specific laws, such as a road preservation law or noise ordinance. 

 

 The Town should notify the drilling company of the local laws pertaining to roads and noise and any requirements the town has, such as truck routes, hauling permits and bonds immediately upon receiving the required notification from the company. In addition, the Town may want to request that NYS DEC include as a specific permit condition that requires drillers to comply with the local laws. 

Recent reports from local officials visiting governments in Texas indicate that the most common long-term impact from the exploration and production of natural gas is noise from permanent compressor stations along gas pipelines. Erik Miller, Director of OCCA, indicated in his August 6th presentation that local governments may be able to exert some control over land use issues associated with the development of the natural gas transmission infrastructure.

INFORMATION FOR LANDOWNERS

NEW (6/26/09) Landowners are beginning to consider initiating pre-drilling potable water testing themselves in anticipation of gas drilling activities in the area.  The following links provide some guidance:

Testing Your Drinking Water Brochure - general testing guidelines

Methane Gas and Its Removal From Wells in Pennsylvania - understand naturally occurring methane in wells versus gas induced by drilling, includes recommendations for laboratory testing and a simple at home test to determine the presence of methane, natural or induced

Water Tests: What Do The Numbers Mean - easy to understand explanation of drinking water standards and potential contaminates

Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply - includes recommendations for testing parameters

OHIO DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Best Management Practices for Pre-Drilling Water Sampling

Includes recommendations for testing parameters

Laboratories Certified for Water Testing In New York

Frac Water Chemicals List supplied to Riverreporter.com by the PENN DEP

- A webinar hosted by Cornell University Extension

Click for link
What do municipal officials need to know about Marcellus Shale gas leasing and drilling?

Earthworks "Hydraulic Fracturing 101"

Includes discussion of the chemicals used, including the EPA list of hydrofracturing fluids, potential for contamination, disposal, best practices and tips for landowners

Eathworks Shale Gas: Focus on the Marcellus Shale

EPA's "Study to Evaluate the Impacts to USDWs by Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs"

Chapter 4: Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids

The study of coalbed methane (CBM) wells involved interviews with approximately 50 state and local government agency staff members, communications with about 40 citizens who were concerned that CBM production had adversely affected their drinking water wells, and searches for confirmed incidents of drinking water well contamination.

Our Drinking Water At Risk - By the OIl and Gas Accountability Project - A project of Earthworks

A criticism of the above EPA study

US Dept of Energy - Hydraulic Fracturing White Paper

Otsego County Public Information Meeting

The Planning Department would like to thank the presenters at the August 6th public information meeting regarding natural gas drilling. We have attempted to answer all unanswered questions that relate to regulation of natural gas drilling. 

Click here for answers to unanswered questions from Aug 6th.

Marcellus Shale Geology and Gas Well Drilling Presentation - James Ebert, SUNY Oneonta, Earth Sciences Dept

See Also - Susquehanna River Basin Commission Presentation above

Natural Resource Defense Council (New: 5/8/09)

Land Facts: Drilling Down - Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production

Delaware River Basin Commission/Susquehanna River Basin Commission Issues on Gas Drilling (New: 5/11/09)

Examining facts from both sides of the fence and then, face the issues and promote decisions based on fact

 
 
For Upcoming Meetings and Additional Info:

Otsego County Farm Bureau

Steve Sinniger - President

(607) 988-7071

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Mineral Resources

(518) 402-8056

If you are aware of local meetings, please contact the Planning Department and we would be happy to post the meeting notice on this website.

nywellwatch.org

extent of gas shale deposits

geology.com

horizonal drilling and hyrofrac

catskillmountainkeeper.org

gas well site

geology.com

gas well site

www.dec.ny.gov

completed well head

www.gomarcellusshale.com

www.gomarcellusshale.com

gas well site

www.shaleshock.org

gas well flare and water trucks

www.shaleshock.org

water tanks

www.gobroomecounty.com

seismic testing / vibraseis trucks