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Gas Drilling ! ? !
LARGE SCALE GAS DRILLING WILL IMPACT FINGER LAKES TOURISM AND THE WINE INDUSTRY!
The impact on tourism and the wine industry will be substantial, as our scenic rural and farm lands give way to industrial 200' drilling rigs, five-acre well pads and hazardous waste holding ponds spaced as closely as one for every forty acres! Last year the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation issued a draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement to regulate permits and processes involved in the new drilling technology. Unfortunately, the document is inadequate to regulate the industrial scope of Marcellus drilling in New York, and we hope that Governor Paterson and the DEC will insure that a new GEIS is presented that insures more stringent regulations regarding greater well spacing, more effective waste water treatment and disposal, and more specific responsibilities placed upon drilling companies for remediation of the many adverse consequences of Horizontal Fracturing.
KEEP TOXIC FRACKING OUT OF THE NY WINE REGION:
Educate yourself and others about the hazards and realities of High Pressure Slick Water Hydraulic Fracturing.
Go to www.shaleshock.org for descriptions and photographs.
Go to www.propublica.org and click on Gas Drilling for national coverage of hydro fracking's environmental threats.
Do your part and learn as much as you can . . .
Go to www.toxicstargeting.com , Go to www.preservethefingerlakes.com
BACKGROUND INFO:
The recently released NYS DEC draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) is not adequate to regulate and govern the environmental hazards involved in the new drilling technologies proposed to access the natural gas trapped in the deep rock of the Marcellus Shale. Unlike conventional drilling, drilling into the Marcellus Shale requires millions of gallons of water and chemicals, the disposal and regulation of which has been poorly addressed in the new document, and has the potential to become a significant environmental disaster for the Finger Lakes, both with contamination of surface waters and contamination of aquifers and wells. The impact on the tourism and the wine industry will be substantial, as our scenic rural and farm lands give way to industrial 200' drilling rigs, five-acre well pads and hazardous waste holding ponds spaced as closely as one for every forty acres!
Natural gas drilling in our state has been regulated since 1992 by a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) with conventional drilling permits issued by the DEC. While most drilling has not had adverse environmental impact, the DEC response in addressing leaks and pollution from the drilling spills and accidents that have occurred over the years has been ineffective and is worthy of substantial criticism. With the discovery and proposed development of the Marcellus Shale, new technology is necessary to be able to access the gas in this formation, a technology known as High Pressure Slick Water Hydraulic Fracturing (Hydro Fracking). This is a very different drilling technology that could have a significant impact on our quality of life if it is not properly monitored and regulated. In order to release the gas trapped in Marcellus Shale, millions of gallons of "slick water" (water laced with lubricating chemicals and sand) are pumped at extreme pressures to fracture the shale deep underground and release the trapped gas. In addition, with new horizontal drilling, each site will host 8-12 separate wells fanning out hundreds or thousands of feet.
High Pressure Slick Water Hydraulic Fracturing permits have already been granted in Pennsylvania and drilling has begun. Already there have been 'accidents' that have permanently poisoned wells and water supplies. Before issuing any permits, New York State DEC has created a "draft Supplemental GEIS", published in September 2009. Going forward, the draft Supplemental GEIS is the regulation that will govern the onslaught of Hydro Fracking as energy companies swarm in to develop this huge new natural gas resource. Unfortunately, the draft Supplemental GEIS is woefully inadequate in providing the strength of regulation needed to prevent substantial and long lasting environmental harm that High Pressure Slick Water Hydraulic Fracturing will create. The sourcing of the millions of gallons of water to drill each well, and the appropriate and safe disposal of the chemical slick and brine laden waste water from each well has not been adequately dictated in the draft Supplemental GEIS. The 800pg document absolves both the government and the gas industry from problems that will and are happening due to these new and unconventional drilling activities. It is estimated that drilling into the Marcellus Shale will span the next 40 - 70 years in the Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes. It is coming and it is coming fast - too fast.