Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy

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The following links are provided to help our community learn more about the potential effects of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
The Marcellus Shale Maps Shale Gas Extraction Environmental and Health Risks Economic Impact Impact on Communities Drilling in Our National Forests Dimock Best Management Practices Pseudo-Science: The Flawed 2004 EPA Study of Hydraulic Fracturing The Oil and Gas Industry: Exempt From Our Most Important Environmental Laws Pending Federal Legislation New York State Laws & Regulations Pending NYS Legislation NYS Legislation and Regulatons We Need to See Local Regulation Legal Tools Scoping for the SGEIS The NYS Draft SGEIS Comments on the NYS Draft SGEIS Protecting the NYC Watershed The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Gas Leasing Catskill Citizens Updates Opinion
The Marcellus Shale Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale A United States Geological Report concludes that the environmental impact of drilling in the Marcellus Shale is poorly understood. The Marcellus Shale - America's next super giant Catskill MountainKeeper reports on the Marcellus Shale Geology News Earth Science Current Events Geology.com articles on the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale A Congressional Research Service Report, september 2009. Shale Gas: Focus on The Marcellus Shale This report focuses on the Marcellus shale, located in the Appalachian region of the U.S. Interest and exploratory drilling in the Marcellus shale is on the rise. This report was created to highlight some of the potential issues that may be important to consider if full-scale. DEC map of the Marcellus Shale Formation in NY Includes Marcellus Shale, New York City Watershed and Catskill Park Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale Formation A background document from the Delaware River Basin Commission Marcellus Shale and Natural Gas Well Development Project Review from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission	[top]
Maps DEC map of the Marcellus Shale NE PA Gas Exploration & Pipelines Central NY Wells NEPA Gas Exploration & Central NY Wells Delaware River Basin Map Delaware River Basin Flow Corrections DEC map of the Marcellus Shale	[top]
Shale Gas Extraction How Fracturing Works Engineers design a fracturing operation based on the unique characteristics of the formation and reservoir. Basic components of the fracturing design include the injection pressure, and the types and volumes of materials (e.g., chemicals, fluids, gases, proppants) needed to achieve the desired stimulation of the formation. How a gas well is drilled down into the ground, and what can go wrong The purpose of this “slide show” is to illustrate how a gas (or oil) well is drilled down into the ground. Hydraulic Fracturing 101 An introduction to hydaulic fracturing from Earthworks. How will High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing of the Marcellus Shale Differ from Traditional Hydraulic Fracturing? The gas industry (and the NYS DEC and PA DEP) like to pretend that the method used to extract gas from the Marcellus has been around for years, but that's not true.	[top]
Environmental and Health Risks Oil and gas Pollution A two page fact sheet form the Oil and Gas Accountability Project. Potential Exposure-Related Human Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development: A White Paper Potential Exposure-Related Human Health Effects of Oil and Gas Development: A Literature Review (2003-2008) In September, 2008, experts at the University of Colorado School of Public Health's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health completed a review of hundreds of published, peer-reviewed scientific articles to examine what is known concerning the health effects of oil and gas drilling and production on neighboring communities. They also reviewed available empirical data regarding communities in western Colorado. They found that the many hazardous chemicals being used and produced pose a potential health risk for local residents, and recommend a thorough health impact assessment before future expansion of oil and gas activities. Their findings are detailed in these two papers. See NRDC site for appendices. Chemicals Used in Fracking an Ohio Well Material Safety Data Sheets and other infomration on the chemicals used in fracking fluid. Chemicals used in Natural Gas Development and Delivery The Endocrine Disruption Exchange's pioneering work on the health effects of the hundreds of chemicals used in fracking and other stages of natural gas production. (Click on "Chemicals and Natural Gas".) The Safety of Fracturing Fluids – A Quantitative Assessment In response to a FOIL request to New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, the Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes received a list of 48 toxic substances (as defined by the DEC or EPA) permitted for use to hydro-frack Marcellus Shale wells in New York State. By Steve Coffman, August 2009. Colorado's Chemical Injection Oil and gas companies in Colorado are injecting wells with millions of gallons of unknown fluids that contain dozens of dangerous chemicals linked to respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and other disorders, including cancer. Documenting Contamination of Private Water Supplies by Gas Well Drilling in New York State There is solid evidence that gas wells have contaminated drinking water wells in the past. However, very few systematic studies have been done, and exact numbers are hard to come by. By Stephen Penningroth, Ph.D., Executive Director, Community Science Institute. Dr. Theo Colburn's testimony at Hearing on Oil and Gas Exemptions in Federal Environmental Protections Drinking Water at Risk What EPA and the Oil And Gas Industry Don't Want Us to Know About Hydraulic Fracturing Review of Phase II Hydrogeologic Study A study commissioned by Garfield County show increasing levels of methane and chlorides in groundwater coincident with increased drilling. Evaluating Ground-Water Contamination Due to Gas Drilling Geologist Samuel S. Harrison's 1983 study of drilling related ground-water contamination in northwest Pennsylvania. Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Impacts A power point presentation by Wilma Subra. June 23, 2009. Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Impacts Text to Dr. Subra's poer point presentation. June 23, 2009 Natural Gas Invasion of Aquifers A 2008 Report on the Natural Gas Invasion of Aquifers in Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management. Radioactivity and the Marcellus Shale Cornell Professor Peter J. Davis discusses radioactive materials found in the the Marcellus Shale. Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents EARTHWORKS’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project reports on the health problems of residents of a a small town with with extensive natural gas infrastructure. DISH Mayor Calvin Tillman Answers His Critics The gas industry confronts the Mayor questions and the Mayor sets the record straight. DISH Mayor Calvin Tillman's PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX file) Available in two additional formats: PowerPoint Show format PDF format Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale and Pennsylvania’s Coldwater Resources PA Trout Unlimited believes the Marcellus Shale gas boom has the potential to significantly damage Pennsylvania’s coldwater resources and trout fisheries, if not managed properly. How Many Truckloads Does It Take? An attempt to estimate the amount of tanker truck traffic that would be generated by the development of a single high volume hydro-fracked well.(Author unknown.)	[top]
Economic Impact Fossil Fuel Extraction as a County Economic Development Strategy: Are Energy-focusing Counties Benefiting? Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonprofit research group, takes a hard look at the economic impact of gas drilling. Wyoming Boomtowns: Local Government Impacts & Natural Gas Drilling A 2008 Penn Sttae power point that looks at the three stages of natural gas development. Economic Impact and the Draft SGEIS Economist Jannette Barth, Phd. faults the analysis of economic impact in the Draft SGEIS. A Critique of the Flawed Economic Study Cited by the NYS DEC Economist Jannette Barth critiques “Potential Economic and Fiscal Impacts from Natural Gas Production in Broome County, New York”, the flawed study cited by the NYS DEC in the Draft SGEIS. Unclear Economic Impact: Outdated and Flawed Economic Analysis Economist Jannette Barth explains that shale gas extraction in New York State could have a negative economic impact on the state's economy. Prospects and Economic Impacts of Developing the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Play An industry funded study paints a rosy view of economic impact. Penn State Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. August 2009.	[top]
Impact on Communities LOCAL LEADERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARNETT SHALE This 2009 study uncovered numerous negative impacts associated with shale gas extraction in Texas,	[top]
Drilling in Our National Forests The Allegheny Defense Projects Photo Gallery The Allegheny Defense Project documents the devastation of the forests in Pennsylvania.	[top]
Dimock In the matter of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation The state of Pennsylvania settles with the driller who destroyed home water wells in a small Pennsylvania town	[top]
Best Management Practices What the oil and gas industry could do to protect the public. Chemicals Used in Fracking an Ohio Well Material Safety Data Sheets and other infomration on the chemicals used in fracking fluid. The Oil and Gas Accountability Project Best Practices Includes alternatives for use during the drilling and completion phase as well as suggestions for minimizing impact during production phase. Drill-Right Texas Best Oil & Gas Development Practices for Texas In the struggle to meet our energy demands, we need to balance the interests of the oil and gas industry and mineral owners with the rights of landowners, and the rights of Texans to have clean air and water. Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project, March 2010. Operators Handbook for Nonfederal Oil and Gas Development in Units of the National Park System The National Park Service has developed this handbook to help oil and gas operatorswork safely on federal lands.( See the NPS regulations at 36 C.F.R. Part 9 Subpart B, and "§ 9.32) . This file is a 13MB PDF file. Santa Fe County This New Mexico county has drafted some of the most progressive gas regulations in the United States.	[top]
Pseudo-Science: The Flawed 2004 EPA Study of Hydraulic Fracturing Study to Evaluate the Impacts to USDWs by Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs The 2004 EPA study that was rewritten by Vice President Dick Cheney's office to conceal the public health risks posed by fracking. EPA Findings on Hydraulic Fracturing Deemed “Unsupportable” When an EPA study concluding that hydraulic fracturing "poses little or no threat" to drinking water supplies was published in 2004,¹ several EPA scientists challenged the study's methodology and questioned the impartiality of the expert panel that reviewed its findings. The Bush administration has strongly supported hydraulic fracturing, an oil extraction technique developed by Halliburton Co., but environmental groups as well as scientists within the EPA have warned that the practice may contaminate drinking water and needs to be regulated. EPA Scientist Blows the Whistle on the 2004 Study Weston Willaim calls the '04 report "scientifically unsound and contrary to the purpose of the law."	[top]
The Oil and Gas Industry: Exempt From Our Most Important Environmental Laws The Oil and Gas Industry’s Exclusions and Exemptions to Major Environmental Statutes The oil and gas industry enjoys sweeping exemptions from provisions in the major federal environmental statutes intended to protect human health and the environment. Congress Should Close the Halliburton Loophole Hydraulic fracturing should be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act Hearing on Oil and Gas Exemptions in Federal Environmental Protections (Hearing Summary) On Wednesday, October 31, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on the applicability of federal environmental and health requirements to onshore oil and gas development. Dr. Theo Colburn's testimony at Hearing on Oil and Gas Exemptions in Federal Environmental Protections Testimony before the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Al Appleton testifies that shale gas extraction is inherently dangerous and needs to be strictly regulated. June 4, 2009 The applicability of federal requirements that protect public health and the environment to oil & gas development Congressional testimony by the NRDC's Amy Mall. October 31, 2007.	[top]
Pending Federal Legislation The FRAC Act (H. R. 7231) Will restore hydraulic fracturing to Federal oversight subject to the Safe Drinking Water Act, and require gas companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking fluids. The Endocrine Disruption Chemical Act To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct a research program on endocrine disruption, to prevent and reduce the production of, and exposure to, chemicals that can undermine the development of children before they are born and cause lifelong impairment to their health and function, and for other purposes. Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009 S.1700 Mining and oil drilling are multibillion-dollar industries in some of the world's poorest countries. And yet, many people in these countries are only getting poorer. S.1700 will require disclosure of payments to foreign governments for the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals. Poor communities have a right to follow the money – and to call for a fair share for schools, health care and jobs. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that the President should disclose any payment relating to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals on Federal land, and for other purposes.	[top]
New York State Laws & Regulations Under state law, local communities have almost no control over the oil and gas companies. Towns are only allowed to regulate the use of roads and real property tax law. Environmental Conservation Law Article 23 Article 23 of ECL strips Towns of the ability to regulate drilling. "The provisions of this article shall supersede all local laws or ordinances relating to the regulation of the oil, gas and solution mining industries; but shall not supersede local government jurisdiction over local roads or the rights of local governments under the real property tax law. Go to: "http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi" select "Main Menu" select "Laws of New York" then selct "ENV", select "Article 23" then "Title 3" then selct "23-0303 - Administration of article". Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program The 1992 document that considers the environmental impact of gas extraction in New York State Well spacing and compulsory integration The law that allows gas companies to take your gas even if you oppose drilling. State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production This report helps reveal the choices state regulators make in protecting the public from the array of detrimental environmental and public health side effects that accompany oil and gas drilling operations Re: Well Casing "The state with the most disappointingly sparse regulation is New York." State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production This report helps reveal the choices state regulators make in protecting the public from the array of detrimental environmental and public health side effects that accompany oil and gas drilling operations Re: Well Casing "The state with the most disappointingly sparse regulation is New York." State Environmental Quality Control Act (SEQR)- SEQR requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate significant environmental impacts of the activity that it is proposing or permitting. See State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production This report helps reveal the choices state regulators make in protecting the public from the array of detrimental environmental and public health side effects that accompany oil and gas drilling operations Re: Well Casing "The state with the most disappointingly sparse regulation is New York."	[top]
Pending NYS Legislation A01322 Establishes a moratorium on the issuance of permits for the drilling of wells and prohibits drilling within five miles of the New York city water supply infrastructure. A09414 Establishes the natural gas exploration and extraction liability act of 2010. A08784 Requires permit holders to test groundwater prior to and after drilling wells for oil and natural gas. A05585 Establishes the "Natural Gas Infrastructure Act"; further creates the natural gas infrastructure grant fund for the purpose of subsidizing up to fifty percent of the total cost of projects by the county industrial development agency intended to extend natural gas supply facilities to rural areas for economic development purposes by the construction of natural gas distribution facilities. In other words the taxpayer is supposed to pay to build gas infrastructure while the drillers while they take the profits! S03410 Establishes a natural gas and oil well security fund to enable natural gas and oil producers to meet the financial security requirements in the environmental conservation law for the permitting, operation, maintenance and plugging of natural gas and oil wells. From the bill: "THE RATE OF PAYMENT INTO THE FUND SHALL BE TEN DOLLARS PER WELL PER YEAR." Ten dollars per well per year - that's supposed to protect the taxpayer from incurring costs if drillers shirk their responabilities? S06269 Requires permit holders engaging in the drilling, casing, operation, plugging, and replugging of gas wells to post a bond which will allow for the construction or reconstruction of any water supply deemed proximate to any permitted work. One lawyer writes: "Pros: It would require the posting of a bond against water contamination, so that if an entity bankrupted itself, there would still be a chance for a damaged property owner to collect; it also provides for a low-cost arbitration system so that remedies could more easily be obtained. Cons: it gives a ton of discretion to the DEC commissioner regarding bond amount, structure and rules of the arbitration system and rights to recovery. I think it's more a sop than a solution. A08748 / S6244 Relates to the regulation of the drilling of natural gas resources. A07918B / S 3657-B Relates to the New York state oil, natural gas and solution mining advisory board. A10088 Prohibits the on-site storage of flowback water. This bill, introduced by Bob Sweeney, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee would prohibit one of the most readily avoidable sources of contamination. Thirty-four members of the Assembly had already signed on as sponsors when the bill was introduced. A10090 Prohibits the disposal of drill cuttings at the drilling site. Another bill introduced by ECOn Chair Bob Sweeney, it seeks to prevent soil and groundwater contamination by requiring that toxic and radioactive drill cuttings be removed from well sites. Twenty-nine members of the Assembly had attached their names to the bill when it was introduced. A10091 An ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the use of hydraulic fracturing fluids. Also introduced by ECon Chair Sweeney. It has a number of provisions including a ban on chemicals in fracking fluid that pose a risk to human health. Thiry-two Members of the Assembly had attached their names to the bill when it was introduced. A10092 Requires an environmental impact statement to be prepared for any natural gas or oil drilling involving the use of hydraulic fracturing fluid. The fourth bill introduced on March 3, 2010 by Econ Chair Sweeney. Thirty-one Members of the Assembly attached their names to the bill when it was introduced.	[top]
NYS Legislation and Regulatons We Need to See New York State (NYS) Casing Regulation Recommendations A report commissioned by the NRDC ecommends stricter standards well casing standards for New York State. Testimony from Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Testimony by Wes Gillingham of Catskill Mountainkeeper Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Testimony by Deborah Goldberg, Environmental Advocates of New York Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Katherine Nadeau, Environmental Advocates of New York Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Kate Sinding, Attorney for the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) Testimony submitted to Environmental Committee of the NYS Assembly re: new legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry. October 2009. Restore Home Rule Now! An op ed by Catskill Citizens member Bruce Ferguson. (Sullivan County Democrat, February 23, 2010.) What Local Governments Can Do To Minimize the Negative Impacts of Gas Drilling Local government officials are only beginning to hear about the unanticipated consequences of gas drilling on nearby communities These impacts will cost the local government money and thus affect all of us whether we signed a lease or own any land. Produced by CDOG (Chenango Delaware Otsego Gas Group). Natural Gas and Municipal Considerations A lawfirm contends that towns may be able to regulate drilling under ECL 23. Natural Gas and Municipal Home Rule in New York A New York Zoning and Practice Report discusses the possible limits of ECL 23 Articel 23 re:home rule.	[top]
Local Regulation Preparing for Natural Gas Development: Understanding Impacts and Protecting Public Assets Sullivan County reports on what Towns can do to prepare for gas drilling. Observations Concerning the Role of Local Government in Relation to Natural Gas Exploration and Production in the Marcellus Shale in the Southern Tier East Region of New York State This technical paper has been prepared by the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board to assist local governments within its region in responding to recent activity concerning natural gas exploration on the Marcellus Shale which underlies large portions of the Southern Tier East Region of New York State. Supervisor Jim Goldstein, Lebanon Township, Madison County, NY Gas drillers have been operating in the Town of Lebanon since the late ‘90’s, and in recent years the pace of drilling has accelerated. About 55 wells have been drilled in the Township, and another 30 are in various stages of development. Supervisor Jim Goldstein has had to deal with virtually every issue that can arise when drillers come to town. Highway Work Permit in the town of New Berlin New regulations control many of the impacts of drilling, including seismic testing, use of dangerous elements, noise and odor.	[top]
Legal Tools SUMMARY OF VARIOUS LEGAL TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ACTIVISTS CONCERNED ABOUT NATURAL GAS DRILLING Lawyers can be helpful to activists, but only as a tool, the way you dig up a weed with a tool. Sometimes a trowel will do the trick, sometimes you need a backhoe. But the tool cannot do it without the driver, the muscle of the people who want to achieve a goal. By Mary Jo Long.	[top]
Scoping for the SGEIS The Scoping document preceded the Draft SGEIS. It was supposed to give the public the opportunity to comment on the range of issues to be considered in the SGEIS. Final Scope for Draft Supplemental GEIS (Executive Summary) Cover Letter for Final Scope New York State Department of Environmental ConservationSEQR Notice Final Scope for Draft Supplemental Generic IMpact Statement (dSGEIS) on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program Describes the issues that the DEC thinks should be considered when setting regulations for drilling in the Marcellus Shale	[top]
The NYS Draft SGEIS DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (SGEIS) A five page summary of the Draft SGEIS. The full 809 page document can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html. The Draft SGEIS The full monty - all 809 pages.	[top]
Comments on the NYS Draft SGEIS Comments by the Environmental Protection Agency The federal EPA faults New Yorks's plan for shale gas extraction. Impact Assessment of Natural Gas Production in the New York City Water Supply Watershed New York City's Department of Environmental Protection commissioned this study that concluded that shale gas extraction posed an unacceptable risk to the NYC watershed. Comments by the NRDC Comments submitted by Kate Sinding and Eric Goldstein, Senior Attorneys for the NRDC Comments by Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy weighs in on the fatally flawed Draft SGEIS. Comments by Citizens' Environmental Coalition Comments by CEC Executive Director Barbara Warren. Delaware Riverkeeper's Talking Points Talking points developed by Delaware Riverkeeper. Testimony by Andrew Zepp, Executive Director Finger Lakes Land Trust Submitted to NYS Senate Standing Committee Roundtable. Testimony by Anthony G. Hay Cornell Associate Professor of Microbiology and Soil Ecotoxicology Anthony Hay finds alarmingly high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in fracking fluid. Submitted to the NYS Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, October 15, 2009. Comments by Catskill Citizens Member Bruce Ferguson Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009. Comments by Delaware Riverkeeper's Tracy Carluccio Tracy Carluccio is Deputy Director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009 Comments by Catskill Citizens member Jane Blake Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009 Comments by Senator Antoine M. Thompson Chair, NYS Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Comments by the Chair of the NYS Senate Environmental Committee. Comments by Sullivan County College student Anthony Romano Public Comment Hearing in Loch Sheldrake, NY, October 28, 2009	[top]
Protecting the NYC Watershed Oversight: Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Drinking Water Watershed New York City Council Briefing Paper NYC DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd seeks special consideration for the NYC watershed Commissioner Lloyd's July 8, 2008 letter to DEC Commissioner Grannis asks the DEC to recognize the NYC watershed as "unique resource requiring special protection." Testimony of Alexander B. Grannis, Commissioner New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection Hearing: Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Drinking Water Watershed September 10, 2008 Testimony of Assemblymember Deborah Glick Testimony before the New York City Council regarding natural gas drilling in the City's upstate watershed. September 10, 2008 Statement of Dusty Horwitt, JD, Senior Analyst for Public Lands, Environmental Working Group Oversight Hearing on Natural Gas Drilling in the New York City Watershed, Part II. Before the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection, Friday, December 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. CCSE Testimony on the New York City Watershed Testimony before the Environmental Committee of the New York City Council 9/10/2008 Oil & Gas Accountability Project Testimony on the New York City Watershed Testimony before the Environmental Committee of the New York City Council 9/10/2008	[top]
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) "A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure." (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1931 Delaware River Diversion Case) DRBC's Regulatory Implications of Natural Gas Exploration/Production in the Marcellus Shale Formation in the Delaware River Basin Presentation by William J. Muszynski P.E. & Gregory J. Cavallo P.G., July 16, 2008 Delaware River Basin Map	[top]
Gas Leasing Percent Leaseholders Compared to Total Residents in Tompkins County MAP - Tompkins uncovers some surprising facts. Attorney General Cuomo Cautions Comsumers About the Potential Pitfalls of Oil & Gas Leases Thinking of Signing a Gas Lease? Six Tricks of Landsmen & Gas Company Reps What Some Landmen Say and What the Real Answer Is From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Minimum Rules for the Examination and Review of an Oil or Gas Lease From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Some Examples of Deceptive Practices or Abuses in Leasing From the Chenango County Farm Bureau Landman Report Card Landowners rate the landsmen who come knocking at their door. Impact of Gas Drilling on Small Landowners Sullivan County resident considers how small landowners might be impacted by shale gas extraction.	[top]
Catskill Citizens Updates CCSE Update 2/28/2010 CCSE Update 2/13/2010 CCSE Update 1/12/2010 CCSE Update 1/1/2010 CCSE Update 11/12/2009 CCSE Update 11/03/2009 CCSE Update 10/19/2009 CCSE News Update (11/15/2008) CCSE News Update (10/11/2008) News from Albany and suggested legislation. CCSE News Update (9/27/2008) New York City Council holds hearings on gas drilling within the city watershed. CCSE News Update (8/23/2008) A Report on the Meeting with NYS DEC Executive Deputy Commissioner Stuart Gruskin Where are the Gas Companies? (7/24/2008) When landsman and gas companies began snapping up leases in our area last fall, virtually none of us had ever heard of the Marcellus Shale or hydraulic fracturing. None of us could imagine that in just a few years our quiet part of the country might become a scene of intense industrial activity. Stealth Politics and Some Progress (7/1/2008) The gas well spacing bill referred to as A10526/S8169 was passed by the State legislature and signed into law by Governor Paterson. Where We Are... What We Can Do (6/15/2008) Many of us wish gas drilling would just go away. So much of what we value seems threatened by the intensive industrial development that gas extraction will bring.	[top]
Opinion Inverse Condemnation Are restrictions on gas extraction a 'taking' of property rights? An editorial from "Breathing is Political" by Liz Bucar. Did Somebody Put Something in the Water in Albany? Tyler Caruso, a graduate student in Environmental Policy and Sustainability, talks sense about shale gas extraction. Letter to the Alexander Grannis A concerned citizen write to Alexander Grannis, Commissioner NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Letter to the Editor A concerned citizen comments on NY's environmental safety record. A Geologist Weighs In Geologist David Hutchison comments on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. A Summer View of Drilling Greening Sullivan, No. 74 by Dick Riseling Economic Impact Report Preliminary Research on the Economic Impact of Gas Drilling in the Catskills Put the Burden of Testing Where it Belongs Gas companies should pay for water testing.	[top]