Greetings from CDOG
December 4, 2010
Moratorium: the Real
Deal?
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Background:
Horizontally-drilled, high-volume
hydrofracturing (HD/HVHF) in shales
has been under de facto moratorium
since 2008, when the DEC was ordered
to take testimony on the impacts of
that proposed technology. Until the
Supplemental Generic Environmental
Impact Statement (SGEIS) is produced
(probably late spring 2011) that
de facto moratorium is already
in place.
The current moratorium
legislation extends that coverage,
by law, to vertically-drilled,
low-volume fracturing in shales.
Where things
stand:
Both houses of the NYS legislature
have passed bills that require the
governor’s signature in order to
become law.
What the legislation does:
suspends until May 15, the
issuance of new permits
for the drilling of a well
which utilizes the practice
of hydraulic fracturing in
low permeability natural gas
reservoirs, such as the
Marcellus and Utica shale
formations.
applies to nine (9) wells in
the whole state for which
permit applications have
already been filed, and that
aren’t covered by the SGEIS
de facto moratorium.
What the legislation does not do:
does not prevent drilling of
wells already permitted, or
which will be permitted
before the promulgation of
the law following the
governor’s signature, if it
is forthcoming – seven (7)
so far.
does not prevent new permit
applications from being
filed with the DEC, nor
prevent the DEC from
processing those and
existing applications.
does not suspend the
issuance of permits in
non-shale formations –
sandstones and limestones -
which have constituted the
bulk of the well drilling to
date.
does not prevent the
refracking of
already-drilled wells.
Problems with the moratorium:
The small increase in additional
wells covered by the moratorium
legislation comes at a price:
public misunderstanding –
aided by incorrect media
reports – of the effect,
applicability and short
duration of the law
the possibility that the
legislation will be the
rationale for the invoking
of Force Majeure (acts of
god) clauses in thousands of
leases, extending the lease
period by the five months
that the moratorium covers
the self-promotion of some
highly-leveraged
environmental NGOs that do
not oppose gas
drilling but seek rather to
be instrumental in designing
mitigation strategies for
the inevitable damage.
What we need is a total ban on
hydrofracking in New York State.
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L P
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communities throughout New
York State and beyond.
Game-changer projects are
in the works; we need the
funds to make them happen.
Your donation of any size will
be put to effective use
Mail to
CDOG
PO Box
443 Delhi NY
13753
T H A N K Y O U |
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Billboard, Delhi, Delaware County, NY - November
2010
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Sunday, 12/5 Roscoe Central School
Special guests:
Julie & Craig Sautner of Dimock, PA
Joe DeMalderis, Fly Fishing Guide
of the Year; TU; FUDR
Filmmaker David Morris
Doors open at noon
Coffee & refreshments served noon -
12:30
Films 1 PM
Discussion will focus on how
hunting, fishing, retail, & real estate
in Roscoe - 'Trout Town USA' - and the
region may be affected
Several area groups will be tabling with
supplies & information
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What do you love about living here? Clean
air? Clean water? Good neighbors and
your community character?
Whatever is precious to you, the time to take a
stand for it is now.
be
an organizer |
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What else is happening?
Make our events calendar one of your
start pages
E V E N T S
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Find your local group at
gasmain.org
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