The Business Council’s 2011 Industry-Environment Conference

This two-day conference brings together experts from both the private and public sectors to interact and share the latest information relevant to environmental issues in New York State.

Highlights include:

Update on Federal Air Emissions Regulations
Proposed Article X Regulatory Changes
SEQRA Reform
Developments in Solid Waste Management
Remarks from DEC Commissioner Martens
Panel Discussion on Marcellus Shale
You will hear from experts from across the state and the nation, providing pertinent information on the ever-changing state environmental programs and policies.

Held for over 34 years, our Industry-Environment Conference is the foremost conference of its kind in New York State. It also includes a wide array of opportunities to increase your corporate exposure through sponsorships.

PE Credits
For those looking to keep up-to-date on their continuing education professional engineering credits, we are pleased to announce that the New York State Education Department has approved our sponsorship to provide these credits. One and a half credits

For more Agenda, Registration or Sponsorship information click here.

Contact: Maribeth Riley - maribeth.riley@bcnys.org.

“Today’s announcements by the Department of Environmental Conservation, marks a clear path forward for the exploration of the Marcellus Shale, that will result in an irrefutable economic opportunity for the people of New York,” said Heather Briccetti acting-president and CEO of The Business Council “Working through the established ample public comment period and the DEC advisory panel the Business Council will endeavor to ensure that extraneous requirements upon this sector will not hinder the safe and timely development of natural gas.”

Advocates for drilling have recently become aware of a campaign led by drilling opponents to extend the sGEIS comment period from 60 to 180 days. After over three years of delay, revision, review, public comment and hearings ad nauseam, resulting in polarizing division, what can possibly be gained by further delaying the finalization of the DEC regulations on hydrofracking and horizontal drilling? The DEC and leaders at all levels of government in New York State have considered every bit of information. Over 14,000 New Yorkers have submitted comments. There is no new and relevant information out there that warrants consideration. We all know where we stand on this issue and few minds will be changed during an extended comment period.

A suspicious mind might think that this “delay” is merely a tactic by drilling opponents to prevent drilling entirely in New York. This tactic might work because with each delay, gas companies become less and less confident that permitting will ever happen and they allocate their resources to drilling friendly states. The landowners know this to be true as they have not seen the lease activity they hoped for this summer when the latest draft of the sGEIS was released in July with Commissioner Marten’s support. Gas companies are tentative about signing leases and New York is losing out on every level.

When the complete draft sGEIS is released in the coming weeks we can expect a surge in calls for delay, drilling bans and lawsuits. Further delay is redundant and unnecessary. Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Martens need to stand firm in their support of the DEC regulations. This is a critical moment for New York. Will we permit Marcellus development and the resulting prosperity for our struggling citizens or will we allow obstructionists to lead our state into deeper recession and continue New York’s population drain? The obstructionists need to move aside and allow New York to finally move forward with safe, responsible drilling.

This week the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) – an independent research arm of the Interior Department – released an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable American natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation, considered to be second largest natural field in the entire world. According to USGS, “the Marcellus Shale contains about 84 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas and 3.4 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas liquids.” USGS notes that “these gas estimates are significantly more than” its previous 2002 Marcellus assessment, “which estimated a mean of about 2 trillion cubic feet of gas (TCF) and 0.01 billion barrels of natural gas liquids” – representing a 4,100% and 33,900% increase, respectively.

Kathryn Z. Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, issued this statement upon reviewing the new USGS assessment:

“These new figures are further affirmation that the Marcellus Shale will continue to safely produce prolific amounts of clean-burning American natural gas for generations to come. While advent of shale gas development in the United States was only several years ago, its impact is proving to be profound and lasting.

“Gone are the days of America potentially relying on often-unstable regions and countries around the world to meet our growing natural gas demands. As this responsible development continues to expand across the Marcellus region, and the country, tens of thousands of Americans are finding work in an industry that is fundamentally strengthening our nation’s core.

“While some critics continue to question the viability of responsible domestic shale gas development, it is abundantly clear – as laid out by this new data – that the Marcellus Shale will continue to lead the way in meeting American’s energy needs for years to come.”

NOTE: Click HERE to view USGS’s updated assessment online. The USGS report follows a recent economic impact analysis conducted by researchers at Penn State University, which found that the Marcellus Shale formation could become the leading supplier of natural gas in the United States within a decade.

Yesterday’s earthquake could be seen as a metaphor for the shakeup that is happening in New York’s quest to develop Marcellus gas. No one was hurt but there were some scary moments. Likewise, advocates for Marcellus drilling are seeing rumblings of continued opposition that we hope will not turn into a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and destroy all that we have worked for.

Yesterday in Katonah, Senator Greg Ball held a hearing the purpose of which appeared to be to slam the gas industry. He has been hanging out with Josh Fox (Gasland) in Pennsylvania and getting all the “facts and science” he needs from Fox. Industry representatives were invited but smartly declined because they knew it wouldn’t be a balanced forum. Sen. Ball has spent the past few weeks blasting the industry based on his extensive knowledge of drilling obtained through Fox. Aside from Fox, other witnesses included anti-drilling environmental groups and characters from Fox’s film.

Senator Ball has no drilling prospects in his district and he doesn’t sit on any committees related to natural resource development. Fox reportedly was filming this hearing for his upcoming sequel to Gasland and Sen. Ball’s hostile remarks directed at the industry would make great viewing.

With all due respect, Senator Ball should take another trip down to Pennsylvania to a Chesapeake or Talisman drilling site and see how safe and responsible drilling occurs. He should also check out Energy in Depth’s piece, Debunking Gasland, to learn the real facts about the film. Gasland is full of lies and misleading statements and the idea that a New York State Senator is relying on the creator of this film for accurate information is truly astonishing.

Debunking Gasland: http://www.energyindepth.org/2010/06/debunking-gasland/

Brian Nearing reports in the Times Union - “Some people who live near the Lafarge cement plant have elevated levels of toxic mercury, but it’s not enough to cause health problems and isn’t coming from Lafarge, the state Department of Health said.

The health department reached the conclusions after it reviewed blood and hair test results taken by Harvard University researchers from 172 neighbors of the Route 9W plant, according to letters the health department mailed to some study subjects.”

To read more click here.

By a 47 - 42 percent margin, New York State voters like the economic benefits of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale more than they fear possible environmental concerns, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.

Support for drilling is 51 - 39 percent among upstate voters and 52 - 35 percent among suburban voters. New York City voters are opposed 50 - 38 percent. Support is 67 - 20 percent among Republicans, while independent voters are divided 47 - 45 percent. Democrats are opposed 52 - 35 percent.

New York State voters believe 75 - 17 percent that natural gas drilling will create jobs, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds, with strong support among all groups and in all regions of the state.

While many voters know little about hydro-fracking, voters believe 52 - 15 percent that this process will damage the environment, with 33 percent undecided. All groups feel this way.

“Drill for the jobs, New Yorkers say, even though they’re worried about the environmental effects of hydro-fracking,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “And while we’re drilling for natural gas, let’s tax those drilling companies, voters say 59 - 29 percent. Even Republicans support this tax.

“There’s no natural gas in New York City, where voters are opposed to the drilling.”

There should be more women in high political office, 56 percent of New York State voters say, while 29 percent say there are enough women now. There obviously is a large gender gap as women voters say 65 - 22 percent that more sisters are needed, while men feel that way 46 - 36 percent.

To read more click here.

Jon Campbell writes on pressconnects.com - “The natural gas industry and business groups are pushing back against a bill proposed Tuesday that would create a company-funded reserve to cover the cost of damages from any future gas-drilling accidents.

The bill, proposed by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, would allow the state to create the fund by tacking on a surcharge to permit fees for natural gas companies and other production facilities…

Ken Pokalsky, senior director of government affairs for the state Business Council, said the bill is too broad and gives the DEC too much leeway.

“It gives regulatory authority almost without parameter to DEC to determine contamination in terms of natural gas exploration and what cleanup expectations are,” Pokalsky said. “It’s much different than the way cleanup by Superfund, the state oil spill law and even brownfields have been done for decades.”

To read the entire story click here.

Pam Kasey reports on WVNS-TV59 - “Chesapeake Energy–funded laboratory tests find dissolved methane in about 11 percent of northern panhandle drinking-water wells before drilling for gas in the Marcellus shale ever begins.

Two wells of 1,312 tested in Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties turned up with potentially dangerous levels of methane.

Chesapeake released its data to the State Journal as follow-up to a May study that showed methane contamination of drinking-water wells in northeast Pennsylvania and nearby New York state. Methane concentrations in the study were higher nearer active shale gas wells, with some concentrations at dangerous levels, and the methane bore a chemical signature that resembles gas from the Marcellus depths.

That study, conducted by researchers at Duke University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, recommended research into the potential health effects of methane in drinking water.

Although the industry disputed the study, its arguments do not address the study’s central findings.

Methane in W.Va. Water

The state Department of Environmental Protection requires oil and gas operators to test the drinking-water well of any landowner or resident within a 1,000-foot radius of a proposed gas well who requests testing. If there are no requests, the operator has to sample a well or spring within 1,000 feet or, if none, within 2,000 feet of the proposed well.

Chesapeake offers free water quality testing to anyone within a 2,500-foot radius, according to spokeswoman Maribeth Anderson.”

To read ore click here.

According to a report conducted by independent experts and finalized today by the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), shutting down Entergy’s Indian Point Energy Center would increase electricity prices, have a

negative impact on the air people breathe, and create reliability problems throughout a region whose economy depends on a reliable electrical supply.

The DEP commissioned the report from Charles River Associates to analyze the impact of IPEC on the region’s economy, environment and supply of reliable electricity. The report’s key findings underscore the vital role Indian Point plays in the region and are consistent with similar independent studies that have been conducted over the last five to seven years.

“New Yorkers understand we need facilities that generate reliable and reasonably priced electricity and they have the right to know the facts about those facilities, including Indian Point. This report, authored by a respected and independent party, delivers the direct facts about Indian Point and clearly demonstrates why this facility is right for New York,” said Richard J. Smith,

president, Entergy Wholesale Commodities. “Indian Point powers our rail lines, subways, schools, firehouses, police stations, businesses and homes with virtually no emissions. Indian Point’s less expensive, clean and reliable energy plays a major role keeping our economy moving forward,” added Smith.

Some highlights of the independent study include:

Read more »