By Mark Grisanti, April 4, 2012
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation for
these last sixteen months, I have advanced a number of reforms aimed at
protecting the environment, from sponsoring New York’s Water Withdrawal
legislation that ensures compliance with the Great Lakes Compact, to
advocating for enhancing our Environmental Protection Fund.
Nonetheless, I have encountered no single issue as critical,
controversial and important as high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF).
I held a Public Hearing, attended and participated in a Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) hearing, as well as observed an
Assembly hearing on this topic. Further, held extensive meetings and
discussions regarding hydraulic fracturing with stakeholders.
Since becoming Chairman, I have not advocated for or against
hydraulic fracturing. I have taken the time to better understand the
nature of this complex drilling operation, the extent of the
environmental impacts as well as the potential benefits for the State’s
economy. I know that making an impulsive decision at the behest of one
side or another would not be fair and would not produce the appropriate
results. Further, I eagerly await the DEC’s final decision on whether
or not to allow HVHF.
I am confident from my conversations with Commissioner Martens and
from my reading of the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (SGEIS) that if the finalized document and regulations allow
for HVHF that the necessary protective measures will be included. I
commend Commissioner Martens for his leadership, and I thank him and his
staff at the Department of Environmental Conservation for the work they
have done over the last three years studying hydraulic fracturing and
developing an effective regulatory system to guide its practice in New
York State. However, should the DEC ultimately decide to allow for HVHF
I strongly believe environmental safeguards are needed.
We do not want to have our children be forced to drink bottled water
because our water has been tainted nor do we want another Love Canal.
However, we want to continue to search for economical environmentally
safe national options for fuel and energy, to relieve our dependence on
foreign entities.
My review of the draft SGEIS and discussions with stakeholders have
led me to identify five additional measures I believe are necessary
should HVHF be allowed to go forward:
* Prohibit public owned treatment works from accepting wastewater
associated with the exploration, delineation, development, or production
of natural gas;(S6893)
* Prohibit the use of wastewater for road- and land-spreading; (S6895)
* Create an Oil and Gas Waste Tracking Program that is stronger
than the tracking program proposed under the draft SGEIS; (S6892)
* Strengthen the notification requirements for unauthorized wastewater discharges; (S6891)
* Create a geographic information system to provide information to the public concerning gas and oil production. (S6894)
Today I am announcing that I will be introducing a package of five bills that will address each of these measures as necessary steps to safeguard New York’s environment.
Today I am announcing that I will be introducing a package of five bills that will address each of these measures as necessary steps to safeguard New York’s environment.
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