Residents rally as comment period nears its end

TIOGA COUNTY, N.Y. - As the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) comment period neared an end on Tuesday in New York State, those opposed to hydraulic fracturing were making their voices heard, as well as those who are pro-drilling. In Candor, N.Y., Tioga County Landowner's Group Chairman Nick Schoonover headed up one of five conferences held throughout the state on Tuesday as part of Energy in Depth: a rally for pro-gas supporters.

Held at the Candor Fire Hall, over 100 area residents packed the hall to hear what Schoonover described as a "message to send to the governor... that we're ready." Schoonover addressed the crowd, most wearing red shirts that read "Jobs Powered by Natural Gas," and introduced several guest speakers who talked about the importance they feel the introduction of natural gas drilling will have on the economy, and in creating jobs.

"It's about Jobs," said Barton, N.Y. resident Bob Bell, who traveled to Candor, N.Y. to attend the rally. Owning 242-acres in Barton, N.Y. that used to be farmed, Bell said that the state is denying him the use of his land.

Sitting next to Bell was Fred Bean of Nichols, N.Y., owner of 175-acres of land. Although Bean doesn't have a current gas lease, he stated that he is waiting and hoping. "If I live long enough," said Bean, "I might see it."

Bouncing off the concern of those opposed to drilling and the impact it might have on the environment, Bell and Bean both stated that they share the same concerns.

"Farmers were the first environmentalists," said Bell. Both said that the state should allow the experts to ensure environmental safety, and let the drilling begin. Bell even noted a sign on his land that says, "Drill Baby Drill."

One of the speakers, who has a reputation for being an environmentalist, shared his thoughts at the rally, noting that it is really about jobs.

Jim Signs, owner of Power & Paddle on Route 96 in Candor, N.Y., was invited by Schoonover to address guests, and offered a balanced opinion on the prospect of gas drilling in New York.

As owner of 275-acres of land, Signs made it clear that anything derived from his own rights wasn't enough to justify gas drilling.

"It's not about gas or no gas... or gas versus no jobs.... or gas versus no civility," said Signs. "We need the jobs."

Looking at a larger picture, Signs added that we're a nation in debt, and that we need to be an exporter. "It's money for infrastructure, roads, bridges and freedom itself," Signs added.

Hank Ferris, of Candor, N.Y., also addressed guests at the rally. The former president of the Tioga County Farm Bureau has a CDL and is now working for Heckman Water Resources of Wysox, Pa. as a water hauler.

Ferris spoke of the struggles that farmers have experienced, and noted that many will be able to keep their farms within their families if gas drilling is allowed. He mentioned that there used to be 25 farms in Candor, and today there is five.

"Drivers are needed in the industry and there are jobs," he said. "Many of these farmers could supplement their income and keep their farms," he added.

Tioga County's Economic Development Director, Doug Barton, also addressed guests, stating, "It's all about jobs and growing the tax base." Barton added that if drilling came around, that landowners would have spending power and there would be a ripple effect.

Schoonover concluded Tuesday's rally, stating, "This is life changing stuff." He continued, "There's an industrial revolution going on here in America."

While the comment period is scheduled to end today, the DEC will collect the documents, which have numbered close to 21,000 according to reports, and will then have 105 days to update the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS).

And as the DEC prepares to review the comments, opponents are sending messages to New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley), who has been a strong opponent to the SGEIS in its draft form, urged the governor to withdraw the revised draft SGEIS on high-volume horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale and other areas of New York State.

In a release received Tuesday by Hinchey, he stated that the current form of the SGEIS fails to address many of his concerns with the initial draft and also does not account for new information that has been discovered about the environmental, public health and economic risks associated with the natural gas drilling activity.

In a letter to Governor Cuomo, Hinchey wrote, "Despite the hard work and sincere efforts by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to update the dSGEIS, I believe this document falls far short of what is needed to protect local communities from the risks posed by shale gas drilling and does not fully mitigate potential threats, including those to public health, drinking water, air quality, and municipal infrastructure."

Areas addressed by Hinchey in his letter included the absence of a plan to identify New York areas prone to higher seismic activity and measures to prevent earthquakes potentially associated with horizontal hydraulic fracturing; the failure to prohibit the use of toxic chemicals in all fracturing fluids in order to prevent groundwater and surface water contamination; no complete ban on land spreading of shale gas drilling waste fluids or prohibition on the use of reserve pits or centralized impoundments for fracking fluids and flowback water; and other areas where the government's role regarding land use might be better defined.

Hinchey is a co-author of the FRAC Act, which would mandate public disclosure of chemicals used in frack fluid and allow the EPA to regulate fracking activities under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The congressman also authored the appropriations language that led to the current EPA study on hydraulic fracturing.

But in spite of the pros and the cons being voiced concerning the issuance of permits that would allow hydraulic fracturing to begin in New York state, the DEC is now tasked with making one of the biggest decisions that will shape the future of New York State.