HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOT Mtg 5.18.2009- Report on the new gas drilling.PDFVillage of Cayuga Heights, Board Meeting
Trustee Privilege of the Floor, May 18, 2009
Beatrice Szekely
Report onf "The New Gas Drilling: What Local Governments Can Da," a public forum
held at the Women's Community Building in downtown Ithaca, }l4;ay 6,20A9
Moderator,Ezra Sherman from Shaleshock Citizen's A.ction Coalition; this is the same
group who convened the forum in March attended by Ron Bors, Randy Marcus and
myself. Presentations at this meeting were much less one-sided, particularly that by
William Panner, Commissioner for Planning and Environmental Management of Sullivan
County (Monticello NY)
(handouts appended)
Some facts shared:
38Yo of the total land area of Tompkins County is currently leased to oil and gas
companies, varying from l2Yo in Ithaca (city and town), 49Yo in Caroline and 49Yo rn
Enfield
As is known, localities my not legislate solo regarding drilling on their land, only the
state. DEC bears regulatory authority.
DEC is reviewing its previous regulations and will release a supplemental draft Generic
Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) in late spring or summer, at which time
municipalities and residents are urged to take the opportunity for public comment about
what they wish taken account of in updated regulations.
Question: do we have access to maps to see where land is leased in Ithaca? Is that
through the County Clerk? Brent likely knows the answer.
We are not apt to have wells in VOCH. But our roads (e.9. Route 13, Triphammer) could
be impacted by heavy truck trafiic transporting water, equipment, waste. Our emergency
services could be called into play in case of vehicular accidents. Do we have an
emergency response plan; do we know the load bearing of our roads and average repair
costs? Again, less cause for concern in VOCH, but of general concern in the town and
county.
The 2005 Clean Water Act exempted the gas well drilling industry; companies may or
may not be liable for environmental pollution. Contamination of aquifers was discussed;
anyone contemplating hosting a well is urged to have their water sources tested pre-
drilling. (6A% of Tompkins County residents get their water from wells.)
Don Barber, TCCOG chair and Town of Caroline Supervisor, spoke of gas well drilling
as the "possibly biggest land use change in NYS since farming cut down trees." TCCOG