HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2009-10-15 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board—Special Meeting
October 15, 2009, 7:30-9:00 PM
Draft notes
Members present: Diane Conneman, James Hamilton, Tony Ingraham, Susan McCutcheon,
Nirav Patel, Kristine Shaw
Staff: Darby Kiley
This special meeting was held to address the recent release of the Draft Supplemental Generic
Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program: Well
Permit Issuance for Horizontal Drilling And High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing to Develop the
Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs
Darby presented some background information based on a presentation by Bill Kappel, USGS.
Susan reviewed Chapter 9 —Alternatives and noted that in Europe there is an independent review
of the chemical components. In the US there is no chemical approval process. The chapter
discussed alternatives for the fracking process, including using liquid CO2 or nitrogen based
foams (which are used in the Appalachians), and the use of environmentally friendly chemicals.
Kristine reported that the EMC met earlier in the week and is also discussing this issue, and
suggested that the CB work with the EMC. Kristine reviewed Chapter 8 —Permit Process and
Regulatory Coordination and said that the municipalities should push for more government input
on the permitting process, such as asking for early notice when a permit application is submitted.
James mentioned the Frac Act—an effort to close the Halliburton loophole, which exempts
fracking from the Safe Drinking Water Act(passed in 2005; companies not required to disclose
chemical components).
Nirav reviewed Chapter 6—Potential Environmental Impacts and found that the section did not
appropriately document a number of environmental impacts, such as compaction.
The Board came up with the following decisions/tasks:
The CB should work collaboratively with other groups, such as the County EMC or the Town
Board.
The CB as a group should submit comments to DEC. Kristine will begin by contributing
comments on Chapter 8.
Members are welcome to submit individual comments as well.
We will have a guest at the November 5 CB meeting, Susan Riha(Town of Ithaca Planning
Board, NY Water Resources Institute) who will address big picture issues related to gas drilling
in NY State.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM (Notes submitted by D. Kiley)
1