Family Life

01.11.12 | Sarah Harnisch

Today marks an important milestone in the Marcellus Shale gas drilling debate in New York.  The four-month public comment period on a controversial drilling technique known as 'hydrofracking' ends today.  After reviewing about 30-thousand comments both for and against the practice, the State Department of Environmental Conversation will issue it's final report, and afterward, may or may not permit Shale gas exploration.
Nic Schoonover with the Tioga County landowners coalition says thousands of jobs hang in the balance.  Schoonover says if you look in Pennsylvania, you see a second Industrial Revolution coming along, and industries that are energy intensive are coming back because of the cheap energy. He says the Department of Labor says 78-thousand thousand jobs created since Shale drilling was allowed in Pennsylvania, and New York desperately needs that kind of job growth.

Opponents of Shale gas exploration say the science driving the indusry is unproven and New York's waterways are at risk of pollution. Schoonover predicts the D-E-C will issue it's final report in about four months. 

If you would like to let the DEC know where you stand, you can write them a letter, but it must be postmarked January 11th, 2012.The address is: Attn: dSGEIS Comments, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway,Albany, NY 12233-6510.

Or, you can submit your comments on the internet, by going here.