The Catskill Chronicle

Dear Editor,

Ever since I became aware of the controversial Hydrofracking method of natural gas extraction I’ve wondered why … why the Quixotic push by the “Big Gas” for it in New York State, where the sweet spot – the vast Marcellus natural gas deposit that is touted by the natural gas industry as the key to America’s energy independence is in Pennsylvania, where drilling is already permitted and New York state has all the hassles of popular and political opposition and moratoriums etc.?

Well, (no pun intended) here’s three reasons you’re not going to see from Bradley Gill director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York (IOGA of NY), who of course toes the Big Gas company line.

First, apart from the most famous signature moment in the documentary “Gasland” of the exploding faucet, another is where the creator Josh Fox of Pennsylvania gets a lease offer tender from a Big Gas company which was essentially “Please, oh please, Mr. Fox lease us your land so you may receive all the riches we can bestow upon you.”

However here in New York it would go something like this: “Dear Mr. Fox, Here’s the deal. Here’s our offer that’s pretty much the same as your neighbors. If you don’t take our offer of 30 pieces of Judas silver from your apparent high moral fortitude and integrity: No Problem! 60 percent of your neighbors probably will and we can drill your land anyway per a rule special to New York called:  Compulsory Integration.  Ha!”

Secondly, New York has zero, zilch Hydrofracking experience. Even with what Big Gas says will be the most stringent rules and regs in the county, no matter. It is still just state oversight with the teeth of a meth addict, as in none, and Big Gas has the Cheney Exemption. Look at Pennsylvania which supposedly has tough regs, blowouts and contaminated water wells. No problem for Big Gas.

Thirdly a New York Hydrofracking moratorium would discredit Big Gas and set precedents for anti-Hydrofrackers everywhere. Finally, an easy homework assignment: Go Google Compulsory Integration New York and Cheney Halliburton exemption.

Ciao,
Joel Shapiro
Rochester, New York