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State and Federal Legislators
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NY State Links
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Additional Resources
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Natural Gas Leasing Forum
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*** IMPORTANT ***
Call Your Legislators!
Click Here
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Welcome
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| The Maine NY Gas Coalition was formed with the goal of enabling landowners in Maine NY to work together to obtain the best possible gas lease compatible with the group's ownership goals. |
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7/17/2010
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Just a reminder that the Clambake is next week and we currently have less than 30 people registered. Minimum to have the party is 100. If you haven't shared this info with you coalition, please consider doing so asap. We count on you to distribute communications on our behalf. This will be a fun event, with an all you can eat assortment of clams, steak, shrimp, sausage, etc. that should appeal to everyone. I am supposed to have a headcount to them by Monday. You can pay for tickets on line--$35 each, just print your receipt and bring it with you. I will also have a limited number of tickets available at Tueday's general meeting if that is easier for you or your members. Please have correct cash available or checks made out to the JLCNY. Mountain Top has graciously reduced our rate to help us generate funds (the regular cost of tickets is $39 I believe. They are charging us $25, so we make $10 on ea ticket).
Don't forget the auction too. Bring your new or gently used items, and bid high and often! One featured item that will be donated is a ladies full-length, gray,mink coat (which originally cost $3k).
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7/12/2010
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Dear Coalition Leaders, Landowners, and NY Natural Gas Supporters
Everywhere,
There are three important issues for coalition leaders to post on their
websites, email to landowners, and for everyone to share with gas supporters
everywhere.
First...
Sen. Sampson will not admit his moratorium bills are dead!
He is now taking a tally of yeas (indicating support of the
moratorium) and naes (indicating opposition to the moratorium) to try to
show support for his bills. While our last round of phone calling should
have made this clear, he's trying to circulate his own calling request to
his supporters to stack the deck in his favor. Well the word is out so now
we need to show him one more time that WE DO NOT WANT A MORATORIUM IN NY!!!
Everyone is being asked to call both his Albany office
(518-455-2788) and his district office (718-649-7653) and tell him "NO
MORATORIUM!!!" as soon and as often as possible! If asked for a zip code,
out of state callers should give a NY zip code based on where their land is
located, if possible.
Faxes and emails are also encouraged. Please see the JLCNY website
homepage (www.jlcny.org <http://www.jlcny.org> ) for more details.
Second...
The Delaware River Basin Commission is overstepping its mandate by
banning even test wells in the basin, test wells which do not involve
hydrofracing! Of course the Delaware River forms the boundary between NY &
PA in much of the Marcellus Shale region. The DRBC controls activity on BOTH
banks of the river! They are not operating under the laws of any one state,
and have come to view their mission as above the laws of any state in
particular. This is a direct taking of property rights from the landowners
in the basin, and is being bravely challenged by the NWPOA (Northern Wayne
Property Owners Alliance). We need to voice our strong support for ALL
property owners, please take action by sending the DRCB a clear message!
Please see the JLCNY website homepage (www.jlcny.org
<http://www.jlcny.org/> ) for more details. Once there you will see a
posting similar to this email followed by a link to send emails. Click on
that link and please be sure to send all 3 as each contains different
recipients.
Third...
Please purchase your JLCNY Clambake tickets by 07-17-10!
This will be a great occasion to enjoy some famed Mountain Top Grove
food, good music, and much deserved relaxation together on a Friday evening.
What better way to end the week! This event is open to all so please spread
the word far and wide. Send this email on to anyone and everyone you know!
Check out the details and purchase your tickets at...
http://www.jlcny.org/site/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detai
l&evid=414&Itemid=73
<http://www.jlcny.org/site/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.deta
il&evid=414&Itemid=73>
We'll be looking forward to seeing you there!
So please act ASAP on all three of these important matters. Your support and
interest are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
The JLCNY Board of Directors
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6/26/2010
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Dear Coalition Leaders, Landowners, Business Leaders, Business Owners, Union Leaders, Union Members, and NY Natural Gas Supporters Everywhere,
Here is the next event we must call all hands on deck for! Everyone must sign up for this NOW! Here's where...
http://hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com/RegistrationForm.aspx
The EPA is holding hearings on gas drilling at only four places across the country. Click on the following link for details.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_hydrofrac.html
It is critical for everyone to understand that the last hearing is the only one in the north east, the only one to have more than one session, and it will be held Thursday August 12th, 2010 at Binghamton University. More details will be distributed later, but right now we need to get as many of our people as possible signed up for each and every one of the three sessions. We must make the last and most memorable comments they hear pro-gas comments.
The obstructionists will attempt to turn the event into their personal media circus of fear mongering, misinformation, hype, and sensationalism just like they did in Chenango Valley when the DEC held hearings. With the whole nation watching they'll try even harder to get the media and public to focus on their spectacle rather than on our positive facts.
We can minimize the obstructionists' impact only by filling the events with our members. To do that they must sign up NOW before the obstructionists do. The obstructionists have already sent out emails to their people, so we have to act fast!
Everyone should go to the following site and sign up NOW!!!
http://hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com/RegistrationForm.aspx
All hands on deck!
Your immediate support and cooperation is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Dan Fitzsimmons, President, Joint Landowners Coalition of New York
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June 25, 2010
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Dear Coalition Leaders, Landowners, and NY Natural Gas Supporters Everywhere,
As many of you are aware we have come to a critical moment in our efforts to have the benefits of NY's gas resources become a reality for our communities and ourselves. Anti-drilling legislation, unsympathetic (and in some cases hostile!) legislators, and state bureaucracy are lining up against us in a concentrated effort to shut gas down NOW in NY, possible permanently, before the legislative session ends in a few weeks and the election season starts. The fight has not been easy so far, and a great deal of even harder fighting for our rights and our interests remains to be done.
A large part of the credit for the political successes we have enjoyed so far goes to our professional political consultant. She has been working very hard on our behalf and opened doors that we would never have been able to even knock on (much less actually have opened to us) without her experienced guidance. We pay her monthly, our next bill is due soon, and we need your help to keep her working for us. Your contributions will help us to retain her expert services at this most critical moment so that we can defeat the threats we all face before they become law.
If we do not defeat these now we may not get another chance, ever. Decisive moments are very near and we need to double up our efforts to prevail. Next month may be too late.
Those opposing us are counting on a lack of response from within our groups to defeat us from within! We all have to show them that WE WILL FIGHT! To help us win the fight in the halls of power in Albany please donate today.
To do so go to http://www.jlcny.org/site/ . Once there scroll down and look for the "Donations" box on the left side. If you prefer you may mail your check or money order donations to...
JLCNY, Inc.
PO Box 2839
Binghamton, NY 13902
Any amount that you can spare to further our once in a lifetime cause will be greatly appreciated. And once we succeed and the benefits start to become reality we'll look back on what we donate as the wisest choice we ever made!
Sincerely,
Dan Fitzsimmons, President Joint Landowners Coalition of New York
and the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York Board of Directors
P.S. Please spread this request to anyone and everyone possible. Every single NYer will enjoy the benefits of NY's gas and are encouraged to support it now.
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June 25, 2010
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Dear Coalition Leaders, Landowners, and NY Natural Gas Supporters Everywhere,
The JLCNY is having a clambake!
This will be a great occasion to enjoy some famed Mountain Top Grove food, good music, and much deserved relaxation together on a Friday evening. What better way to end the week! This event is open to all so please spread the word far and wide. Send this email on to anyone and everyone you know!
Check out the details and purchase your tickets at...
http://www.jlcny.org/site/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=414&Itemid=73
We'll be looking forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
The JLCNY Board of Directors and The JLCNY Events Committee
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June 8, 2010
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June 7, 2010
What They’re Saying: Marcellus Shale a “Buried Treasure;” Creating “An economic boon to Pennsylvania for a long time”
While still in its infancy, the responsible development of the region’s clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas is helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. This development, and the workforce and job opportunities that it presents, will be highlighted at an upcoming “Workforce Summit” hosted by the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) on June 16. Click HERE for more event details and to register.
“An economic boon to Pennsylvania for a long time”: “Mostoller said he’s living his dream in running this business. He credited Cabot Oil & Gas - a firm his logistics company has worked with in the eastern part of the state since 2008 - for their insight into the industry. “My business relationship with Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas has had a positive impact on me and my family,” he said. The Somerset plant is expected to require 65 full-time operators once it’s running. … Mostoller said he believes the natural gas industry can be an economic boon to Pennsylvania for a long time. “The guy that’s going to drill the last Marcellus Shale well hasn’t been born yet,” he said. (Daily American, 6/4/10)
Clean-burning, job-creating Marcellus gas a “Buried Treasure”: “V&M Star’s $650 million investment in a new pipe mill here is a direct result of an expected rise in demand for steel tubular goods used in the Marcellus shale play. Other companies - including steel-tube manufacturer TMK IPSCO in Brookfield, Boardman-based Dearing Pump and Compressor and Patriot Water Treatment in Warren - recently have expanded in response to the rise in natural-gas exploration. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/6/10)
“One of the most significant natural-gas finds in history”: “The money and the jobs could flow as quickly from the Marcellus shale as the natural gas itself. The Marcellus, called one of the most significant natural-gas finds in history, is expected to create more than 200,000 jobs and produce the equivalent of 87 billion gallons of oil -- equal to 12 years' worth of U.S. energy consumption. And we're sitting on top of it. … A recent report by Pennsylvania State University suggests the financial benefits of all this drilling are likely to spread in the form of $1.8 billion in tax revenue over the next decade. Hundreds of Pennsylvania landowners also stand to benefit. Pitzarella said in a September interview that a typical property owner could collect up to $3 million in lease payments and royalties over the life of a well. (Erie Times, 6/4/10)
The “Marcellus Multiplier”: “Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition…dubs this extensive supply chain the “Marcellus Multiplier,” as it compounds business-to-business spending and job creation. “There is an infrastructure network of supply companies all across the formation,” Klaber said. “It’s a great domestic opportunity.” Overall, companies involved in Marcellus shale development plan to increase their investment spending to $8.8 billion in 2010, up from $4.5 billion in 2009, according to a PSU study released in May. Investment spending is projected to be more than $11 billion in 2011. … Overall, the PSU study estimates that the Marcellus shale drilling industry directly created more than 21,000 jobs in Pennsylvania in 2009. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/6/10)
Responsible shale-gas development in Pa. a $3.77B stimulus: “Drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shale has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the Pennsylvania economy, a study by Penn State University concluded. The study concluded the Marcellus gas industry provided a “direct economic stimulus of $3.77 billion” to the Pennsylvania economy while generating $389 million in state and local taxes and creating more than 44,000 jobs. … Spending plans discussed with companies in the industry suggested the Marcellus shale could generate more than $8 billion in 2010, including more than $785 million in state and local taxes, and cause job gains to double to more than 88,000. The rate of growth is expected to taper off in 2011, but the industry is expected to bring in nearly $1 billion in tax revenues to Pennsylvania and provide 100,000 jobs. “By 2015, the Pennsylvania Marcellus could be producing more than 7 billion cubic feet per day, substantially exceeding all gas output from offshore federal waters,” the study said. Other findings by the study’s authors included one that every $1 spent by the industry generates $1.90 of total economic output. (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 6/5/10)
250 Marcellus-related jobs en route to central PA: “A gas industry "field of dreams" is rising up out of a former corn field in Muncy and Muncy Creek townships. On Thursday, state, county and local officials, developers and others gathered to celebrate a natural gas industrial park being developed on more than 200 acres along Industrial Park Road in Muncy Industrial Park. … Once the facility is completed, between 200 and 250 people will be employed there, Banta said. ... "I've never seen anything like this in my life," Fish said of the development activity spurred by natural gas development. … Yaw touted the economic benefits of developing natural gas in Pennsylvania, including a projected 100,000 jobs and $1 billion in tax revenue created this year - and that while the state is mired in a recession. "That is a pretty significant impact on our state," Yaw said. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 5/28/10)
PSU prof.: “This is a game changer”: “Terry Engelder, a geoscientist at Pennsylvania State University, estimates that the Marcellus shale could contain as much as 489 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas - enough to meet total U.S. natural gas demand for 20 years. “This is a game changer,” Engelder said. “In terms of its effect on the American energy potential, this is the biggest thing to happen in a long, long time.” Fully developed, the shale would be the largest in North America and the second-largest in the world, with the potential to produce the energy equivalent of 87 billion barrels of oil. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/6/10)
40 Marcellus-related jobs created in Sewickley; “100 more jobs may be added as drilling activity grows”: “Two companies are bringing new life to a century-old Green Tree rail yard from business generated by the region's booming natural gas production. Modern Transportation and Arrow Materials Services, of Sewickley have created 40 truck driver and materials-handling jobs at the Rook Rail Yard, owned by Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Co. Company executives said Thursday the railroad brings railcars from other locations to Green Tree loaded with specialized sand for a fracturing process used in Marcellus Shale drilling. … Modern Transportation President Patrick Cozzens said 30 trucks are used, along with 80 to 100 trucks owned by others, which are all needed to maintain 24/7 operation. Cozzens said 100 more jobs may be added as drilling activity grows. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 6/4/10)
Marcellus Shale grows technology: “Marcellus Shale resources can help transform Pennsylvania. …Marcellus Shale gas producers plan to spend significantly more in 2010 and 2011, generating more than $8 billion in value added in 2010 and an additional $10 billion during 2011. This increased economic activity will generate almost $1.8 billion in additional state and local tax revenue during 2010 and 2011. Employment in the state will expand by more than 88,000 jobs during 2010 and more than 111,000 jobs during 2011. This dramatic increase in drilling activity is occurring during a period of general economic recession and relatively low natural gas prices. (Central Penn Business Journal, 6/1/10)
OH Congressman says Marcellus creating “widespread regional growth”: “Although Pennsylvania has disproportionately benefited from the emerging natural-gas industry, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, believes the significant economic impact of the Marcellus shale industry will lead to widespread regional growth. “The Marcellus shale will give us the opportunity to build a natural-gas cluster,” Ryan said. “Given the fact that V&M is already expanding here, it is going to give us a chance to really exploit the Marcellus shale and parlay that into middle-class jobs.” (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/6/10)
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Marcellus Shale Coalition | 4000 Town Center Boulevard | Canonsburg, PA 15317 | www.pamarcellus.com
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May 11, 2010
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These are the elected officials that should be contacted by all landowners and all those interested in seeing Marcellus Drilling move forward without any unnecessary delay. A suggested list of topics that one should utilize when contacted these individuals is listed below. Please do what you can, immediately. Any delay in contacting these individuals will be devastating!!!
Senate
Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. - addabbo@senate.state.ny.us
Darrell J. Aubertine - aubertin@senate.state.ny.us
George D. Maziarz - maziarz@senate.state.ny.us
John L. Sampson - sampson@senate.state.ny.us
Malcolm Smith - masmith@senate.state.ny.us
Antoine M. Thompson - athompso@senate.state.ny.us
David J. Valesky - valesky@senate.state.ny.us
Assembly
Donna A. Lupardo - LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us
Kevin A. Cahill - CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us
William Magee - MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us
Sheldon Silver - Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
The real effect of what any moratorium on Marcellus Gas Drilling will cause-
- Politicians will be held accountable-
Upstate voters are attributing the delay in drilling to actions that are being initiated by downstate politicians.
- The environment will be less protected-
Landowner coalitions will fragment and the strong lease documents that they are insisting be signed will be replaced by generic gas company leases
- Farm land and family farms will be lost-
Famers are suffering a terrible economic crisis. They will be going out of business and selling their family farms to the highest bidder, likely out of state land speculators
- The upstate NY economy (region) will continue to suffer-
The natural gas industry is ready to inject a much-needed stimulus into the region. This will account for a huge economic boost to the area
- Upstate communities will continue becoming ghost towns-
Retail establishments will accelerate the trend to closing their doors and there is nothing on the horizon to indicate that there might be any new investment coming
- Loss of jobs and loss of population-
There are no opportunities for jobs in upstate. Our populace is leaving the area in search of some security and our young citizens see no future in remaining upstate
With the continued stagnation of the upstate economy, the burden of paying for services fall on fewer entities, causing hikes in property tax & loss of sales tax revenue. Municipalities and school districts are reducing programs, services, and employment due to reduced revenue
- Speculators will purchase distressed property
Landowners who cannot continue their livelihood will sell their farmland to the highest bidder-likely an out of sate speculator who cares nothing except how to maximize their investment
- Our security will continue to be at risk-
Producing domestic natural gas will minimize our dependency on foreign energy. Countries who are now getting NYS energy money threaten our, and our allies security
There simply is no rational reason to continue to delay natural gas production in New York State. Our own DEC has developed the nation’s most stringent set of environmental guidelines, and together with incredibly strong landowner leases, the environment will be protected and our state will prosper with this opportunity.
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April 28, 2010
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A Message from the JLCNY President Dan Fitzsimmons - April 27, 2010
Fellow Landowners – I don’t have to tell you we have much at stake. But I do need to sound an alarm: the time for us to act is NOW. We are organized. We are prepared. And although we have worked intensely over the last two plus years, we are outmanned, outspent, outmaneuvered. We need to step up our game, and we have a plan to get it done. But we desperately need your financial support. Some of you have given generously financially. Some of you have poured blood, sweat and tears into this effort. And some of you will make your first donation right now. We need as much as you can afford to give to fund our efforts to:
- Hire professionals in Albany who can represent us and make sure our voices are not drowned out by the better-funded extremists. These professionals can open doors, cut through clutter and red-tape for us and focus us on the most effective strategy for being heard where it counts.
- Get the word out: you’ve heard the same arguments I hear: more people are against drilling than are for it. We know that’s not true – but we have to erase that perception. The best way to do that is to blanket our area with lawn signs, drown our airwaves with pro-drilling ads, promote speakers at public forums who can support our issues with facts, erect billboards with clear messages, etc.
- Continue to support landowners. In some respect, the work begins when the moratorium is lifted and leases are signed. Who will advocate for landowners in their negotiations and relations with energy companies? Who will be a watchdog with the regulatory agencies? Who will make sure we have the best and latest information on and about the industry and the technology surrounding us? Landowners will need the JLC more and more as time goes by and as the stakes continue to rise. We cannot sustain it without your support.
We are seeking support from a number of channels: from corporations and industry; from foundations and other organizations who may provide grants for our work; from local business and farm organizations. But the most important support we need RIGHT NOW is from you. Please give what you can today – $10, $20, $100, $500 or more. See if your company has a matching donation program – or if you know of any other source you can approach for us – please do. Use PAYPAL on our website: JLCNY.org or send a check to:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We will get there, but only if we stay together on this.
Dan Fitzsimmons
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February 14, 2010
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Subject: Natural Gas Update - 2/14/10
Several of our members have contacted us regarding the South Maine Coalition's proposed deal with Inflection Energy that was recently announced in the Press & Sun Bulletin and how it may affect our group.
Since the South Maine Coalition has kept the details about their proposed contract very much to themselves, we can only reply based upon the newspaper article that we’ve all read. It is our understanding that the wildcat gas
company, Inflection Energy, was organized within the last year and we would question what kind of capital they have to pursue or even back their endeavor should something go wrong as it has in Pennsylvania with Cabot Oil & Gas – or is their intent to turn over the leased property for a profit?
The payout of the sign-up bonus monies over eight years as Inflection Energy continues to develop their leaseholds would most likely negate much of the $6,000 per acre bonus monies since once the acreage is unitized or the company starts operations upon the leasehold properties most contracts stop other payments. Therefore, property owners might only receive one or two payments of the “signing bonus” monies. Remember that 3,200 acres will only support five 640 acre units for horizontal drilling so it doesn’t take too much effort on the gas company’s part to tie up all of the property to cancel further payments other than royalties.
Of course, as the newspaper article pointed out, the real money to the landowners is derived from the royalties. The concern here is that the article indicates that the royalty is 20% “subject to certain deductions”. These
deductions can be set by the gas company so there is a question as to what the real royalty might be.
We certainly hope the South Maine Coalition’s attorney has taken the steps necessary to minimize exposure. The bottom line is that "the devil is in the details" and the details are in the contract -- and we don't know what that contract states.
While we have been somewhat negative, our hope is that their legal representative is on top of all the concerns that are obvious to the landowners as well as those that can arise from misinterpretation and ambiguities of a
typical gas contract. If their groundwork has been done, the group is to be commended and we all wish them well since their success is ours as well. We were particularly happy to see the attention that is being paid to less than 5000 acres when associated with Millennium pipeline system. This could be the first real deal in what will be, no doubt, more that will come to our area in the following months. Companies are still reluctant to obligate themselves until the moratorium is lifted on drilling in the Marcellus.
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Tom Libous Reports to You
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I'm disappointed in what I saw in Governor Paterson's Budget Proposal that was released yesterday.
He didn't cut spending. In fact he increased it by $787 million.
Included in Governor Paterson's Budget Proposal is a 3% severance tax for gas companies extracting from Marcellus Shale. In my letter to Commissioner Grannis I asked that any new taxes be dedicated to safe drilling. It doesn't appear that the Governor is proposing that.
The good news for safe gas drilling is that Governor Paterson has allowed for an increase in DEC, DOH and PSC staff specifically to handle safe natural gas drilling.
Hashing this out over the next few months will be tough. But we've got to get spending down and give businesses some tax relief so they are willing to keep doing business in New York.
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January 5, 2010
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From the Desk of Tom Libous
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Dear John,
Happy New Year! I hope 2010 will be a safe and happy year for you and your family.
As you know, the DEC's comment period on the draft SGEIS for natural gas drilling ended last Thursday. I'm glad so many of you took the time to express your opinions on it. If you'd like, you can read my letter at Safe Drilling Now.
You can also read other comments from Assemblywoman Lupardo, County Executive Fiala and other community and statewide groups on the draft SGEIS.
Be sure to check for the latest news on www.safedrillingnow.com as we wait for the DEC's next step.
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Wikipedia
The Marcellus Formation, also classified as the Marcellus Subgroup...
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NYS DEC
Marcellus Shale.
Gas well drilling in the Marcellus Shale...
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