Natural gas exploration has the potential to be a very rewarding economic development tool in Otsego County. Natural gas can provide environmentally healthier alternatives to current fuel sources (coal and oil) to meet our energy demands.

However, as with any development, there are risks that need to be understood. Local officials as well as the public have a responsibility to become educated on the issues surrounding gas exploration and pumping, the transportation of this resource, and effects on the environment. Otsego County Conservation Association is providing the informational links below to help county residents make informed decisions.

DOCUMENTS

General Information

Marcellus Shale Formation Report 08 – "Shale Gas: Focus on The Marcellus Shale"

A timely report on potential oil and gas development in the Marcellus Shale formation in northeastern Pennsylvania and southeastern New York. By Lisa Sumi for the Oil & Gas Accountability Project/EARTHWORKS.

Impacts

"Drilling Around the Law"

Report released by Environmental Working Group, based on a six-month investigation of chemical disclosure records filed by several of the largest drilling corporations and interviews with regulators in five states.

"Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production." Report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

"Gas Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Quality"

Information presented by Win McIntyre, watershed coordinator for the Village of Cooperstown Watershed Supervisory Committee, to the Otsego County Solid Waste and Environmental Concerns Committee.

"Gas Drilling: What Lies Beneath, What Lies Ahead"

Links to articles relating to the March 23, 2010 presentation sponsored by Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley.

"Impacts on Community Character of Horizontal Drilling and High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs"

This report was prepared for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany, by NTC Consultants of Saratoga Springs.

"Unanswered Questions About the Economic Impact of Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale: Don't Jump to Conclusions"

Prepared by Jannette M. Barth, PhD, JM Barth & Associates. March 22, 2010.

Information for Landowners

"Oil and Gas at Your Door? A landowner's guide to oil and gas development"

This 200-page book from the Oil & Gas Accountability Project has been written to help demystify oil and gas development, and educate landowners on their legal rights and the laws that pertain to oil and gas.

Information for Municipal Officials

"Getting to Know the New Neighbors: Communication Is Key to Good Relations When Natural Gas Drilling Companies Come to Town"

Exploration of Pennsylvania’s vast and largely untapped natural gas reserves has begun in earnest. This article in "PA Township News," by Jennifer L. Hawbaker, includes a sidebar titled "Road Repair: Post and Bond Roads Now to Head Off Future Hassles."

Links to Draft Templates of Proposed Local Laws

• Road bond agreement – Town of Lebanon

• Road permit – Southlake, Texas

• Road preservation – Town of Berkshire

• Road preservation – Town of New Lisbon

• Road remediation – Southlake, Texas

• Vehicle permitting – Broome County

Natural Gas Development Checklist for Municipal Officials

From the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences

"Preparing for Natural Gas Development: Understanding Impacts and Protecting Public Assets"

A Gas Drilling Research Task Force report for Sullivan County, NY: February 13, 2009.

"Preserving Municipal Roads: What Are Your Options?"

Starts on page two of the Cornell Local Roads Program Spring 2010 newsletter, "Nuggets & Nibbles." Includes sections on creating a highway system inventory, defining section boundaries, estimating traffic volumes and other essential information.

"Tioga Investigates Natural Gas (TING) Potential Impacts & Opportunities Faced by the Public Sector from Natural Gas Development and Production"

Issues noted include: business opportunities; communication and outreach; economy; education; employment and income; water quantity and quality; soil concerns; landscape; pollution; inspection and oversight of projects; solid waste and materials handling; mapping needs; planning; public safety; roads and infrastructure; weights and measures; workforce development; future impacts.

"Tioga Investigates Natural Gas (TING) Summary, March 2010"

Steering Committee members, subcommittees and activities,end goal, training and technical assistance needs.

"What Local Governments Can Do To Minimize the Negative Impacts of Gas Drilling"

Written by Mary Jo Long, attorney, Afton, NY

PRESENTATIONS

Atlas Energy, Inc. “How We Drill” Videos

Atlas Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATLS) formerly Atlas America, Inc. ("Atlas Energy" or "the Company"), has been engaged in the energy industry since 1968 and is currently a leading producer in the Marcellus Shale.

Natural Gas Horizontal Shale Drilling

Vertical Multi-Stage Fracturing

"Basic Forensic Watershed Monitoring Procedures"

How to recognize, document and report possible violation of environmental laws. Created by Erik Miller, OCCA executive director, for the Earth Festival 2010 Seminar Series. Special thanks to the Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group.

"How Not to Regulate Gas Drilling: What New York State Got Wrong"

Created by Lou Allstadt, former Mobil executive, for the Earth Festival 2010 Seminar Series.

"New York Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Educational Summit: Challenges and Opportunities"

(Click "log in as a guest.) This seminar series includes sessions on: Water Withdrawals in the Susquehanna River Basin - Local Government Preparation; Workforce Development and Small Business Application; Landowner Management; Big Picture Community Development; How Much Does It Cost?; Marcellus Shale vis a vis State and National Energy Plans; Community Infrastructure: Wastewater Treatment Facilities and Roads; and Investment Fraud Prevention.

Power Point Presentation on DISH, Texas and the Barnett Shale

In response to numerous health complaints, DISH, Texas Mayor Calvin Tillman and the DISH City Council spent almost 15 percent of the town’s annual budget on an ambient air study that confirmed what many DISH residents long suspected – the natural gas infrastructure around their town was emitting high levels of toxic emissions and making them sick. (DISH is located in the heart of the Barnett Shale gas fields.  It has 11 compressor stations, three metering stations and 20 pipelines within two square miles.)

"Transportation Topics Related to Heavy Industry"

Strategies towns may employ to protect roads from the damaging effects of heavy industry. Created by Erik Miller, OCCA executive director, for the Otsego County Planning Department spring series of training workshops on land-use regulations.

WEBSITES

Citizens’ Groups

Damascus Citizens for Sustainability

A grassroots nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization dedicated to protecting the Upper Delaware River Basin and beyond from the ravages of deep-shale gas extraction and the threat posed by the natural gas industry.

Otsego 2000

Otsego 2000 provided extensive comments on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “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.”

Riverkeeper

Since July 2008, Riverkeeper has tracked the prospect of industrial gas drilling in New York State. While gas drilling in New York is not new, what is new is the magnitude, scope, and location of the proposed drilling method of high-volume hydraulic fracturing.

Sustainable Otsego

Sustainable Otsego is a loose, minimally structured network of local activists and supporters who seek to promote sustainable practices in the rural Leatherstocking region focused on Cooperstown and Otsego County, New York. Its listserv provides a forum for the discussion of sustainability issues, focusing recently particularly on resistence to shale gas drilling in our region.

un-naturalgas.org

Why natural gas is not the answer – created by the Chenango Delaware Gas Drilling Opposition Group. Sections on well spacing, eminent domain, water consumption and disposal, pipelines, community and infrastructure, more.

General Information

Natural Gas Resource Development Center, Cornell University Cooperative Extension

Includes sections on: Upcoming events; new resources; about the Marcellus shale; community task forces; landowner information; municipal officials' information; business and industry resources; Marcellus shale and the environment; Marcellus shale: economic impacts; general resources; CCE/Cornell Marcellus shale team.

Otsego County Planning Department – Natural Gas Drilling Information

Includes sections on information for local governments, water quality and testing, hydraulic fracturing, leases, etc.

Oil & Gas Accountability Project

EARTHWORKS' Oil & Gas Accountability Project works with tribal, urban and rural communities to protect their homes and the environment from the devastating impacts of oil and gas development. Sections including: about OGAP; citizen and community support; health and toxics; public lands; doing it right; resources.

Tioga Investigates Natural Gas

The Tioga Investigates Natural Gas (TING) Steering Committee believes that the impacts and opportunities related to natural gas drilling county wide are either not being addressed or are being addressed piecemeal by several public, not-for-profit and private organizations. TING desires to coordinate and streamline these current fragmented activities.

Information for Municipal Officials

Municipal Officials' Information from Cornell University Cooperative Extension

Includes research papers on preparing for natural gas development and negotiating a municipal gas lease, presentations on legal concerns and impacts, resources on road issues, links to additional websites, and frequently asked questions.