The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Natural Gas Development Resource Center brings together information from a variety of sources, including academic research, industry analysis, local government officials and citizens. Therefore, there may be material and resources herein that express viewpoints that are not those of Cornell Cooperative Extension. You will find material produced by Cornell identified as such. A key goal is to provide sound information that will support informed decision making.
New York Natural Gas Summit: Challenges and Opportunities, Owego, NY (11/30/09).
The NY Marcellus Shale Education Summit was well attended with around 340 participants.
Upcoming Events
The Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a public seminar "Marcellus Shale Gas - Geology: What in earth is down there?" on Monday, February 1, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the NY Grange Headquarters, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY. Natural Gas with Un-Natural Consequences: The Health Risks of Shale Gas Drilling will be presented on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 6:30-8:30 pm at The Forum room, Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), Dryden, NY. Presenters are: Ron Bishop, lecturer in Chemistry at SUNY Oneonta; Thomas Shelly, chemical safety and hazadous materials specialist; Adam Law, endocrinology physician. Sponsored by Shaleshock Citizen's Action Alliance, Center for Transformative Action, CCE of Tompkins County, Gas Drilling Awareness of Cortland County, TC3 Sustainability Council, Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition, Sustainable Otsego, Sustainable Tompkins, & Marcellus Accountability Project. For information contact Shaleshock or call Sharon Anderson, CCE Tompkins County at 607-272-2292.
Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering a four-session ‘Your Business and Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience’ program this winter for local businesses, intended to help them understand and take advantage of the business opportunities arising from development of Marcellus Shale.
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Marcellus Shale website - includes Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS)
Descriptions of Two Cornell-funded Energy Projects: Click here
Cornell University places moratorium on consideration of natural gas drilling leases.
New Resources
2008 Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Annual Report (newly added January 2010)
2008 Report Part One - Oil & Gas Industry at a Glance and Mined Land (PDF, 2.66 MB) - Oil & Gas program at a glance including Production, Market Value & Economic Benefits, Permits & Completions, Marcellus & Other Shales, Trenton-Black River, Leasing, Abandoned Wells, Underground Gas Storage, Solution Mining, Geothermal & Stratigraphic Wells and Enforcement. Technology - Making our Information Easy To Use. Mined Land Reclamation Program at a Glance including Mine Types & Permits, Geographic Occurrence, Owner Types, Trends, Acreage Statistics, Reclamation, Financial Security and Enforcement.
2008 Report Part Two - Mineral Fact Sheets (PDF, 409 KB) - Set of colorful fact sheets on New York's major mined commodities, suitable for classroom use.
2008 Report Part Three - Appendices (PDF, 307 KB) - provides county listings for mineral production and permits as well as other useful information for both programs.
Comments on the DEC draft SGEIS submitted by Cornell University faculty and associates:
- Addressing mitigating impacts of drilling on the water resources in NYS.
-Mitigating cumulative impacts
-Minimizing environmental risk
-Monitoring activities and impacts
- Comments addressing the following: Click here
-Regional economic effects
-Land use patterns
-Generic Environmental Impact Statements, Community Character & Cumulative Impact Analysis
-DEC regulations and expectations on drilling multi-well pads
-Community character impacts
Millennium Pipeline System Map (2009)
Natural Gas Development: Legal Issues for Land Owners - Videos of the October 29, 2009 public event held in Tompkins County which included presentations by legal experts on the terminology and issues surrounding natural gas leases, followed by an opportunity to ask questions. Topics included general lease terminology, "force majeure" lease extensions, compulsory integration (the legal extraction of gas from under unleased land), liability issues, and the protection of rights and property. Sponsors: CCE South Central NY Agriculture Team, Shaleshock Citizens Action Coalition, Community Science Institute, Finger Lakes Bioneers, Interfaith Action for Healing Earth, NYS Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Sustainable Tompkins, and Tompkins County Farm Bureau.
The Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement.... (pdf) presentation by David Kay, Sr. Extension Associate, CaRDI at TCCOG natural gas meeting on November 5, 2009.
Impacts on Community Character of Horizontal Drilling & High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in Marcellus Shale... NYSERDA, Sept., 2009 Report prepared by: NTC Consultants
Twin Tiers SUNDAY-WENY-TV Interviews:
Emerging Trends in the Marcellus Shale - Jeffrey Jacquet & Richard Stedman, CaRDI Research & Policy Brief. July, 2009.
Valuable Links
Webinars
Industry Information
IOGA/NYSERDA July, 2009 meeting wrap-up - offered by Shaleshock.
The Oil and Gas Industry: The Idea, The Journey, The Future - video produced by the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York
Basic Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources
New York State Energy Plan
Modern Shale Gas Development in the U.S.: A Primer
Disclaimer: The 2005 Energy Policy Act amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to exclude hydraulic fracturing fluids from its 'Underground Injection Control' provisions. The NYS DEC makes note of this amendment, but states that "..protection of groundwater resources during oil and gas extraction activities is a responsibility of state government. Visit the DEC for implications for gas development in NYS with respect to federal laws: SDWA, CWA and Community Right-to-Know.
The Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center (MSETC) is a partnership established to provide the regional community and natural gas industry a central resource for work force development and community education needs.
Municipal Officials Resources
Gas Drilling in NYS: Riches or Ruin for Landowners and Communities? By Rod Howe & David Kay (Cornell University)
Community and Local Government Impacts FAQ
Observations Concerning the Role of Local Governments in Relation to Natural Gas Exploration and Production in the Marcellus Shale in the Southern Tier East Region of New York State (pdf) Prepared by the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board.
Potential Impacts & Opportunities Faced by the Public Sector from Natural Gas Development and Production. Tioga Investigating Natural Gas (TING)
A Legal & Practical Guide to Protecting Your Citizens and the Environment in the Face of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling by Kimberlea Shaw Rea, Esq.
Energy Boomtowns & Natural Gas: Implications for Marcellus Shale Local Governments & Rural Communities,(pdf) NERCRD Rural Development Paper No. 43, by Jeffrey Jacquet
Negotiating a Municipal Oil & Gas Lease, Coughlin & Gerhart LLP, NY Conference of Mayors, 8-29-08.
Preparing for a Natural Gas Boom in Schuyler County, NY. 7/22/09. Task Force proposal.
Bradford County, PA: Natural Gas updates.
Preparing for Natural Gas Development: Understanding Impacts and Protecting Public Assets - NY Natural Gas Task Force, Sullivan County, NY, February, 2009.
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Landowner Resources
- Key Points for Property Owners - 5 key points for landowners concerning exploration and leasing.
Marcellus Shale Exploration and Development: Organizing a Community Task Force - Penn State Cooperative Extension.
Gas Drilling - Frequently Asked Questions
Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale (pdf) - The report (PDF, 718 KB) reviews the history and evolution of hydraulic fracturing, its usefulness in gas shale development, geological and well engineering factors, and the characteristics of fracturing fluids.”
Gas Rights and Right-of-Way Leasing Considerations for Farms and Woodlands (pdf) - Cornell Cooperative Extension South Central New York Agriculture Team (08/2009)
National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) - Serving the citizens who own our country's natural resources.
Oil & Gas Leases: Land Owners Rights (pdf) - NYS Attorney General provides gas leasing guide.
Gas Leasing FAQ
Economic and Environmental Impacts of Gas Drilling
The environmental impacts from natural gas development are a highly contentious and emotional issue. CCE is committed to posting information about environmental impacts, provided that the impact analysis is scientific in nature, originates from an objuctive third-party organization, and is applicable to the environmental context of the Marcellus Shale.
Click here for environmental impact documents
Economic Impacts
Related Issues