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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
History
- Print number 1201a
- Amend and recommit to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1201A
Title of bill
An act to suspend hydraulic fracturing; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the issuance of new gas and/or oil permits for well drilling that involves hydraulic fracturing (hydro fracking).
Summary of provisions
This bill would suspend, for one year, the issuance of new permits for the drilling of a well that would utilize the practice of hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of stimulating natural gas or oil in low permeability natural gas reservoirs such as the Marcellus and Utica shale formations.
Justification
The potential development of natural gas drilling in low permeability natural gas reservoirs such as the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations has led to robust debate regarding the safety of the process and the protection of the environment. Delaying the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) ability to issue permits for one year will provide the Legislature with additional time to assess the true environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. This bill will also help ensure the Legislature has adequate time to review DEC's Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DSGEIS) once it is produced and any other reports or analysis done on the environmental and health impacts on effected communities.
Gas drilling carries with it the risk of accidents, including spills and blow-outs. There are also impacts on the communities in which shale gas production is located including increased traffic, noise and habitat destruction. Given the complexities of the environmental and policy issues under consideration, there is an urgent need for an extension of the suspension of the permitting process involving hydraulic fracturing. Such a moratorium will allow for a thorough, deliberate and unrushed analysis of all of the factors involved.
Legislative history
2011-12 S.5592 - Referred to Environmental Conservation 2010: A.11443-B - Rules (Sweeney) - Veto Memo 6837
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after the effective date of this act.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.