What's happening
This bill allows county governments in New York to lease county land for natural gas exploration and production for up to five years, with possible extension if gas is produced.
Why it matters
Enables local decision-making on natural gas development. By allowing county governments to lease public land for gas exploration and production, the bill gives local officials more control over whether—and how—their county participates in the natural gas industry.
Potential for new county revenue sources. Leasing county land for natural gas extraction could provide significant financial benefits to counties, either through upfront lease payments, ongoing royalties, or both, possibly affecting local budgets, services, or tax rates.
Raises environmental and land use considerations. Counties choosing to lease land for natural gas extraction will have to weigh potential economic gains against risks such as environmental impacts, community health concerns, and land use conflicts.
Could impact local energy policy and infrastructure. If adopted, the bill might encourage more natural gas development in certain areas, influencing energy markets, infrastructure investments, and the county’s approach to sustainability and climate goals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lease County Land for Gas
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1551
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the county law, in relation to leases for the exploration and drilling for and extraction of natural gas and liquefied natural gas
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 215 of the county law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4-a to read as follows:
4-a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions three and four of this section, a board of supervisors or other county legislative body may lease, upon such terms and conditions as the board or body shall determine, county land for the purposes of the exploration, development and production of natural gas and liquefied natural gas, as such terms are defined in section 23-1705 of the environmental conservation law, for not more than five years and, if any such gas is produced upon the county land prior to the expiration of such five year lease, the lease shall be extended for as long as natural gas or liquefied natural gas is produced in paying quantities.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04639-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.