Bonacic proposes gas legislation

Bill to enhance local control of gas drilling

By FRITZ MAYER

ALBANY, NY — In the past few weeks, officials from several Sullivan County towns have written to Albany asking for more local control over gas drilling issues. Now, New York Senator John Bonacic has introduced legislation that would allow towns to exert more local control.

Bonacic said that the legislation would allow towns to declare a six-month moratorium on gas drilling so that zoning regulations can be refashioned to address gas drilling issues. In a phone interview, Bonacic said the legislation would allow towns to put “reasonable” constraints on drilling. The bill, for instance, would allow towns to require gas companies to post a bond to cover any damages caused by gas trucks. Towns would also be able to address the issue of whether fracking fluids may be stored in open pits or must, instead, be stored in closed steel tanks.

Bonacic said that he’s not sure when he’ll be able to get the bill through the senate, but he said there’s a good chance that it could pass before drilling starts sometime in 2009. He said the bill was introduced about two weeks ago.

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said she intends to introduce the legislation in the assembly. She added that she and others are in the process of researching various questions regarding local control and gas drilling. She added that drilling could bring benefits because gas is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels.

The issue also has cropped up in Washington. On August 18, Senator Hillary Clinton issued a press release recognizing both the benefits and causes for concern of drilling in the region.

“The natural gas deposits in the Marcellus formation offer new revenue opportunities for landowners and communities throughout New York, and provide a means to increase our supply of this valuable energy source here at home. However, it is essential that we do everything possible to evaluate and mitigate any potential threats that the drilling poses to our water and air quality,” said Clinton. “With advancements in technology and experience from drilling in other states, there is no reason why we cannot be good stewards of the environment while also harvesting the benefits of these natural gas deposits.”