How will natural gas drilling change our landscape?

As the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation attempts to regulate hydrofracking gas drilling technology, residents attempt to sort out what drilling means for their communities.

Several informational meetings are scheduled to help citizens understand gas drilling:

*A public information session on the DEC's gas drilling regulations, 7 p.m. Thursday Nov. 5. at the Unitarian Church, 306 N. Aurora St. in Ithaca.     

*Shaleshock Meeting Tuesday November 17, 2009 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Shaleshock Action Alliance Office: 115 E. Martin Luther King st. Ithaca, NY 14850 (the commons above Autumn Leaves Bookstore). e-mail clover56(at)riseup.net for more details or directions. Orientation for new folks begins at 5pm, regular meeting starts at 6:00pm.   

*The Tompkins County County Council of Governments public hearing on the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) prepared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m., at the State Theatre, 107 W. State St., Ithaca.  At the hearing, the public is invited to make verbal statements and/or submit written statements that TCCOG will submit to the DEC as formal comments on the dSGEIS.    (or, submit your own comments directly)

*November 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm Learn more about water, water contamination and gas drilling, and legal issues associated with this- come to this presentation on 11/18, Wed., 7pm, at the Binghamton Unitarian Universalist church, 183 Riverside Drive, Binghamton 13905, across from Lourdes Hospital.  Helen Slottje, Attorney at Law,Harvard Law School, very active with gas drilling issues / task forces in the Ithaca / Horseheads (Schlumberger site) areas, and Steve Penningroth, Ph.D, Biochemical Sciences, Executive Director of the non-profit Community Science Institute, a NYS Certified water testing lab in Ithaca. Co-sponsored by the UU church, the UU Green Sanctuary Committee, Susquehanna Group Sierra Club, and the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition.   

*New York Natural Gas Summit: Challenges & Opportunities Monday, November 30, 8:15 am-5:00 pm Owego Treadway Inn, Owego, New York Topics include the Geology of the Shale; Municipalities and the Marcellus Shale; Environmental, Water and Regulatory Issues; Local Government Preparation; Workforce Development and Small Business Application; Landowner management; Legal Issues; Water and Wells; Community Development; Taxation, Revenues, and Property Valuation; State and National Energy Plans. Local government officials, landowner coalition representatives, citizens seeking more information, industry representatives, environmental advocates, and researchers and educators are encouraged to attend. Fee: $40. Suggested donation for van pooling: $5. Van pool leaves CCE-Tompkins at 7:45am. Visit gasleasing.cce.cornell.edu for a link to detailed information and to register for the summit.