Politics on the Hudson

Environmental and public-health groups want the Assembly to pass a temporary moratorium on state permits for the practice of hydraulic fracturing—also known as hydrofracking—during Monday’s special session. The item is not on the agenda set by Gov. David Paterson, who called the session, but opponents of hydrofracking are optimistic the legislation could end up on the agenda, particularly in light of what Paterson said on WAMC radio in Albany Wednesday, said Erica Ringewald, spokeswoman for Environmental Advocates. Hydrofracking is a controlversial technique for extracting natural gas.

The governor said opponents of hydrofracking “have raised enough of an argument to thwart us going forward at this time.” Even with the “tremendous revenue” hydrofracking could bring in, the state doesn’t want to risk public safety or water quality, he said.

The Senate passed the moratorium legislation earlier this year. It would prohibit the state Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing any permits for hydrofracking in New York’s portion of the Marcellus Shale until May 15, 2011.

The natural-gas industry opposes the ban. The Independent Oil & Gas Association is asking Assembly members to oppose the bill because it would stop most oil and gas drilling that is currently allowed, intrude on the current work the Department of Environmental Conservation is doing and harm the entire industry in New York.

According to the Oil & Gas Association, the intent of the bill is to delay permitting for well drilling in the Marcellus Shale, but it would affect most oil and gas production statewide. Implementing a ban would lead to the loss of 5,000 jobs and jeopardize the $1 million the state collects each year from fees for drilling permits, the group said.

“The members of the Assembly must understand that the (bill) would jeopardize an industry that has operated safely in New York for more than 100 years and employs more than 5,000 people today,” Brad Gill, executive director of IOGA of New York, said in a statement. “We hope the Assembly will allow the DEC to complete its review of the state’s regulations governing high volume hydraulic fracturing and not cave to the smear campaign being waged by radical opponents against the people of our industry.”

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, Ontario County, said he thinks the issue should be put off until Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo takes office in January.

“Another month isn’t going to make a difference,” he said today.

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