Published: November 06, 2009 07:29 am      

Public needs input on drilling regs

The state Department of Environment Conservation recently pushed back the public comment period on proposed regulations for natural-gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region of New York state.

Environmental activists and lawmakers had pressed for such changes, as many felt the 804-page document the state DEC had released _ the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, or SGEIS _ was too dense and important to be given only a cursory glance. Thankfully, now the deadline for public comments has been moved from Nov. 30 to Dec. 31. We applaud this decision and the efforts of lawmakers, including Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford, who worked to bring this to pass.

However, we are still disappointed the state DEC did not see fit to schedule a meeting for public comment in our area. As we have said previously, this is an issue that stands to affect our community and its environment in a multitude of ways. To not allow all voices to be heard before examining the SGEIS for approval is unacceptable.

In Thursday's edition of The Daily Star, Seward said he has written DEC Commissioner Alexander "Pete" Grannis to request additional hearing sites, including Oneonta. At this time, Seward said, the closest hearing site is more than an hour's drive for most of his constituents. We are pleased with Sen. Seward's efforts, and we hope the DEC will seriously consider bringing a public hearing to our area.

One option community members have is a meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the atrium of the Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street in Oneonta. The meeting _ hosted by the city of Oneonta and Otsego County _ will have attendees sign in beginning at 6 p.m.; five-minute presentations will be allowed based on the order of the sign-in sheet. A professional stenographer will record the comments and submit them to the state DEC.

We encourage concerned residents to attend this and other meetings and to further investigate the issues at www.dec.ny.gov/

energy/58440.html.

Unlike some, such as the environmental group Earthjustice that said in an Associated Press article that there should be a state ban on drilling in the watershed, we have no illusions that natural-gas drilling won't come to our area. A ban is not the answer, particularly for a country facing a looming energy crisis and a cash-strapped state such as New York. But proper regulations that are strictly enforced can allow for the enterprise of natural-gas drilling while protecting the quality of life and environment of our communities.