January 10, 2011

Final NY Forest Plan Allows Hydro-Fracking

The NYS DEC's environmental notice bulletin reported on Dec. 29, 2010, that the DEC, as lead agency, has accepted a Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Final Strategic Plan for State Forest Management. Copies of the Final Strategic Plan and Final GEIS are available online at: www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html.

The final plan calls for permitting gas drilling using the techniques of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the state forests. Many comments received on the draft plan issued Sept. 1, 2010, objected to this aspect of the plan. The comments filed by the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) assert that "the DEC is incorrect in concluding that high volume hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking for natural gas drilling and deep water injection for fracking fluid is a consistent use for any state forest. Such uses would not only put the forests' health at risk, but could also compromise water supplies for many southern tier communities."