Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
by Brian Nearing
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is unlikely to extend its 60-day comment period on proposed rules to control natural gas hydrofracking, Commissioner Joe Martens said Monday.
Speaking before the Times Union Editorial Board, Martens said anyone who wants to comment on the 1,100-page draft rules -- released last month -- are actually getting more than 60 days to react since the draft won't be finalized until later this summer, which will start the 60-day period.
"I am inclined to stick with the 60 days," said Martens.
In 2009, when DEC first unveiled proposed draft rules on hydrofracking, there were nearly 14,000 comments for the department to consider, prompting the department to come back with the revised draft rules.
Martens said the department will consider some changes before rules are made final, including whether to increase the financial security that well drillers must provide to pay for the cost of unforeseen environmental cleanups.
Currently, a well owner must post only $5,000, usually in the form of a bond. That amount has not changed in decades, and some opponents to hydrofracking said it is woefully inadequate to deal with spills or other potential pollution from wells.
Such possible changes to the draft regulations, as well as an examination of how DEC will handle enforcement of its rules, will be examined by a 12-member advisory group appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Martens said the first meeting of that group is being scheduled for later this month.
He said the advisory group does not have a deadline for making its recommendation. That means the public comment period could end before possible changes offered by the advisory board would be made public.
Copyright (c) 2011, Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
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