'Fracking' Comment Period Firm

- 'Fracking' Comment Period Firm

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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BOEMRE Calls for Comment on Newfield Revised EP

BOEMRE Calls for Comment on Newfield Revised EP

U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) on Wednesday announced that public comment is invited with respect to an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Revised Exploration Plan (EP) submitted by Newfield Exploration Company. This Revised EP involves deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico and will be completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.

The Revised EP includes four proposed exploratory wells in approximately 6, 990 feet water depth, approximately 66 miles offshore Louisiana. Consistent with federal regulations, an EP is deemed "submitted" once all supporting materials and documentation has been provided. Once a plan is deemed submitted, BOEMRE has 30 calendar days to analyze and evaluate it. For more information on pending plans, go to: http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/offshore/safety/well_permits.html.

As part of its review, the bureau will prepare an EA specific to the proposed exploration activities. Upon completion of the technical and environmental review, BOEMRE must decide whether to approve the plan, require modifications, or disapprove the plan. An exploration plan describes all exploration activities planned by the operator for a specific lease or leases, including the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each planned well, and other relevant information that needs to meet important safety standards.

The 30-day time frame for review includes a 10-day public comment period to allow an opportunity to review and comment on the issues that should be considered by BOEMRE in preparing the EA for the plan. In an effort to make the comment opportunity more accessible, the public can both view and provide comments on agency documents at: http://www.boemre.gov/PublicComment.htm.

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