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TU Comments on Marcellus Shale Draft Report |
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Written by Bob Wesolowski
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009 15:48 |
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September 30, 2009: This evening, New York state released its draft supplemental generic environmental impact statement (DSGEIS) for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. This 800-plus page document, once finalized, will provide the regulatory framework for how the gas industry must operate when drilling in the Marcellus Shale in New York state.
“To date, New York state’s approach been both cautionary and proactive,” said Elizabeth Maclin, TU’s Vice President for Eastern Conservation. “Unlike other states in the Marcellus Shale region, New York has not jumped the gun on gas drilling and has required a thorough regulatory analysis prior to allowing any gas company to drill in the state. Trout Unlimited and its New York Council commend the state for this,” Maclin said.
Drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale is one of the most—if not the most—significant issues to impact New York’s native and wild trout fisheries in decades as well as local drinking water supplies. It is critical that it be done in a way that protects these resources for future generations of sportsmen,” said Ron Urban, TU’s New York Council Chair, of Port Ewen, N.Y.
“As with any regulations, careful analysis is required to determine exactly how strong the protections will be for New York’s expansive resources,” said Maclin. “Trout Unlimited and its 7,500 New York members look forward to carefully reviewing and commenting on the state’s draft report.”
New York state is providing 60 days for the public to comment on its plan to move forward with drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Trout Unlimited asks Governor David Paterson and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis to extend the comment period to at least 90 days in order to allow the public a thorough review of the document.
Erin Mooney
National Press Secretary
Trout Unlimited
1300 North 17th St.,Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209
703.284.9408 office
571.331.7970 cell
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:12 |
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NY state says nuke plant kills too many fish
| The huge numbers of fish sucked to their death by the cooling system at the Indian Point nuclear plant prove that the system harms the Hudson River environment, a state official has ruled. <read more> |
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Piranha-like fish hooked in Putnam pond
PUTNAM VALLEY - A longtime fisherman got a big surprise yesterday when he hooked a 16-inch saucer-shaped fish that had a mouthful of teeth. "It looked like a piranha to me," said Fred Hankins, who clearly knows his perch from his bass and enjoys throwing his line into Kramers Pond looking for a good catch. "At first, I thought it might have been a bream because of its (large) size, but then I saw the mouth." <read more> |
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Press Release by DEC: Delaware river basin commision states join in emergency thermal release program
For Release: :IMMEDIATE Contact: Lori O’Connell
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 (518) 402-8000
AGREEMENT REACHED: DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION STATES JOIN IN EMERGENCY THERMAL RELEASE PROGRAM FOR FISHERY PROTECTION
In response to the potential of unseasonably high air temperatures in the upper Delaware River Basin this summer and the effects of rising water temperatures on the river’s renowned fishery, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the City of New York, the “decree parties” that share management responsibility of the New York City Delaware River reservoirs and their tailwaters, unanimously approved a temporary program to protect this vital recreational fishing resource.
Under the agreement, known as the “Interim Excess Release Quantity Extraordinary Needs Bank for an Emergency Thermal Releases Program for Fishery Protection,” DEC is authorized to make emergency releases from a bank of nearly one billion gallons of water in the Cannonsville Reservoir to moderate temperature spikes until September 15, 2008. It is anticipated that this bank of water should be sufficient to address thermal needs of the upper main stem of the Delaware River under extreme conditions. Releases will occur when the three-day average of forecasted daily maximum air temperatures for the Hancock, NY vicinity exceeds 90 degrees F and the minimum exceeds 65 degrees F. Air temperature forecasts will come from DEC’s meteorological staff working in conjunction with the National Weather Service.
“Water-release management is complex and requires an appropriate balance among issues involving drinking water supply, aquatic habitat, flood risks, recreation, and even hydropower production,” Commissioner Grannis said. “New York State is committed to continued and cooperative efforts to optimize the management of these critically important water resources to the benefit of all stakeholders.”
During periods of low flow and relatively high water temperatures, DEC recommends that anglers consider delaying their trout fishing outings until the river conditions become less stressful for fish and that fishing trips occur early in the morning when water temperatures are at their lowest point in the day.
“While we are doing our best to manage the trout resources of the Delaware tailwaters, anglers can help by minimizing their interactions with fish when conditions are most severe,” added Grannis.
While the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) should primarily provide habitat and temperatures suitable for trout on the West Branch of the Delaware and the upper sections of the East Branch and Neversink River, use of the emergency bank will help abate extremely high water temperature events in the upper reaches of the Delaware’s main stem. The bank will enable DEC to provide a plume of cold water below the confluence with the East Branch to the extent possible and increase flows so that trout will be able to move to thermal refuge areas.
The main stem is vulnerable during periods of high temperature when large volumes of warm water from the East Branch enter the main stem at Hancock and there are no directed releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir to counter this inflow.
The DEC will continue to work with the decree parties to further improve upon the reservoir water release schedule specified in the current FFMP and provide improved thermal habitat on the main stem Delaware River to the extent feasible given other pressing considerations. |
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