Albany Law School hosts drilling debate

[hrmjustin]

By MATTHEW DONDIEGO

Late last month Albany Law School hosted a forum on hydraulic fracturing featuring a panel of leading environmentalist advocates and industry experts to discuss the consequences associated with the controversial gas extraction process.

The forum, called Fractured Communities: Hydraulic Fracturing and the Law in New York State, featured Elisabeth Radow, chair of the Committee on Energy, Agriculture and the Environment of the League of Women Voters of New York; Karen Moreau, executive director of New York State Petroleum Council; and Sorell Negro, an environmental lawyer with the law firm Robinson & Cole, and moderator Tom Wilber, author of the book Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale.

During the panel discussion, the participants argued over regulations attached to the natural gas drilling process, including whether there needs to be finalized regulations in place before making a decision whether or not to move forward with hydraulic fracking – the process of blasting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into rock formations to create fissures releasing natural gas – in New York state.

"[Technology is] always changing. So you need to be able to understand impact, to be able to understand how regulations work and what is required. You need to be able to understand what's possible, what's feasible," Negro said. "Even in the states that have traditionally been regulating industry, they're revisiting their regulations and updating them, responding to technology."

Read more at http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-10-15-85449.113122-Albany-Law-School-hosts-drilling-debate.html

[ABCin2014]

1. Transparency?

Last edited Tue Oct 15, 2013, 09:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Advocates on each side of the polarizing debate have urged for more public transparency in the state review process.

Following the panel discussion, Wilber said transparency plays a "critical role" in the decision making process for state residents and policy makers alike, continuing, "You really don't know what the health impacts are without knowing the exact environmental impacts.

Forget transparency with the Cuomo administration. He won't do anything until he has been re-elected governor, and then he will come out in favor of fracking.

[hrmjustin]

2. He may come out in favor of it but the assembly can stop it.

[hrmjustin]

3. Also welcome to DU and the New York room.