The SGEIS addresses shale gas development using horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, and outlines regulations that operators would have to follow to obtain permits.
Among the highlights:
Pre-drilling:
-
Disclosure of fracturing fluids: Every applicant must include disclosure of the
"frac" fluid compositions and the percentages of chemicals to be used
for each well.
- Water well
testing: Prior to drilling, private wells within 1,000 feet of the drill site
will be tested to provide baseline information and allow for ongoing
monitoring. If there are no wells within 1,000 feet, the survey area will
extend to 2,000 feet.
- Water consumption:
Companies not only will have to follow Susquehanna River Basin Commission and
Delaware River Basin Commission protocols for water withdrawal where
applicable, but also must complete a more stringent and protective streamflow
analysis in regards to water withdrawal plans – whether inside or outside the
Susquehanna or Delaware basins.
- Technical
compliance: Prior to hydraulically fracturing a well, operators must complete a
new "Pre-Frac Checklist and Certification Form" to ensure technical
compliance with the permit and to provide information regarding final well-bore
construction and hydraulic fracturing operations.
- Mitigation planning: All operators are required to prepare plans for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, visual impacts and noise impacts prior to commencing operations. In addition, if a drilling company has not reached a road-use agreement with the local government, a trucking plan containing the estimated amount of trucking, approach for avoiding peak traffic hours, appropriate off-road parking/staging areas, and routes must be submitted.
- In
primary and principle aquifer areas: a) state inspectors must be present when
operators commence cementing well-bore casings; b) more stringent drilling and
casing requirements are applicable; c) special requirements are imposed to
expeditiously remove fluids from on-site reserve pits or well pad tanks. This
last requirement also applies in the NYC Watershed.
- Flowback
(wastewater) handling on-site: Operators choosing to store flowback on-site
must use steel tanks to protect the environment.
- Centralized
flowback storage: If an operator proposes using a centralized impoundment
(centralized flowback storage) to serve multiple sites, it must use a
double-liner system similar to those required for landfills, provide fencing
and off-sets to prevent public access and employ measures to protect wildlife.
In addition, state solid waste landfill requirements and dam safety regulations
will apply to construction of any centralized storage impoundments.
- Centralized
flowback impoundments are prohibited within boundaries of public water supplies
(including the New York City Watershed).
- Tracking flowback
disposal: Before a permit is issued, the operator must disclose plans for
disposal of flowback. Further, a new "Drilling and Production Waste
Tracking" process (similar to the process for medical waste) will be used
to monitor disposal. Full analysis and approvals under state water laws and
regulations will be required before a water treatment facility can accept
flowback from drilling operations.
- NYC Watershed and
other sensitive areas: The SGEIS contains a number of mitigation measures aimed
specifically at protecting the NYC Watershed. Among them, the SGEIS defines
buffer zones around reservoirs and other water bodies in the Watershed. Wells
proposed within a 1,000-foot corridor of water tunnels or aqueducts will
require special approvals – including a site specific Environmental Impact
Statement and review by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.
Consistent with the requirements for primary and principle aquifers, fluids may
not be kept on-site more than 7 days. In addition, as in other sensitive areas,
centralized flowback impoundments are prohibited.
- Floodplains:
On-site reserve pits are banned in floodplains – closed-loop tank systems are
required instead to protect against potential spills.
- Stormwater control: Drilling operations will be subject to a comprehensive, multi-sector general permit for industrial activities as well as special permit conditions.
The SGEIS, available on the DEC Web site, expands on the Generic Environmental Impact Statement, adopted in 1992, that has outlined requirements for drilling oil and gas wells in New York State.
The public comment period on the draft will be open until Nov. 30. DEC will accept comments in writing – via e-mail, regular mail or direct online submissions, or delivered at public-information sessions. In addition, DEC will announce times and locations for a series of public-information sessions. For additional information regarding the draft SGEIS and background material regarding the Marcellus Shale and gas drilling in New York State, visit the Marcellus Shale page on the DEC Web site: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/46288.html
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