To the Editor:
(Canastota, NY- April 2013) Although Oneida County has no impending leases, citing health and environmental concerns, the Oneida County Board of Legislators banned leasing county land for natural gas extraction. As there are now proposals (Section 23-1101 of the Environmental Conservation Law) to lease state lands for the purpose of high-volume hydraulic fracturing, it was an important, timely and right decision to make.
A major concern with gas leasing is that many private owners border these public lands. As a result, public lands could be used in the calculation for compulsory integration. Through compulsory integration, private landowners who do not wish to lease their land could be forced into giving up their subsurface land rights against their will. (Once a gas company leases 60 percent of land in a spacing unit, the remaining 40 percent in the spacing area can be taken through compulsory integration.)
The combination of leasing public land and compulsory integration allows the industry to lock up as much land as easily as possible while putting all landowners at risk of having drilling under their land.
Another concern is industrialization of state forests and county lands, requiring access roads and pipelines. Gas drilling is a heavy industrial activity that has destroyed forests in other states. According to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study, gas drilling is leading to “forest fragmentation,” a situation where forested areas get “carved up” with roadways and drill pads that lead to limiting the geographic habitat area for some species of animals.
Other counties have also banned fracking on county lands: Ontario, Sullivan, Onondaga, Ulster, Dutchess, Broome and Tompkins. Anyone who believes in responsible caring of resources or just wants the right to their own property should be thankful to their county legislators that protected their health and welfare.
Madison County has not enacted a ban on leasing county land, a ban on spreading gas well brine on roads or a road use plan; without restrictions on the gas industry, there is an open pathway for development. Why is this when overwhelmingly residents do not want this heavy industry of hydrofracking? To guard your right to your own land and to be able to enjoy fishing, hunting and hiking, please contact your county supervisor and request protective laws be put in place to safeguard your family and community.
Cheryl Cary, Canastota