Marcellus & Utica Shale Gas Drilling

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Tompkins County Planning Department staff and WRC and EMC advisory boards have sent comments to DEC on the proposed regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing.  

• Planning Staff comments
• Water Resources Council comments
• Environmental Management Council's Gas Drilling Working Group comments

"The Environmental and Occupational Health Impacts of High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing of Unconventional Gas Reserves" is a new policy statement from the American Public Health Association  (Jan 2013). National Geographic schematic showing the stages of shale gas from drilling to hydrofracking. 

 "Water's Journey Through the Shale Gas Drilling and Production Processes in the Mid-Atlantic Region" funded by Mid-Atlantic Water Program. Limited number of  hard copy versions available at CCE-Tompkins. 

New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal Guide to Protecting Local Roads​ October 2012. 

Explore Shale: Marcellus Shale Development, Geology, and Water​ - Public Media at Penn State

Why There's No Such Thing as a Free MegaWatt: The Marcellus Shale as a Gateway Drug to Energy Literacy​ - The Paleontological Research Institution (2012)

Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Bradford and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010​ - by E. T. Slonecker, L. E. Milheim, C. M. Riog-Silva, A. R. Malizia, D. A. Marr, and G. B. Fisher. USGS. (9/5/2012)

A Quick Summary of Private Water Well Testing and Natural Gas Drilling in New York - by Amy Galford (8/29/2012)

Dissolved Methane in New York Groundwater, 1999-2011​ - By William M. Kappel and Elizabeth A. Nystrom. USGS. (9/4/2012)

Gas Drilling Education & CCE-Tompkins' Role

CCE-Tompkins is responding to a variety of community needs for information about natural gas exploration and drilling, especially in the Marcellus Shale layer.  In keeping with core principles and long-standing mission, CCE-Tompkins efforts are focused on education, training, and support so that county residents may carefully consider the potential risks and benefits. See the Gas Drilling Library for links to upcoming webinars, past presentations and links to key documents.

Using accurate information as the foundation for critical thinking allows people to engage in dialogue and decision-making that anticipates, shapes, and responds to changes that could happen if there is increased utilization of natural gas deposits. Informed decision making by residents and municipalities is essential when dealing with environmental, social and economic issues. Currently, CCE-Tompkins addresses gas drilling through its environment, consumer education and agriculture teams. Read More...

The map shows the thickness of Marcellus Shale. Modified from: United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2006-1237.