fracking

New York's top court asked to hear fracking home rule cases

Kate O'Connell — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:02:00 +0000

New York’s top court has been asked to decide whether local governments can ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing.

Last month a mid-level appeals court ruled unanimously in favor of upholding local bans in the towns of Dryden and Middlefield, meaning there’s no requirement for the case to be taken up by the top court.

Court upholds 'home rule' over drilling laws

Matt Richmond and Matthew Leonard — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:48:42 +0000

In two separate rulings Thursday, New York's appellate court, the state's second highest court, ruled that the state's Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law (OGSML) does not preempt municipal land use laws.

A loose collection of groups makes up state's fracking opposition

David Chanatry — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:52:05 +0000

When philosophy professor Mike Gorr and his wife were looking for a place to retire, they took a trip from Illinois to the Finger Lakes region.

Fight to stop proposed gas storage facility continues with activists' release from jail

Sidsel Overgaard — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:58:01 +0000

Three opponents of a proposed gas storage facility near Seneca Lake were released from jail early Thursday. The activists were sentenced to fifteen days after trespassing on property owned by Inergy Corporation, but were released after about a week. Inergy is seeking approval to store millions of barrels of butane and propane in an old salt cavern near Watkins Glen.

Avon fracking ban upheld

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:31:54 +0000

The town of Avon has become the third community in upstate New York to win a court case over the right to ban fracking operations.

Fracking rule delays rile New Yorkers

David Chanatry — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:43:31 +0000

In New York, expected rules on hydro-fracking for natural gas are overdue, and leaders in Albany seem poised to slow the rule-making process further. The delays are not going over well with some people who hope to cash in on the gas boom.

Vermont - New York natural gas pipeline stirs debate

Sarah Harris — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:17:00 +0000

At a public meeting in Hinesburg, Vt. last month, residents crowded into the town hall to ask questions about a natural gas pipeline that might be going through their community.

Mark Ames wasn’t too happy. "I’m not interested in having a gas line either through in front of my house, 20 feet in front of my house, or behind my house, through my fields," he said.

Fracking opponents respond to new fracking regulations

Matt Richmond — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:38:19 +0000

Helen Slottje is an Ithaca-based lawyer who helped develop town bans against drilling. She spoke to a friendly crowd on Monday night at the Unitarian Church of Ithaca.

Fracking regulations released for comment

Matt Richmond — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:08:07 +0000

For those on the pro-fracking side, the newest regulations are both a good sign and a troubling one. On the one hand, they're a light at the end of the tunnel, proof that permits for hydrofracking aren’t far off. But, on the other hand, fracking supporters say that the Department of Environmental Conservation has only answered the concerns of the anti-fracking lobby.

Insurance industry prepares new products to deal with fracking

Matt Richmond — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Nationwide Insurance announced earlier this year that damage from hydraulic fracturing won't be covered under its homeowner policies.