FREDONIA - On Monday, the State University at Fredonia will host a presentation by Dr. Kim Sherwood on "Shale Gas Recovery in New York State: A Broad Overview of the New York State DEC's Proposed Approach."
The presentation will take place in Thompson Hall W101 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Much of the discussion about shale gas drilling in New York has been polarized between environmental and economic perspectives. As a result, it seems many communities are avoiding any discussion of the topic. The presentation provides an overview of how the state Department of Environmental Conservation proposed to permit and regulate high-volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, as disclosed in the September 2011 revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement and draft regulations. The presentation highlights some of the differences between traditional vertical drilling that has occurred in the western part of the state, and HVHF horizontal drilling. It includes suggestions about some of the community planning preparations that could be done to be proactive, and provides references to New York and Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension and the state DEC websites for additional information.
Dr. Sherwood is a hydrologist and watershed planner. Originally from the Finger Lakes area of New York, he spent about 20 years in the western United States. His education was in forest resource management and forest hydrology. His career in the west included work for the federal Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, Weyerhaeuser Company and the City of Seattle. He returned to New York in 2003 and works as a private consultant helping landowners and municipalities address natural resource concerns. As a member of the Chautauqua County Water Quality Task Force, he has participated in three subcommittee reviews of HVHF horizontal drilling in New York State as per DEC's proposed protocols and regulations.
This presentation sponsored by the Environmental Sciences program. For more information, email Dr. Sherri A. Mason, coordinator of environmental sciences, at mason@fredonia.edu or call 673-3292.