Reid Porter | 202.682.8114 | porterr@api.org

DANSVILLE, NY, November 16, 2011 – In a statement prepared for today's New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hearing, API Manager of External Mobilization Jon Shore said the "American public and all New Yorkers deserve an accurate and complete analysis of the environmental impacts of high volume hydrofracturing including the outstanding technical ability of the industry to minimize impacts in many different environments. Indeed, oil and gas companies have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to operate safely and responsibly in any environment. We therefore respectfully request that you eliminate all prohibitions, and review and fully justify any expanded setbacks balanced against economic impact.

"While the potential environmental impacts of natural gas drilling in New York are speculative at best, we know for sure that these prohibitions and setbacks will make certain areas uneconomic, result in greater surface footprint because additional wells will need to be drilled for the same spacing unit, result in less gas being produced because of stranded acreage, and significantly reduce or eliminate royalties to landowners."

Shore added that NY companies have an outstanding record of drilling in primary aquifers such as the Jamestown Aquifer where hundreds if not thousands of wells have been drilled and produced in several decades without any significant environmental impacts. An environmental record for which the Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Mineral Resources also deserves credit.

The full text of his prepared testimony is available here: