New York Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Summit: Challenges and Opportunities Monday, November 30, 2009

Cornell Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with a number of local and statewide partners, will host a Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Summit at the Owego Treadway Inn, in Owego, NY, on Monday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Local government officials, landowner coalition representatives, citizens seeking more information, industry representatives, environmental advocates, and researchers and educators are encouraged to attend.

“The summit’s goals and objectives are to inform and educate; prepare for challenges and opportunities; gather information for ongoing research; and promote networking among multiple stakeholders,” said Rod Howe, assistant director of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The summit coincides with the end of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s comment period for the supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (sGEIS) on November 30. That document is available at www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html.

Legislative and regulatory controls are being scrutinized as intensive gas drilling of the Marcellus Shale has the potential to transform the fabric of many—especially rural—communities in New York State in ways that are both positive and negative. Intensive natural gas development in other states has been accompanied by substantial changes in population, land use, environment, community, and economy.

The summit will address two key questions: Where do the people and the communities of New York State go from here in addressing the myriad issues associated with gas drilling? What strategies can be implemented to protect the environment and help the regional economy?

“When concerned parties are proactively engaged in education and dialogue, they are better prepared to anticipate, shape, and respond to changes,” said Howe. “And the more likely it is that negative impacts will be minimized and positive aspects realized.”

Cornell faculty and educators will join with other professionals to address such educational workshop topics as the Geology of the Shale; Municipalities and the Marcellus Shale; Environmental, Water and Regulatory Issues; Local Government Preparation; Workforce Development and Small Business Application; Landowner management; Legal Issues; Water and Wells; Community Development; Taxation, Revenues, and Property Valuation; State and National Energy Plans.

The summit is open to the public and will cost $40. Summit information, including a registration link, may be found at gasleasing.cce.cornell.edu.

The summit is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Key partners include the Association of Towns of New York State, Cornell University Department of Natural Resources, Cornell’s Community and Rural Development Institute, the Paleontological Research Institution and Museum of the Earth, and the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board.