The Marcellus Shale - Environmental Issues

Landowners in New York State can only stare in envy as their neighbors across the border in Pennsylvania get rich from bonus money and royalty checks, as the moratorium on drilling continues in New York.

While most development activity in the Marcellus Shale is in Pennsylvania, the formation does extend into other states, including New York. In July 2008, New York Governor David Paterson put a moratorium on the issuing of permits for natural gas drilling while the Department of Environmental Conservation completes a review on the environmental impact of drilling activities.

This review is expected to focus especially hard on the effect of Hydraulic Fracturing on the water supply in the area. Also, the Marcellus Shale extends into the Catskill/Delaware Watershed, which supplies New York City with part of its daily water supply.