Albany, NY, Aug 19, 2011 — As New York wrestles with how to regulate gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, the Department of Environmental Conservation is bringing together people from both the gas industry and environmental groups to weigh in on the issue. The group met for the first time yesterday. WMHT's Marie Cusick reports from Albany for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Manlius, NY, Aug 18, 2011 — Yesterday we heard a cautionary story about "landmen" - the people who handle drilling leases and mineral rights for natural gas companies. Today, a state law some say is being used to force property-owners to sign on the dotted line.

Most people agree it's wrong to just take someone's property and give it to someone else. But there's a gray area in the rules for natural gas drilling. It's called compulsory integration.
Emma Jacobs has this report for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Oswego, NY, Aug 17, 2011 — Landmen are the advance men of drilling and mining development. They negotiate mineral rights, leases, they clear titles. They handle all sorts of business arrangements between the landowner and the company that wants to mine or drill.

When landmen sit down with property owners over an oil and gas lease, there can be a lot of money at stake. As Emma Jacobs reports, these kitchen table discussions are the front lines of the controversial expansion of natural gas drilling.

Support for the Innovation Trail comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Innovation Trail is a collaboration between five upstate public media outlets, reporting about New York's innovation economy.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Aug 16, 2011 — More than 70 environmental and government reform groups are calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo's Environmental Department to extend to six months the amount of time for public comments on proposed rules for hydraulic fracturing in New York. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Aug 10, 2011 — New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is proposing a remedial fund for hydro fracking, similar to the state's oil spill fund, to reimburse citizens if they suffer environmental damage from the gas drilling process. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Ithaca, NY, Jul 22, 2011 — Tompkins County, headquartered in progressively-minded Ithaca, has a reputation for being opposed to hydrofracking. In fact, the town of Ithaca was among the first in the state to ban hydrofracking.

But Tompkins County is out front on getting ready for the reality of fracking. Officials are pushing lots of paper as the county gets set for the impacts on the local economy and infrastructure -- as well as the environment. Emma Jacobs reports for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 04, 2011 — Governor Cuomo's environmental commissioner laid out plans for hydrofracking in New York. Joe Martens said he believes the controversial method of extracting natural gas can be done safely.

Martens detailed the Department of Environmental Conservation's planned safeguards one day after the agency revealed it planned to allow fracking on privately owned lands in the state. But environmentalists are skeptical.
Karen DeWitt has more.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 01, 2011 — Governor Cuomo's Environmental commissioner laid out plans Friday for going ahead with hydrofracking in New York, saying he believes it can be done safely.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 01, 2011 — After a lot of controversy, Governor Andrew Cuomo's Environmental Commissioner says New York will permit the natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, to proceed with some limitations.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jun 29, 2011 — Although the DEC has been working on a study about hydrofracking in New York's Marcellus Shale for four years, they have not finished a draft requested for Friday by the Cuomo administration. Emma Jacobs from the Innovation Trail has more.  Go to full article