Statement from Senator George Maziarz

As a proponent of safe drilling in the Marcellus Shale, I’m very encouraged by the draft SGEIS study released today.

The DEC appears to be making substantial efforts to make sure that all impacts of the hydrofracking process are taken into account, and that all of the advocates on both sides of the issue have a greater opportunity to make their voices heard.  The public hearing process should favor a measured, factual, and reasoned discussion—not an exchange of soundbytes and hysterics.  The issue is far too important to our future.

This report, along with the concurrent development of the appropriate DEC regulations, will lead to the start of drilling in a safe manner that will be a boon to the Upstate economy and our energy supply.  As the report shows, hydrofracking will create as many as 25,000 full-time jobs with a total payroll of nearly $2 billion.  The new infusion of natural gas will also make our state more energy independent and help lower energy costs.

I commend Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Martens for pushing this forward as a major priority for New York.

#####