Conservation Update

ADK Testimony to the New York State Assembly,
Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation
Hearing: Oil and Natural Gas Drilling
October 29, 2008

The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) thanks the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation for the opportunity to submit written comments. ADK will present our concerns for the potential environmental and recreational impacts that increased natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale may have on New York. The Adirondack Mountain Club is dedicated to conservation, education, outdoor recreation and protection of New York’s Forest Preserve, parks, wild lands and waters. ADK represents over 30,000 hikers, paddlers, skiers and backpackers.


Many of our environmental colleagues have adequately expressed the water pollution and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staffing problems that will arise due to increased drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation, therefore, ADK would like to focus the Committee’s attention on the land surface impacts.


The Marcellus Shale formation lies beneath a large portion of Western and Central New York. While ADK reveres the Adirondack and Catskill Mountain ranges for their grandness, there are many valuable State Parks, Wild life Management Area and State Forests in Central and Western New York that are extremely important to our members, especially in our Western New York chapters.


ADK is concerned about the State of New York leasing land for these environmentally disruptive drilling practices. While certain entities are entitled to their existing lease rights on state managed forest land, we would oppose any effort by the state to grant new or expanded leases to private entities for oil, gas or mineral exploration. Hydraulic fracturing under state managed forests and state parks is inconsistent for their intended purpose.


We are also concerned by proposals to grant new or expanded leases for natural gas or oil extraction that would result in new roads, gas transmission lines and extraction infrastructure on state managed forest lands, wildlife management areas and state parks. With the extremely large amount of water that the “hydro-fracking” process involves, hauling water into drilling sites may be necessary if municipal water is not available. Estimates of increased truck traffic are hundreds per day. A large increase in truck traffic has the potential to disrupt the natural character of many state parks and forest lands in Central and Western New York. This natural experience is highly desired by our members and valuable to New York as tourism opportunities.


The process for testing the ground for resources does not come without disruption either. “Thumper trucks,” that have disturbed people in residential neighborhoods, are feared to have negative impacts on the wildlife in this part of the State. Even with the large shale formation becoming more and more economical to tap into, building wells and the drilling process are still very expensive, therefore, frequent testing using the “thumper trucks” is inevitable to ensure drillers of the locations where it is worthwhile to drill. However, the public and wildlife disruptions should be regulated.


The original intent of preserving forest areas and state parks in this region, such as Allegany State Park, Letchworth State Park, and Watkins Glen State Park, is to provide a natural experience to the public for recreation and scenic values. The potential increase in man’s industrial existence cannot be ignored. The cumulative impacts of all processes and stages of natural gas drilling must be minimized.


Lastly, disruption of natural lands and creation of temporary roads for trucks attracts many “thrillcraft” riders such as ATV and dirt bike enthusiasts who are seeking challenging and muddy terrain. ADK fears that increased ATV use can lead to trespass on State Park lands and scenic hiking trail systems.


State Parks in Western New York are valuable to the State’s tourism economy. New York’s state park system provides visitors with a near wilderness experience that is often more accessible than the more distant lands of the Adirondacks and Catskills. State parks are also family friendly places for the public to learn more about how to safely recreate in the backcountry before they venture to the Adirondacks and Catskill.
These forest lands are very important to the health of New York’s ecology as well as to the health of New York’s residents. The Finger Lakes Trail is a valuable natural recreational destination for many ADK members, especially for our Western NY chapters. This trail system runs right over the Marcellus Shale formation and provides a remote and natural experience that is easily accessible to western New York’s ADK members who prefer to stay close to home for recreational outings. This trail system also attracts tourists into this area of the State because it is also part of the North Country National Scenic Trail System.


ADK wants appropriate measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to ensure the protection of these forest lands’ scenic and recreational character. ADK understands the economic hardships facing New York State but stresses that we must not allow our unique historic and natural environment to be sacrificed to industrialization for short term energy resource opportunities. Economic growth and environmental sustainability can be achieved with cooperation between state and local governments, residents, and the environmental community. Thank you for the opportunity to express our concerns and opinions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.


Respectfully Submitted,

Allison D. Beals
Director of Government Relations and Conservation
Adirondack Mountain Club
301 Hamilton St.
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 449-3870
(518) 449-3875 (fax)
e-mail

DEC plans a series of public meetings on gas drilling. Click here for more information.