Study Examines Potential Impacts of High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing on New York's Forests

摘要

On 12/19/11 a study issued by The Nature Conservancy, authored by Cara Lee, Brad Stratton, Rebecca Shirer, and Ellen Weiss (members of the New York State Energy Team), purports to address a wide range of possible impacts on forests between the smallest and largest build-out scenarios for gas and oil well pad development. The report -- An Assessment of the Potential Impacts of High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF) on Forest Resources -- focuses on the potential cumulative impacts of high volume hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) on forests in Tioga County, in New York's Southern Tier. The Conservancy believes its analysis provides a better understanding of the trade-offs that must be considered as New York continues to evaluate Marcellus Shale natural gas development. Furthermore, the report considers the possible cumulative impacts of gas well development in Tioga County, as an example of how an assessment of cumulative impacts to forests can be carried out. Tioga was the county selected for analysis due to its location in the Marcellus Shale "fairway" and its proximity to active gas drilling in neighboring Pennsylvania counties.