Hamburg NY- The Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York is monitoring more than 50 pieces of legislation in the state assembly and senate. IOGA NY Executive Director Bradley Gill says two proposed moratoria represent the biggest danger.

Senator Antoine M. Thompson, D-Buffalo, introduced S 1829, which seeks to suspend all drilling and fracturing of the Marcellus and Utica shales until May 15, 2011, while the state reviews the technique's impact on water safety, air quality, and public health. According to the legislative Web site, S 1829 also will allow state legislators time to assess the impacts of horizontal drilling.

Assemblyman Steve Englebright, D- Setauket, introduced A 40490, and senator Joseph Addabbo, D-Howard Beach, is sponsoring parallel legislation, S 7592. According to the legislative Web site, the bills propose to stop natural gas exploration using hydralic fracturing in New York until 120 days after the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency  completes the fracturing study authorized by the federal 2010 Appropriations Act.

Excerpted from The American Oil & Gas Reporter July 2010