No Drilling in Allegany State Park
Don’t expect oil and gas drilling in Allegany State Park after all.
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed two pieces of legislation giving broad new protections against drilling in the park.
The legislation comes a couple years after U.S. Energy Development of Getzville, which has drilling operations in Western New York and Pennsylvania, said it had subsurface mineral rights in the park and wanted state approval to sink five test wells.
US Energy says it has claims on 2,800 acres in the Red House area of the park.
The two-bill package Cuomo signed says any oil and gas claim not actively used within the past 20 years shall be considered "extinguished" and the rights reverted to the state, and gives the state parks department powers over any effort to explore or drill within Allegany State Park.
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed two pieces of legislation giving broad new protections against drilling in the park.
The legislation comes a couple years after U.S. Energy Development of Getzville, which has drilling operations in Western New York and Pennsylvania, said it had subsurface mineral rights in the park and wanted state approval to sink five test wells.
US Energy says it has claims on 2,800 acres in the Red House area of the park.
The two-bill package Cuomo signed says any oil and gas claim not actively used within the past 20 years shall be considered "extinguished" and the rights reverted to the state, and gives the state parks department powers over any effort to explore or drill within Allegany State Park.
.jpg)
Comments