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TU is building a strong brook trout conservation program that runs up the spine of the Appalachian mountains from Georgia to Maine. Some of our most important efforts include our volunteer driven Back the Brookie campaign in the Southeast, our recently released New England brook trout report, and our role in a joint effort by states, federal agencies, and conservation groups to develop a comprehensive brook trout management plan. In 2005, we are also kicking off an effort to protect the Rapid River in Maine from invasive smallmouth bass.

Read more about brrokies on the TU Web Site

Last Updated on Friday, 23 October 2009 17:33

Complete Text of DEC's Mitigation Strategies

Written by Bob Wesolowski
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 15:51
On September 30, 2009, New York state released its draft supplemental generic environmental impact statement (DSGEIS) for gas drilling in Marcellus Shales. Once finalized, the document will provide a regulatory framework for how the gas industry must operate when drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Listed here are two links to the complete draft. Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program [Download the PDF file ]
Last Updated on Friday, 23 October 2009 16:40

TU Comments on Marcellus Shale Draft Report

Written by Bob Wesolowski
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 15:48
September 30, 2009: This evening, New York state released its draft supplemental generic environmental impact statement (DSGEIS) for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. This 800-plus page document, once finalized, will provide the regulatory framework for how the gas industry must operate when drilling in the Marcellus Shale in New York state. “To date, New York state’s approach been both cautionary and proactive,” said Elizabeth Maclin, TU’s Vice President for Eastern Conservation. “Unlike other states in the Marcellus Shale region, New York has not jumped the gun on gas drilling and has required a thorough regulatory analysis prior to allowing any gas company to drill in the state. Trout Unlimited and its New York Council commend the state for this,” Maclin said.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:12
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Marcellus Shale Expanded Generic Environmental Impact Statement Released for Public Comment

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 15:42

News From New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

9/30/2009
For more information contact: Yancey Roy, 518-402-8000

DEC Proposes New Safety Measures, Mitigation Strategies to Govern Potential Marcellus Shale Drilling

Expanded Generic Environmental Impact Statement Released for Public Comment

ALBANY, NY (09/30/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released a draft of the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) governing potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale formation, Commissioner Pete Grannis announced.

The SGEIS addresses the range of potential impacts of shale gas development using horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing and outlines safety measures, protection standards and mitigation strategies that operators would have to follow to obtain permits. Natural gas drilling presents economic development and job creation opportunities, and can help achieve state energy policy goals. As there are also potential environmental impacts, Governor David A. Paterson directed DEC to prepare the SGEIS. Among the highlights:

Pre-drilling

· Disclosure of Fracturing Fluids: Every applicant must include disclosure of the "frac" fluid compositions and the percentages of chemicals to be used for each well.

· Water Well Testing: Prior to drilling, private wells within 1,000 feet of the drill site will be tested to provide baseline information and allow for ongoing monitoring. If there are no wells within 1,000 feet, the survey area will extend to 2,000 feet.

· Water Consumption: Companies will not only have to follow Susquehanna River Basin Commission and Delaware River Basin Commission protocols for water withdrawl where applicable, but also must complete a more stringent and protective streamflow analysis in regards to water withdrawal plans – whether inside or outside the Susquehanna or Delaware basins.

· Technical Compliance: Prior to hydraulically fracturing a well, operators must complete a new "Pre-Frac Checklist and Certification Form" to ensure technical compliance with the permit and to provide information regarding final well-bore construction and hydraulic fracturing operations.

· Mitigation planning: All operators are required to prepare plans for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, visual impacts and noise impacts prior to commencing operations. In addition, if a drilling company has not reached a road-use agreement with the local government, a trucking plan containing the estimated amount of trucking, approach for avoiding peak traffic hours, appropriate off-road parking/staging areas, and routes must be submitted.

Drilling and Post-Drilling

· In primary and principle aquifer areas: a) state inspectors must be present when operators commence cementing well-bore casings; b) more stringent drilling and casing requirements are applicable; c) special requirements are imposed to expeditiously remove fluids from on-site reserve pits or well pad tanks. This last requirement also applies in the NYC Watershed.

· Flowback (wastewater) handling on-site: Operators choosing to store flowback on-site must use steel tanks to protect the environment.

· Centralized flowback storage: If an operator proposes using a centralized impoundment (centralized flowback storage) to serve multiple sites, it must use a double-liner system similar to those required for landfills, provide fencing and off-sets to prevent public access and employ measures to protect wildlife. In addition, state solid waste landfill requirements and dam safety regulations will apply to construction of any centralized storage impoundments.

· Centralized flowback impoundments are prohibited within boundaries of public water supplies (including the New York City Watershed).

· Tracking flowback disposal: Before a permit is issued, the operator must disclose plans for disposal of flowback. Further, a new "Drilling and Production Waste Tracking" process (similar to the process for medical waste) will be used to monitor disposal. Full analysis and approvals under state water laws and regulations will be required before a water treatment facility can accept flowback from drilling operations.

· NYC Watershed and other sensitive areas: The SGEIS contains a number of mitigation measures aimed specifically at protecting the NYC Watershed. Among them, the SGEIS defines buffer zones around reservoirs and other water bodies in the Watershed. Wells proposed within a 1,000-foot corridor of water tunnels or aqueducts will require special approvals – including a site specific Environmental Impact Statement and review by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Consistent with the requirements for primary and principle aquifers, fluids may not be kept on-site more than 7 days. In addition, as in other sensitive areas, centralized flowback impoundments are prohibited.

· Floodplains: On-site reserve pits are banned in floodplains – closed-loop tank systems are required instead to protect against potential spills.

· Stormwater control: Drilling operations will be subject to a comprehensive, multi-sector general permit for industrial activities as well as special permit conditions.

The SGEIS, available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/47554.html, expands on the comprehensive Generic Environmental Impact Statement, adopted in 1992, that has prescribed the requirements for the drilling of thousands of oil and gas wells in New York State.

The public comment period on the draft will be open until November 30. DEC will accept comments in writing, either via e-mail, regular mail, direct online submissions or delivered at public-information sessions. The SGEIS web page will contain detailed instructions for submitting comments.

In addition, DEC soon will announce times and locations for a series of public-information sessions. For additional information regarding the draft SGEIS and background material regarding the Marcellus shale formation and gas drilling in New York State, please visit the Marcellus Shale webpage at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/46288.html. For information about the long history of oil and gas drilling in New York, the more than 13,000 currently active wells and production data, go to DEC's oil and gas web page,

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 22:50

DEC discovers fish virus at local hatchery

Written by William Coetzee
Saturday, 28 March 2009 09:36
By Ted Waddell LIVINGSTON MANOR — When the owners of a local privately-owned fish hatchery recently sent samples of their trout to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Fish Disease Control Unit in Rome, N.Y., fish pathologists discovered the fish were infected with a virus called Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN), along with two types of bacteria – furunculosis and enteric red mouth.
Last Updated on Friday, 23 October 2009 16:35
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NY state says nuke plant kills too many fish

The huge numbers of fish sucked to their death by the cooling system at the Indian Point nuclear plant prove that the system harms the Hudson River environment, a state official has ruled. <read more>

Piranha-like fish hooked in Putnam pond

PUTNAM VALLEY - A longtime fisherman got a big surprise yesterday when he hooked a 16-inch saucer-shaped fish that had a mouthful of teeth.

"It looked like a piranha to me," said Fred Hankins, who clearly knows his perch from his bass and enjoys throwing his line into Kramers Pond looking for a good catch. "At first, I thought it might have been a bream because of its (large) size, but then I saw the mouth."

Press Release by DEC: Delaware river basin commision states join in emergency thermal release program

For Release: :IMMEDIATE Contact: Lori O’Connell
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 (518) 402-8000

AGREEMENT REACHED: DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION STATES JOIN IN EMERGENCY THERMAL RELEASE PROGRAM FOR FISHERY PROTECTION

In response to the potential of unseasonably high air temperatures in the upper Delaware River Basin this summer and the effects of rising water temperatures on the river’s renowned fishery, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the City of New York, the “decree parties” that share management responsibility of the New York City Delaware River reservoirs and their tailwaters, unanimously approved a temporary program to protect this vital recreational fishing resource.

Under the agreement, known as the “Interim Excess Release Quantity Extraordinary Needs Bank for an Emergency Thermal Releases Program for Fishery Protection,” DEC is authorized to make emergency releases from a bank of nearly one billion gallons of water in the Cannonsville Reservoir to moderate temperature spikes until September 15, 2008. It is anticipated that this bank of water should be sufficient to address thermal needs of the upper main stem of the Delaware River under extreme conditions. Releases will occur when the three-day average of forecasted daily maximum air temperatures for the Hancock, NY vicinity exceeds 90 degrees F and the minimum exceeds 65 degrees F. Air temperature forecasts will come from DEC’s meteorological staff working in conjunction with the National Weather Service.

“Water-release management is complex and requires an appropriate balance among issues involving drinking water supply, aquatic habitat, flood risks, recreation, and even hydropower production,” Commissioner Grannis said. “New York State is committed to continued and cooperative efforts to optimize the management of these critically important water resources to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

During periods of low flow and relatively high water temperatures, DEC recommends that anglers consider delaying their trout fishing outings until the river conditions become less stressful for fish and that fishing trips occur early in the morning when water temperatures are at their lowest point in the day.

“While we are doing our best to manage the trout resources of the Delaware tailwaters, anglers can help by minimizing their interactions with fish when conditions are most severe,” added Grannis.

While the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) should primarily provide habitat and temperatures suitable for trout on the West Branch of the Delaware and the upper sections of the East Branch and Neversink River, use of the emergency bank will help abate extremely high water temperature events in the upper reaches of the Delaware’s main stem. The bank will enable DEC to provide a plume of cold water below the confluence with the East Branch to the extent possible and increase flows so that trout will be able to move to thermal refuge areas.

The main stem is vulnerable during periods of high temperature when large volumes of warm water from the East Branch enter the main stem at Hancock and there are no directed releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir to counter this inflow.

The DEC will continue to work with the decree parties to further improve upon the reservoir water release schedule specified in the current FFMP and provide improved thermal habitat on the main stem Delaware River to the extent feasible given other pressing considerations.