ALBANY -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today announced it has extended the public comment period on the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement governing potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale formation from Nov. 30 to Dec. 31.

Many interested parties had sought a longer comment period, saying 60 days was not enough time to register concerns about exploration for natural gas in the rock formation extending from West Virginia to New York and said to potentially be among the world's largest gas-containing formations.

The DEC's document 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. The full draft is available on DEC's web site at www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html, along with highlights of the document at www.dec.ny.gov/press/58472.html.

Printed copies are available for review at DEC regional offices and most sub-offices and libraries that traditionally have served as repositories. A list of repositories (www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58672.html) can be found on DEC's web site.

DEC is offering four ways in which to submit comments. Comments may be provided at one of the scheduled public hearings (www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58705.html). There is an online submission system (www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/SGEISComments/) which will allow interested parties to write comments and tag them to specific areas of concern. Attachments can also be included. E-mail comments may be submitted to dmnsgeis@gw.dec.state.ny.us; please include your name, e-mail or return mail address to ensure notice of the Final SGEIS when it is available. Finally, written comments should be sent to: Attn: dSGEIS Comments, Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation, NYSDEC Division of Mineral Resources, 625 Broadway, Third Floor, Albany, NY 12233-6500.

The Tompkins County Council of Governments plans a public information session on the issue 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Unitarian Church, 306 N. Aurora St. in Ithaca.

Among those calling for an extension was U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“I am pleased that New York State has extended the comment period on drilling in the Marcellus Shale through the end of the year,” Gillibrand said. “While this proposal holds tremendous economic opportunity for New York, our quest for new sources of energy and growth cannot come at the expense of clean air and safe drinking water for New Yorkers. I commend New York State for allowing the public appropriate time to discuss the proposal.”

State Sen. James Seward, R-Oneonta, of the 51st District, which includes much of Tompkins County outside the city and town of Ithaca, also welcomed the extra time and again called for more public hearings.

“The proposed regulations are over 800 pages long, and it is reasonable to allow local government leaders and homeowners some extra time to review the document that will be used to regulate energy and environmental practices for years to come,” Seward said. “It is imperative that local citizens and governments are afforded every possible opportunity to comment before the regulations are finalized. With only four hearings scheduled, I feel many will be unfairly left out of the process.”

Seward has written a letter to DEC Commissioner Alexander Grannis requesting additional hearing sites, including Oneonta. Seward said the nearest public hearing site is more than an hour’s drive for many of his constituents.

“Utilizing the tremendous energy resources in the Marcellus Shale formation could play a significant role in helping us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while at the same time providing a boost to the local economy,” he said. “We must make sure, however, that our local governments are properly informed of drilling activities every step of the way, and that our roads and water supply are properly protected.”