A Proactive Municipal Response to Natural Gas Development in Upstate New York will be held at John W. Stewart Center for Student Activities (STUAC) at Morrisville State College (conveniently located off State Rte. 20 in southern Madison County). Immediately following the conference, tours will be offered of existing gas well development in the towns of Lebanon and Smyrna, which adjoin in Madison and Chenango counties and have more than 100 gas wells in various stages of operation, development and permitting.

Program
Welcome from Morrisville State College President Raymond Cross, Ph.D.
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – What Municipalities Can Do Regarding Natural Gas Development
11 a.m. to noon – Discussion, question and answer session and developing consensus on a comprehensive legislative agenda for local municipalities in the region to advance in Albany to address local concerns and impacts.

The conference, A Proactive Municipal Response to Natural Gas Development in Upstate New York, is suggested for elected and appointed town and county officials who are currently experiencing natural gas development activities in their communities or are located in the Marcellus Shale Reserve and expect such activity in the coming months and years.

Speakers include Kimberly Rea, Esq. Bosworth, Gray & Fuller, Environmental and Municipal Attorney; Mark R. Millspaugh, P.E., President of Sterling Engineering, PC, Latham, NY; and a panel of local municipal officials including Madison and Chenango County representatives.

Topics that will be covered include Environmental Conservation Law Section 23-0303 – the powers it gives and the powers taken from local government and towns, the impact of the draft Supplemental GEIS on hydrofracking process for gas drilling of Marcellus Shale gas wells for local governments – what will be the regulations and when will these be implemented and how.

Additional topics include actions municipal governments can take to address local road impacts and protect local roads, actions municipal governments can take to protect critical areas in their municipalities.

The current system of assessment of fuel production and property taxes in New York State and proposals to create a severance tax or fuel production tax, and its ramifications or opportunities for local municipalities will also be discussed.

The conference, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by Morrisville State College, the Association of Towns of New York State, New York State Association of Counties and Madison County.

Pre-registration is preferred, but not required, by contacting Town of Lebanon Supervisor Jim Goldstein at Lebanon@citlink.net or 315-837-4152.

Please feel free to circulate this information to all interested parties and all media are encouraged to publicize it and attend to provide coverage so that local officials in our region are aware of and have opportunity to attend this free, accessible conference. Please encourage your local officials to attend!

For more information, contact:
Franci Valenzano, Public Relations Associate
Phone: 315-684-6041 E-mail: valenzfr@morrisville.edu