Cherie Messore
Director of Public Relations – IOGA of NY

It sounds simple enough: On June 1, the Delaware River Basin Commission will convene a public forum to take-in comments on a proposed plan to withdraw surface water from the town of Sanford, at a rate equivalent to about 0.5 percent of the average daily flow — 250,000 gallons from a daily flow rate of 42 million.

Happens all the time, right? Well, what makes this forum just a little bit different is that the company requesting the withdrawal is a prospective producer of the Marcellus Shale, activity that itself falls well outside the scope of this particular meeting, but a prospect that nonetheless promises to make this particular event much more broadly attended than if the same request was being made by anyone else. For anything else.

Earlier this month, IOGA of New York was invited to attend the session and share its views both on the merit of the issue at hand, and more generally on the promise and potential that responsible natural gas development can deliver for the state of New York and its residents. Working alongside our partners in the industry, that’s a message we intend to deliver on June 1 and throughout this summer as NY DEC continues the process of finalizing the regulatory regime needed before any such activity can begin in earnest.

But of course, for this event to be a success, we’re going to need the help and guidance of everyone we can. Obviously, for those able to make it up to Deposit High School (171 Second Street, Deposit, N.Y.) in person, we’d love to see you there. But even if you can’t attend yourself, DRBC will be accepting comments right up until the day of the event. Here’s what’s currently posted over on the DRBC website:

Written comments on the proposed draft docket must include “XTO Energy” in the subject line. Written comments may be submitted by hand at the June 1 hearing; by e-mail to Paula.Schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us; by U.S. Mail to Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360; or by private delivery service or hand delivery to Commission Secretary, DRBC, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360. Please include the name, address, and affiliation (if any) of the commenter. All written comments must be received on or before June 1, 2011.

Prior to the hearing, an information meeting is planned from 3:45pm to 4:45pm. While anyone may attend, the only formal presenters will be the town’s Water Resources Manager and a representative from XTO Energy.

Your participation and support is always appreciated. Please hit me back at cmessore@iogany.org with any questions or for further details.