Contact: Josh Schwerin 202-225-5614

Washington, DC, Dec 12, 2009 -
The following op-ed by Congressman Murphy originally appeared in the Oneonta Daily Star on December 12, 2009:

The recent decision by Chesapeake Energy Corporation to forgo natural gas drilling in the New York City watershed has sparked renewed attention to the critical issues surrounding gas exploration here in Delaware and Otsego Counties.  In my conversations with residents, I have found a great deal of excitement about development and job opportunities associated with new natural gas exploration, as well as concerns that we not pursue economic growth at the expense of potentially contaminating our clean water supply.

As your Representative, I believe it is important that we work together to develop common-sense policies that strike a careful balance between realizing the economic development that natural gas production can provide while also ensuring the sustainability of our clean water supply.  Additionally, I believe that domestic natural gas production is a critical component of a national energy plan that breaks our dangerous addiction to foreign oil and moves us closer to energy independence.

One of the most controversial issues regarding gas exploration is the practice known as hydraulic fracturing – or “fracking” – which is used in an increasing number of oil and gas wells here in the United States.  This technique gives us the potential to access massive new natural gas deposits deep within the earth, such as those here in the Marcellus Shale.  However, the proximity of drilling sites to drinking water sources, and the relative lack of information about industry practices, has heightened concerns about potentially contaminating our water supply.

I have spent most of my adult life working to help create jobs across New York, and I believe that businesses have a responsibility to be open and transparent as they work to build the public trust.  We must continue to push for openness in gas industry practices, and we must ensure that regulators have the information they need to keep our water supply safe.  I believe that we can drill responsibly, and we must ensure that the regulatory framework properly addresses concerns about water contamination both above and below ground.  But make no mistake – I believe that responsible natural gas exploration is a critical component of future economic development here in Upstate New York that will help provide urgently needed jobs.  

Furthermore, I am committed to ensuring that the people here in Delaware and Otsego Counties have every opportunity to strengthen their local economy.  We must be able to dictate our own terms for economic success, especially in cases where drilling poses no threat to the watershed.  New York state taxes are incredibly high, and it can be a difficult state in which to conduct business.  We must harness this opportunity for renewed growth and job creation in our region, and we do not want to lose development opportunities to other states because of misdirected policies.

I am committed to working with local officials and my colleagues in Washington to promote the development of clean domestic energy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase the security of our nation, while also protecting our critical natural resources.  I look forward to continuing to work with our communities as we move forward in this process together.