POLICY 29

ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, IN LAKE ERIE AND IN OTHER WATER BODIES, AND ENSURE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF SUCH ACTIVITIES.

Explanation of Policy

The State recognizes the need to develop new indigenous energy resources. It also recognizes that such development may endanger the environment. Among the various energy sources being examined are those which may be found on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) or in Lake Erie. The State has been encouraging the wise development of both.

Matters pertaining to the OCS are the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Conservation. In 1977, the Department, in cooperation with regional and local agencies, completed a study which identified potential sites along the marine coast for on-shore OCS facilities. To date, thse sites have not been developed for this purpose. The Department also actively participates in the OCS planning process by reviewing and voicing the State's concerns about federal OCS oil and gas lease sales and plans. In its review of these proposed sales and plans, the Department considers a number of factors such as the effects upon navigational safety in the established traffic lanes leading into and from New York Harbor; the impacts upon important finfish, shellfish and wildlife populations and their spawning areas; economic and other effects upon commercial and recreational fishing activities; impacts upon public recreational resources and opportunities along the marine coast; the potential for hazards; impacts upon biological communities; and water quality.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has also examined the potential impacts of Lake Erie gas drilling and is instituting reasonable guidelines so that activities can proceed without damage to public water supplies and other valuable coastal resources. State law prohibits development of wells nearer than one-half mile from the shoreline, two miles from public water supply intakes, and one thousand feet from any other structure or installation in or on Lake Erie. Further, State law prohibits production of liquid hydrocarbons in Lake Erie, either alone or in association with natural gas. The Department has not, however, reached a decision as to whether or not the lands under Lake Erie will be leased for gas exploration purposes.