RESIDENT RESPONSE FORM: Click Here

October 20, 2009

RE: Preparing for Gas Drilling in Caroline

Dear Residents of the Town of Caroline,

Industrial activity is poised to come to Caroline soon in the form of drill sites for natural gas. In order to take steps to prepare the community for the expected activity around natural gas exploration, or any other large-scale development in the future, we need your help in identifying key resources and facilities in the Town.

Please take a moment to respond to the enclosed Resident Response Form and help us identify areas in the Town that are:

• Unique or Sensitive Natural or Cultural Areas:  Natural areas, including small wetlands (under 12.4 acres, as larger wetlands are already inventoried); special or rare habitats, animals, or plants; trails; parks or recreational areas; historic sites and buildings, and so on.
• Agricultural Land:  If you have agricultural land (crops, livestock, forestry, etc.) of particularly high quality or that is not currently under any agricultural assessment, please let us know.
• Water Well Depth: Please tell us the approximate depth of your water well, if known. This will help map where people get their drinking water.
• Abandoned Gas Wells: Old, abandoned gas wells may channel fluids with chemicals into our aquifers.  Look for old steel casings 10-12 inches in diameter that stick out of the ground as much as 3 ft. If any abandoned gas wells are located on your property, please reply with their locations.

New York law gives people, through their town government, the right to select local places and resources of special importance to their community. These places are called “Critical Environmental Areas” (CEAs) – areas of natural, agricultural, historical, or cultural significance that are designated locally and registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Listing these places gives them added consideration during the permitting process for industrial developers.

Whereas a designation as a Critical Environmental Area does not inhibit or restrict drilling or other industrial activity, it would require the State and industrial developers, including gas companies, to recognize them as especially important to the local community and where possible reduce or mitigate potentially negative impacts in or near these areas.

The Planning Board appreciates the variety of perspectives about gas development in Caroline.  One potential concern about gas drilling and other industrial activities is pollution of our Town’s water supplies, which come from underground, water-bearing rock layers (aquifers) at different levels.  Potential accidents or chemical spills from gas drilling activities may affect our aquifers. Knowing the depth of our drinking water wells at various points in the Town allows the Town to inform the State and industrial developers as to where residents draw their water supply.

The potential problems caused by old abandoned gas wells have been less publicized.  The concern is that drilling fluids, injected under high pressure, could accidentally be forced back up one of these old shafts and into a water supply. If you know of any of these abandoned wells, please let us know.

We need your help and your knowledge of your land. Your prompt response with the information requested will help the Town in making State and industrial developers aware of the resources most important to our Town and its people.  In addition, if you know of other features, especially ones not widely known, that you think might merit special consideration, please let us know.

Please send any information you have on these subjects by November 15.

After compiling responses from residents and combining them with existing inventories, the Town will hold public meetings to review our findings and recommendations, to be announced through the Old Mill newsletter, Town website, and Town email list.  Please be aware that your response does not automatically mean inclusion in the recommendations.

After consideration and adoption by the Town Board, the information will be described, mapped, and submitted to New York State.  If you would like to help tally and record information received, map critical areas, or offer surveying services, please let us know.

If you have any questions, please contact Don Barber at 539-3395.

Thank you,

Town of Caroline Planning Board

Erick Smith
Bev Liddington
Tony Tavelli
Lou Albright
Chad Novelli

You can respond by:

• Mail to Town Clerk, PO Box 136, Slaterville Springs NY 14881
• In person at the Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Rd
• E-mail to Planning_Board@townofcaroline.org
• Online at www.townofcaroline.org

RESIDENT RESPONSE FORM: CLICK HERE