NY Legislative Session Closes

The 2013 New York Legislative Session concluded on June 21, 2013. The number of bills targeting the oil and gas industry was significant and included, among a number of other things, proposed bans, moratoria, and explicit statutory amendments to authorize municipalities to regulate drilling. Despite the extremely large number of bills, many of which were aggressively pushed by the anti-fracking community, none of these bills passed both houses of the Legislature and none will become law. This means that if and when the Governor moves forward and authorizes the release of the SGEIS, then shale development can begin without legislative interference. Indeed, it is hoped that the departure of the Legislature from Albany will enable the Governor to do just that and allow the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health to finalize the SGEIS so that shale development can move forward in New York.