Marcellus Boom Sparking Regulators To Action

The Marcellus Shale, located under portions of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, presents a tremendous opportunity for natural gas producers in the region. As producers consider the business potential of this significant natural gas resource, they must also consider the region's current regulatory environment. Various regulatory agencies, including state agencies and federal entities such as the Delaware River Basin Commission ("DRBC") and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission ("SRBC"), continue to assess potential impacts on the environment from increased oil and gas activities, particularly to the region's water resources. These various bodies will no doubt continue to enact further regulations aimed at oil and gas activities in the region. Even The New York Times has editorialized that New York State leaders should "take the safest course" and "ban drilling anywhere near water supplies."¹