Independent Oil & Gas Association New November 19, 2012 Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Govemos, New Youk State Executive Chamber, NYS Capitol Albany, New York 12224 Dear Govemor Cuomo: On behalf of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, with more than 400 members, T “wiite regarchng recent published teports of the appointment of three “expests” by the NYS Depastment of Health (DOH) to review the proposed guidelines forhigh volume hydraulic fractusing* Previous to these reposts, our members had been hopeful that the peimit guidelines and regulations selating to dailling in the Marcellus Shale would be finalized and seleased by November 29, 2012. It now appeass that the health study will not be finalized later this month, further delaying the issuance of regulations until sometime next year As of today, New York’s moratosium on opportunity has nowrlasted 4 yeas, 3 months, and 24 days (ince first imposed on July 23, 2008). As we have said many times previously, this delay is hasmful to energy policy in New York, and hugely dettimental to the upstate New York economy. We have also been frank that the existing industry is suffesing from this delay. Our member companies are now well past the tipping point, and our tmust in our state government now exhausted IOGA of NY andits members have waited patiently for, and wosked diligently toward, the finalization of the Supplemental Genesic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) and the new regulations that would govem future oil and natusal gas development in New York Our companies = good employers with good jobs paying good salasies —have labored to maintain a presence in New York using this prolonged delay, but many have lost employees and oppostunity to other states ‘Most of our business owmess have developed oil andl natural gas — or provided goods and professional sesvices to the industry in New York — for decades, They truly wonder what type of futuse they nowrhave in this state, Our companies need a signal that their state govemment cases at all. ‘The impacts of delay are real. Just 3 yeass ago our industry supported 5,000 jobs in upstate New Youk, due largely to the ongoing exploration of vestical wells across the Southem Tier. New pesmitsequests to the NYS Depastment of Environmental Conservation have dropped sharply in recent months and in 2012 wall be far fewer than the neatly-600 pesmits usually issued. It would be hard to not overstate the dramatic unattractiveness of New York to ourindustsy. The lives and livelihoods ofhundrecs of New York families ate now at great tisk ‘The unnecessary delay in concluding this, mulemaking process is a sesious problem for the upstate economy. Accordingly, Govemor, we urge you to selease the SGEIS and let our industey begin the work of tuying to recover Respectfully submitted, eo. Brad Gill Executive Disector IOGA of NY “State taps expests for hydzofiacking review" - November 15, 2012/warwrpaessconnects com