ANGA Statement on the Release of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Revised Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation released its revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement as part of its ongoing effort to proceed with safe and responsible development of natural gas in the state.  The draft, released today, includes a socioeconomic analysis of the potential impact of such a move, whose "average-development scenario" estimates that in the peak development years, the proposed drilling could account for nearly 54,000 direct and indirect jobs and bring over $2.4 billion in earnings to workers in the state of New York. Following is the statement from Tom Amontree, executive vice president for America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA).

"We welcome the Department's continued movement on development of domestic natural gas resources in New York. While we need to review the new details, we look forward to working with New Yorkers to develop balanced, constructive and science-based policies that both protect the environment and open the door to the pent-up economic opportunity that exists in the state.

"Our member companies are deeply committed to the safe and responsible development of this vast, untapped New York resource and are proud of the substantial jobs and wages we stand ready to bring to the state.

"American natural gas supports 2.8 million jobs and nearly $400 billion a year in economic activity nationally.  Greater use of this clean, domestic energy source is critical to the economic, environmental and energy security future of our nation.  And, New York has the opportunity to not only benefit from this resource but also to be a global leader in moving to cleaner energy for power generation and transportation."   

America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) represents 31 of North America's leading independent natural gas exploration and production companies. ANGA members are dedicated to increasing the appreciation of the environmental, economic and national security benefits of clean, abundant, American natural gas. Learn more about ANGA at www.anga.us.

SOURCE America's Natural Gas Alliance