Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program (GEIS)

The Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program, or GEIS, was prepared to review in a comprehensive manner the Department of Environmental Conservation's program for regulating oil, gas, underground gas storage and solution mining wells of any depth, and brine disposal, stratigraphic and geothermal wells deeper than 500 feet. The GEIS was prepared according to the State's Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law, requiring government agencies to analyze the environmental, social and economic impacts of their actions.

This document consists of a three-volume draft, released in 1988, and a final volume, released in 1992. On February 6, 2009, the Department released a final scope for a supplemental GEIS to address well permit issuance for horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing to develop the Marcellus Shale and other low-permeability gas reservoirs.

Although the GEIS was prepared to fulfill the requirements of SEQRA, the Division of Mineral Resources expanded the document to serve as an educational resource. Subjects covered by the GEIS, in addition to regulatory and technical topics, include:

History of oil, gas and solution salt production in New York State
New York State geology and its relationship to oil, gas and salt production
Environmental resources
Drilling and production methods
Economics of mineral extraction

The original GEIS is presented below as a series of PDF documents. The Original Findings Statement is also presented in html format.

Original Findings Statement (PDF, 280 KB),(html)
Supplemental Findings Statement (PDF, 29 KB)
Final GEIS (PDF, 77 KB)
1. Table of Contents (PDF, 23 KB)
2. Executive Summary (PDF, 423 KB)
3. SEQR Conclusions (PDF, 347 KB)
4. Public Involvement (PDF, 114 KB)
5. Public Hearing Responses (PDF, 483 KB)
6. Topical Responses (PDF, 875 KB)
Volume I Cover Page (PDF, 273 KB)
1. Table of Contents (PDF, 323 KB)
2. Chapter 1 Introduction (PDF, 70 KB)
3. Chapter 2 Description of Proposed Action (PDF, 55 KB)
4. Chapter 3 Major Conclusions on the Application of the SEQRA to the Oil, Gas & Solution Mining Law (PDF, 434 KB)
5. Chapter 4 History of Oil, Gas & Solution Salt Production in New York State (PDF, 334 KB)
6. Chapter 5 NYS Geology and its Relationship to Oil, Gas & Salt Production (PDF, 934 KB)
7. Chapter 6 Environmental Resources (PDF, 557 KB)
8. Chapter 7 NYS Oil, Gas & Solution Mining Regulatory Program (PDF, 220 KB)
9. Chapter 8 Siting of Oil & Gas Wells (PDF, 1.5MB)
10. Chapter 9 Drilling Phase: Drilling, Casing & Completion Operations (PDF, 1.22MB)
11. Chapter 10 Well Completion & Production Practices (PDF, 369 KB)
12. Chapter 11 Plugging & Abandonment of Oil & Gas Wells (PDF, 887 KB)
Volume II Cover Page (PDF, 21 KB)
1. Chapter 12 Old Oil Field Waterflood Operations & Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential (PDF, 1.36MB)
2. Chapter 13 Solution Salt Mining (PDF, 839 KB)
3. Chapter 14 Underground Gas Storage (PDF, 1.12MB)
4. Chapter 15 Interagency Coordination: Brine Disposal, Underground Injection & Oil Spill Response (PDF, 956 KB)
5. Chapter 16 Summary of Adverse Environmental Impacts Resulting From Oil, Gas & Solution Mining (PDF, 778 KB)
6. Chapter 17 Summary of Mitigation Measures (PDF, 740 KB)
7. Chapter 18 Economics (PDF, 717 KB)
8. Chapter 19 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts (PDF, 92 KB)
9. Chapter 20 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources (PDF, 50 KB)
10. Chapter 21 Alternative Actions (PDF, 196 KB)
11. Glossary of Technical Terms (PDF, 400 KB)
12. References (PDF, 589 KB)
Volume III Cover Page (PDF, 19 KB)
1. Appendix 1 Underground Storage - Applying for a Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (PDF, 189 KB)
2. Appendix 2 Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (PDF, 116 KB)
3. Appendix 3 Movement of Contaminants in Aquifers (PDF, 213 KB)
4. Appendix 4 Mineral Ownership and Leasing Summary (PDF, 269 KB)
5. Appendix 5 Oil, Gas, Solution Mining, Gas Storage, Brine Disposal, Stratigraphic and Geothermal Well Drilling Environmental Assessment Form (PDF, 287 KB)
6. Appendix 6 Gathering Lines (PDF, 154 KB)
7. Appendix 7 Brine Disposal Well Permitting Guidelines (PDF, 178 KB)
8. Appendix 8 Forms Used in the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Program (PDF, 181 KB)
Comment Response Index (PDF, 85 KB)
1. Comment Responses pp. 1-17 (PDF, 864 KB)
2. Comment Responses pp. 18-33 (PDF, 885 KB)
3. Comment Responses pp. 34-48 (PDF, 873 KB)
4. Comment Responses pp. 49-63 (PDF, 715 KB)
5. Comment Responses pp. 64-72 (PDF, 416 KB)
6. Comment Responses pp. 73-87 (PDF, 751 KB)
7. Comment Responses pp. 88-125 (PDF, 762 KB)
8. Comment Responses pp. 126-145 (PDF, 754 KB)
9. Comment Responses pp. 146-163 (PDF, 636 KB)
10. Comment Responses pp. 164-185 (PDF, 730 KB)
11. Comment Responses pp. 186-211 (PDF, 824 KB)
Recommended Changes to the Regulations (PDF, 276 KB)
Errata to the Draft GEIS (PDF, 296 KB)

More about Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program (GEIS):

1992 Findings Statement for Oil and Gas GEIS - The 1992 Findings Statement for the Oil and Gas GEIS explains the adoption of the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and the SEQR Regulations 6NYCRR Part 617.
Final Scope for Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program - Final outline and table of contents for a Final Supplemental GEIS to address well permit issuance for horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing to develop the Marcellus Shale and other low-permeability gas reservoirs
Locations Where the Final Scoping is Available - The Final Scope for the Supplemental GEIS is available to read at DEC Offices and Public Libraries.
Scoping Meeting Transcripts - Transcripts of six public scoping sessions are available on this site.