Public Hearing On XTO Energy’s Proposed Water Removal

XTO Energy is planning on withdrawing up to 250,000 gallons of surface water from the Oquaga Creek in the town of Sanford (in Broome County, NY) to support the company’s planned natural gas exploration. This is your chance to tell XTO Energy that you don’t want this to happen!

The public hearing will take place at the Deposit High School Auditorium, 171 Second Street, Deposit, N.Y. from 4:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. An informational meeting, which will open with a brief overview presentation on the draft docket by commission staff to be followed with an informal question and answer period, will be held at 3:45 p.m. for the hour preceding the hearing.

Registration for those who wish to testify at the hearing will begin at 3:30 p.m. when the doors open. There will be no inside access to the school building prior to 3:30 p.m. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The draft docket prepared by DRBC staff in response to XTO Energy’s application stipulates that even if the docket is issued, the company cannot withdraw any water at the site unless and until it receives separate approvals from DRBC and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for those natural gas wells intended to receive the water.

Written comments on the proposed draft docket must include “XTO Energy” in the subject line. Written comments may be submitted by hand at the June 1 hearing; by e-mail to: Paula.Schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us; by U.S. Mail to Commission Secretary: DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360 or by private delivery service or hand delivery to: Commission Secretary, DRBC, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360.

Please include the name, address, and affiliation (if any) of the commenter. All written comments must be received on or before June 1, 2011. The draft XTO Energy water withdrawal docket can be viewed on the commission’s web site at www.drbc.net.