Last week, the Town of Delaware, New York, Sullivan County passed the recommended natural gas resolution composed by the Joint Landowners Coalition affirming their commitment to allow safe, responsible natural gas development in their community. Residents in Delaware feel they should be able to choose what they do with their property and mineral rights. A landowner’s property is their biggest asset and investment, something we all work to improve and hold on to. These residents are more than capable of making informed decisions about how their land is used and are ready for permitting to begin in New York. Prior to last Wednesday, the Town of Delaware maintained a neutral stance on the natural gas development issue. At Wednesday’s meeting, though, they voted overwhelmingly, 4-1, to adopt the resolution. The resolution read as follows:

    “Be it hereby resolved that any landowner or entity that owns the rights to minerals within the corporate bounds of the Town of Delaware has the right to determine how they exercise and protect their mineral rights in accordance to the laws of the State of New York and to the laws of the United States of America. Be it further resolved that if gas drilling does come into the Town of Delaware, that those who are involved in the process of gas drilling and those who regulate the gas drilling process see to it that the entire process of gas drilling be made in a responsible and safe manner.”

Of course the anti-natural gas development crowd was shocked and begged the board, who had just welcomed natural gas development based on facts and science, to consider a ban or moratorium instead. When emotional appeal and scare tactics didn’t work in their favor, they resorted to threats and bullying to change the outcome of the evening. Luckily for the landowners in Delaware, the board was not intimidated by these desperate threats and held firm to their position.

Read more at http://eidmarcellus.org/marcellus-shale/delaware-ny-dives-into-prop...