If you were a landowner with a large parcel of land, say 640 acres, and your next door neighbor had one of similar size and was leasing it to a company whose intent was to drill for natural gas; did you know that the company could take your land as well, regardless of whether you wanted to lease it or not? In the State of New York that could actually happen under a process called “Compulsory integration.” Now, I am a proponent of hydrofracking, but this process is totally bogus. Before I continue, I must credit Fred LeBrun, a columnist for the Albany TU for enlightening me of this outrageous process. Though I seldom agree with Mr. LeBrun on the subject of fracking, he is point on concerning this. It appears that the current law that was enacted in 2005 gives a drilling operator the right to establish a “Spacing unit” on land that the owner has agreed to lease. The current spacing unit was established at one well per forty acres. If that forty acres happens to stray onto the adjacent property, the owner has to relinquish the mineral rights of said property under three scenarios. While the “Nonparticipating” landowner will profit under each scenario, they have virtually no control over the process. So if you are dead set on no drilling on your property, you’re going to see a drill rig out of your back window regardless. While I am a firm believer that a person can do whatever they please with their property; they shouldn’t be forced into doing something with it against their will. I hope that lawmakers will address this in conjunction with the DEC’s review of it’s drilling regs.…….It appears that the Albany occupiers stance on “Let’s head over to Lafayette Park, violate the curfew and get arrested” has brought repercussions to one of the protestors. Seems that one of the group arrested on May 1 was a substitute teacher for BOCES. Although the charges were dismissed, the state Department of Education was notified, who in turn has to notify the district in which the teacher worked. The teacher now will have to jump through hoops to keep a teaching credential. I’m not sure about this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other state licensed professions follow the same criteria. lots of fun, eh occupiers.
And that is “The Daily Take”