COA: Drilling leases expired despite state ban
ALBANY — The New York moratorium on hydraulic fracturing doesn’t allow energy companies to extend leases with landowners beyond the expiration dates in their contracts, the state’s highest court ruled Tuesday. The Court of Appeals answered that question for a federal appeals court reviewing the case. It follows a federal judge’s 2012 ruling for the […]
Lawmakers unhappy with new fracking rules
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the House have found something in common. Many have issues with the Obama administration’s new regulations requiring companies that drill for oil and natural gas to disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Republicans say the new regulations, announced last week, will delay new drilling projects and take […]
Administration tightens rules for chemical disclosure
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday it is requiring companies that drill for oil and natural gas on federal lands to disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations. A rule to take effect in June also updates requirements for well construction and disposal of water and other fluids used in fracking, a drilling method […]
Cuomo gets kudos, scorn for fracking ban
ALBANY —Gov. Andrew Cuomo is getting heaped with praise by environmentalists and scorn by business interests for a planned state ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, even as he insists the decision wasn’t his. Residents statewide remain almost evenly split on the issue, and the divisions are clear, pollsters said Thursday. The decision announced […]
Commentary: A clash of titans over hydrofracking
A recent New York case, Wallach v. Town of Dryden, illustrates a deep schism in conflicting public attitudes over energy and local governments’ regulation of land use. The case involved the authority of an upstate town to prohibit “hydrofracking” by landowners or their agents to produce oil or gas. Hydrofracking involves the injection of water […]
Cuomo: Fracking is ‘divisive’ issue
MOUNT KISCO (AP) —Gov. Andrew Cuomo reflected on the hot-button issue of hydraulic fracturing after voting in suburban Mount Kisco. At the Democratic governor’s polling place, about 70 supporters chanting “four more years!” drowned out about two dozen anti-hydraulic-fracturing protesters. The noisy crowd stood behind police ropes Tuesday at a Presbyterian church. Cuomo arrived [...]
COA affirms home-rule authority on fracking
A split Court of Appeals decision Monday affirmed a lower court ruling on two cases last year that allows municipalities’ “home rule” authority to make land-use decisions when it comes to restricting the natural gas drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing. The court did not offer an opinion on the controversial practice, also known as […]
Groups to call for NY ban on ‘fracking’ at speech
ALBANY — Environmental groups opposed to natural gas drilling using high-volume hydraulic fracturing plan to make a lot of noise at the Empire State Plaza this week. They plan to form a quarter-mile-long line of sign-waving, chanting protesters along the underground Concourse between the Capitol and the convention center where Gov. Andrew Cuomo is giving […]
Defunct company sues over fracking delay
ALBANY — A bankrupt company that hoped to drill for gas in New York is suing the Cuomo administration over what it calls an unreasonable delay in deciding whether to allow hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. A trustee for Norse Energy USA said he filed a lawsuit Tuesday in state Supreme Court in Albany naming […]
Cuomo: Still no date to decide fracking for gas
ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he expects to end years-long deliberations about whether New York should allow hydraulic fracturing for natural gas by Election Day next year— maybe. The Democrat, who is seeking re-election, cautions that he doesn’t want even that ballpark estimate to pressure his staff into a decision. Cuomo’s health commissioner, Dr. […]
Penfield looks to extend moratorium on fracking
Penfield town officials seem to be heading toward an outright ban on hydraulic fracturing within its borders, but that decision might be a year away. The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 4 on extending a moratorium on the controversial practice of drilling for natural gas, also known as fracking. Penfield Supervisor […]
Republican leader jabs Cuomo over fracking
ALBANY — As state Republican Chairman Ed Cox leads an attack Wednesday on Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s indecision over whether to approve hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, Democrats attacked Cox’s own personal stock and position with a global natural gas drilling company. Cox confirmed that he and his wife, Tricia Nixon Cox, a daughter of […]
Case Digests
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Attorney misconduct: Opinion 22-164
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Independently written bench book: Opinion 22-163
- Fourth Department – Suppression: People v. Saeli
- Second Circuit – RICO: Horn v. Medical Marijuana Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Uncompensated interview: Opinion 22-159
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Uncompensated guest speaker: Opinion 22-158
- Fourth Department – Negligent performance: Rosenthal v. Syracuse University, et al.
- Second Circuit – Visual Artists Rights Act: Kerson v. Vermont Law School Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Former foreclosure referee: Opinion 22-157
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – College honorarium: Opinion 22-156
- Second Circuit – Reasonable accommodation: Tafolla v. Heilig
- Fourth Department – Labor Law: Primisch v. Peroxychem LLC
Law News
- Appeals court upholds Supreme Court ruling
- Assistant district attorney appointed City Court judge by Rochester mayor
- Murder conviction affirmed despite trial judge error
- NY appeals court upholds conviction in burglary case
- Federal lawsuit reinstated against jail officer over strip search, delayed release
- Hyzon to pay $25M penalty to settle alleged fraud charges by SEC
- NY appeals court reinstates lawsuit over contract to remove snow
- Fourth Department affirms $400K judgment in contract dispute