Norse Energy has applied for a permit to drill for natural gas in New York's Marcellus and Utica formations even though it may be months before the state will issue a permit, a company spokesman said Monday.
The company submitted an application for a permit July 14, Norse Executive Vice President S. Dennis Holbrook said, said the company is prepared to wait a few more months for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to act. "We've been waiting since 2007," he said.
Holbrook said the company has leased 180,000 acres in New York, of which 130,000 acres are in the Marcellus Shale areas of Madison, Chenango and Broome counties. The Utica Shale underlies the Marcellus Shale, he said.
"While drilling permits will not be issued until the (Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement) becomes final, Norse believes it is important to have applications ready for approval, once that process is completed," CEO Mark Dice said in a statement.
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said July 1 the state may issue permits by year's end if no major issues are raised by comments filed on rules. The state will be accepting comments through the end of August.
Martens noted that several companies had filed for permits to drill in shale formations prior to the ban on developing shale gas reserves was implemented in 2007. Those requests will be considered first, he said.
