Hiscock & Barclay, LLP Partner Yvonne E. Hennessey was a featured speaker at the 2012 Joint Oil and Gas Conference for the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York and Ontario Petroleum Institute in Ontario Canada, October 23-25, 2012. Her presentation, entitled "Regulatory Update: Year 5 of the SGEIS and All Other Things New York," focused on the status of high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York State from both a regulatory and legal perspective. Hennessey also participated in the cross-border panel discussion as the U.S. representative on regulatory issues.
Hennessey's presentation covered the multi-year Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement process and the related regulations by giving the timeline and status of both, discussing the legal implications of the current delay associated with the State's call for further review of the potential public health impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing and finishing with an overview of pertinent individuals' public statements on the timing of the process. The presentation also detailed a number of local issues of importance to the oil and gas industry with particular attention to local bans and moratoria and the pending litigation concerning the legality of these local initiatives. Finally, the presentation detailed the status of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions relative to natural gas development and also identified a sampling of legislation pending in the New York State Legislature that could impact drilling in New York State.
Hennessey, resident in the firm's Albany office, brings years of experience representing clients in the oil and gas sector on complex regulatory and litigation matters and, more specifically, shale development matters. Hennessey also has extensive experience in the Clean Air Act, hazardous waste site cleanup, and the siting and permitting of energy, solid waste and industrial facilities. Hennessey has been actively involved in supporting oil and gas clients in the development of shale projects across New York State and in Pennsylvania and is an extensive speaker on this topic. Hennessey was recognized by the New York State Bar Association in September 2010 as one of the "brightest young members" of the Environmental Law Section. Most recently, she was named to the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
To view the presentation, click here.
Hiscock & Barclay, LLP, listed as a "Top 250 Firm" by The National Law Journal, is a full-service, 200-attorney law firm, with offices throughout the major cities of New York State, as well as in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Toronto, providing comprehensive legal and business counsel to a diverse client base in 31 practice areas. For more information on Hiscock & Barclay, visit www.hblaw.com.