The Environmental Advocates of New York are disputing the Department of Environmental Conservation’s claim that the 43 layoffs at the agency won’t have an impact on its ability to monitor and issue permits if and when hydraulic fracturing.

The agency insisted on Thursday that despite environmentalists’ concerns, the controversial natural-gas extraction process commonly referred to as hydrofracking won’t be affected by the layoffs, the second wave at the department since 2009.

“Any layoffs required as part of achieving workforce savings will have no impact on the review, monitoring and enforcement of activities associated with hydraulic fracturing,” said spokeswoman Emily DeSantis. “None of the affected individuals are part of DEC’s oil and gas program.”

But today Environmental Advocates of New York are disputing that claim, saying the section-by-section breakdown shows fracking would be hit.

From the advocates:

We’re still looking for information on who is being cut in which division at DEC, other than the agency’s comments yesterday it’s hard to say. However, we do know which regions are being hit (list below).

We would argue strongly that fracking oversight will be threatened by these layoffs at the DEC. We’re talking about water and air quality monitoring and much more. Not just permitting through the Division of Mineral Resources.

Central office – 14
Regions total – 29
Region 1 – 3
Region 2 – 7
Region 3 – 4
Region 4 – 2
Region 5 – 2
Region 6 – 5
Region 7 – 3
Region 8 – 2
Region 9 – 1

The DEC last week released its draft report on the possible guidelines for hydrofracking, which would prohibit high-volume fracking near the Syracuse and New York City watersheds. Environmental groups want all fracking banned outright, but DEC Commissioner Joe Martens believes it can be performed safely.

Martens said at the news conference unveiling the report that the agency is spread thin following the December 2009 layoffs and, without additional resources, the permitting process for high-volume fracking could be delayed.

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