Research

Administrative History

Offshore drilling beneath Lake Erie was one of the most significant energy resource issues of the 1970s. The state had prohibited drilling for natural gas under Lake Erie since 1969. Opinions changed because of the energy crisis and the success of Canadian drilling (Lake Erie gas made up 70% of the natural gas produced in Province of Ontario in 1976). A shortage of natural gas and increased distribution prices caused the Senate to reexamine the legislative ban through the Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Public Utilities. James T. McFarland was chair of the committee.

The committee concluded that the rich natural gas supply beneath the lake could be developed with minimal environmental degradation; that the authority to grant leases should be subject to strict control, with supervision and safeguards by the Department of Environmental Conservation; and that appropriate legislation for an environmental impact study be approved immediately, to offset increasing cost and possible depletion of New York fields by Canadian drillers. Legislation followed. Chapter 758 of the Laws of 1971 amended the Conservation Law (Laws of 1969, Chapter 621) to remove prohibitions on drilling and leasing the state land.