New York State’s Highest Court Upholds Fracking Ban

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by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

The New York State Court of Appeals has affirmed two lower court decisions upholding small town bans on fracking, effectively delivering a massive blow to the fracking industry.  In doing so, the court upheld the “Home Rule” authority as empowered by the state constitution and expressed in the local zoning laws of Dryden and Middlefield, NY.

The “Home Rule” provision of the New York State Constitution states,”every local government shall have the power to adopt and amend local laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution or any general law…except to the extent that the legislature shall restrict the adoption of such a local law.”  The court stated that the municipal “Home Rule” law empowers local governments to pass laws both for the ‘protection and enhancement of (their) physical and visual environment…’ and for the ‘government, protection, order, conduct, safety, health and well being of persons or property therein.’

Appellants argued that state legislation adopted in 1981, known as the “Suppression Clause,” pre-empted the local zoning laws and therefore superseded same in accordance with the “Home Rule” provision of the state constitution.  The court stated that it could not say that the “Suppresion clause added long before the current debate over high-volume hydrofracking and horizontal drilling ignited-evinces a clear expression of preemptive intent.”  The court continued to state, “The Zoning laws of Dryden and Middlefield are therefore valid.”

The court decision sends a clear message that people and not corporations, have the right to decide how their community develops.  Noteworthy however, is that the court stated its decision passes no judgment on the merits of fracking and that, “these are major policy questions for the coordinate branches of government to resolve.”  Further, the court acknowledged that the state legislature has the right to pass a law that supersedes or eliminates the “Home Rule” capacity of municipalities to pass zoning laws that “exclude oil, gas and hydrofracking activities in order to preserve the existing character of their communities.”

This court decision is the latest headline in the ongoing heated fracking debate in New York State.  Scales of Justice has detailed same in our prior September 25, 2012 blog entitled, “Federal Court Dismisses NYS Fracking Suit For Full Environmental Review,” our November 13, 2013 blog entitled, “Fracking Company Sues Homeowner With Flammable Water For Alleged Defamation,” and our February 24, 2014 blog entitled, “Governor Cuomo Sued To Compel Fracking In New York” (See www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice.html).  As Governor Cuomo continues to stall on making any final decision until after the election, may he be mindful of this latest court decision which reflects the voice of the people.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com

Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
Paul A. Lauto, Esq. completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY at Stony Brook in 1987, with a major in political science and a double minor in socio-legal studies and moral-legal issues in philosophy. Mr. Lauto received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1990 and was admitted in 1991 to practice in the courts of New York State, as well as the Eastern and Southern Districts of the United States District Court.

Mr. Lauto has primarily focused on personal injury throughout his career and previously worked as in-house counsel to a major insurance company. In 2002 Mr. Lauto established Paul A. Lauto, PLLC, with a primary concentration on personal injury, all types of accident cases, Wills, Trusts and Estates and more. Paul is the sole author of his Scales of Justice blog, which provides updates and information about current legal stories in the news and how they may affect our lives. Mr. Lauto prides himself on providing clients maximum results, with a high level of personal attorney service and attention that is uncommon in the profession. For more information please visit http://www.liattorney.com