http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2011/may/31/ag-schneiderman-sues-feds-over-gas-drilling/

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 – 12:23 PM

By Ilya Marritz

Machine used for hydrofracking Enlarge

Machine used for hydrofracking (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)
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New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has sued several federal agencies alleging they have ignored their legal obligation to study the possible environmental consequences of natural gas drilling in the watershed of the Delaware River.

The suit is complex, but its outcome could directly affect water quality for millions of people in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

New York City residents and Philadelphians are among those who depend on the Delaware and its tributaries for drinking water.

Who Is Being Sued, and Why?

Schneiderman’s suit names the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and the Department of Interior, as well as top individuals working at those agencies.

The attorney general believes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires the federal government study environmental impact before approving new regulations on gas drilling.

What new regulations?

Right now, the federal government and representatives of the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, are working together to write new rules for gas drilling within the watershed of the Delaware River.

The Delaware River Basin Commission, a federal-state body, has already published draft regulations and opened them for public comment. Now, the DRBC is reviewing those comments and considering changes to the draft.

Ultimately, the federal and state governments together will write rules of the road for gas drillers. But Schneiderman’s suit could slow down the process significantly if a judge finds in his favor.

Schneiderman believes he’s on sound legal footing. The federal government is being represented by the Department of Justice. A spokesman said the Department is reviewing the suit.

Who wants to drill in the Upper Delaware?

Lots of energy companies. The headwaters of the Delaware lie above the Marcellus Shale, a gas-rich geologic formation. Thanks to recent technical advances, including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, these lands now look like a rich source of energy. But like any industrial activity, gas drilling comes with risks.

UPDATE 3-Chesapeake handed record fine for Penn. gas drilling

Tue May 17, 2011 4:45pm EDT

* State says Chesapeake drilling affected water supplies

* Fine also dished out for fire in February

* Chesapeake says will pay fines

(Adds analyst quote, factbox on Marcellus shale)

By Edward McAllister

NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) – Pennsylvania regulators levied
a record fine for contaminating drinking water against major
natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy (CHK.N), a move that
threatens to intensify a fierce debate over drilling for
natural gas in the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
fined Chesapeake $900,000 for contaminating water supplies in
Bradford County, a busy drilling area in the prolific Marcellus
shale gas formation, the agency said on Tuesday. It was fined
another $188,000 for a fire that injured three workers in
February.

The fine will again cast a spotlight on hydraulic
fracturing, or fracking, a controversial process used to
extract natural gas from shale formations, which involves
blasting a mix of water, chemicals and sand into the rock.

While public criticism has recently been focused on the
possible contamination from fracking waste products, Tuesday’s
action stems from complaints that gas near drilling wells had
seeped into the drinking water. [ID:nN18229665]

The agency began an investigation in February 2010 after
receiving complaints from residents about drinking water near
Chesapeake shale gas drilling sites. The agency concluded that
contamination was caused by improper well casing and cementing,
allowing seepage from non-shale shallow gas formations.

“The water well contamination fine is the largest single
penalty DEP has ever assessed against an oil and gas operator,”
said Mike Krancer, secretary for the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP).

“Our message to drillers and to the public is clear.”

< ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Factbox on major drillers in the Marcellus shale:

[ID:nN21288012]

Take a Look on the future of shale: [ID:nN18229665]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

POLITICAL BACKLASH

Chesapeake Energy, one of Pennsylvania’s biggest shale gas
producers, said in a statement that it will pay the fines and
has improved its cementing and casing practices since the
investigation.

Its shares fell 1.8 percent to close at $29.09.

The incidents occurred in the Marcellus shale gas
formation, which is estimated to hold enough natural gas to
meet U.S. demand for a decade or more. Attention is being drawn
to the region by groups concerned about possible health risks
from fracking, especially in relation to drinking water.

“It looks very likely much like there will be a political
backlash,” said Jeremy Boak, director of the Center for Oil
Shale Technology and Research at the Colorado School of Mines.
“But the real problem is the well casing and cement rather than
fracking,” he added.

Neighbouring New York state, home to a smaller stretch of
the Marcellus shale formation, has halted permissions for shale
drilling while it mulls the affect on drinking water.

Chesapeake suspended completion of natural gas wells in
Pennsylvania for three weeks after a well blowout on April 19
sent thousands of gallons of drilling fluid spewing into the
surrounding area and into local waterways. [ID:nN21276168]

Well completion is work to prepare a site for production
after drilling has been completed and involves fracking.

(Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2011/may/15/methane-contamination-study-raises-many/

Duke University released a paper this week that raised many questions about the drilling activity in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania.

The study, “Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing,” was conducted by Robert Jackson, a staff member at Duke, and funded by and through the “financial support of Fred and Alice Stanback to the Nicholas School of the Environment and from the Duke Center on Global Change,” according to the study.

Jackson’s “study” included only 68 water wells in northern Pennsylvania during a two-month period in 2010. He said in an interview with Bloomberg that was on Duke University’s web page that a key finding of the study was that water wells near gas wells were 17 times more likely to contain methane than wells not near gas wells. That would be similar to conducting a study of traffic accidents in Texas and the major finding would be that drivers in Dallas are 17 time more likely to have an accident than drivers in Sweetwater. Why did they spend money on a study in which the major finding was the obvious conclusion?

Speaking of funding, a search of the Internet found that Fred Stanback has supported candidates for political office and environmental advocacy groups.

In 2008, he contributed $2,300 to six Democrat candidates for Congress (one for the Senate and five in House races) and $2,300 to Barack Obama, the maximum allowed under federal law. Additionally, in 2008 he contributed $15,175 to the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund. The fund raises money to support liberal candidates. On the Donation Page of its website, the fund claims that: “Your support is more important than ever before. We are in the fight of our lives to finally see comprehensive clean energy and global warming legislation become law. We have already passed the first hurdle in the House, but the next in the Senate will be the toughest. And, Big Oil is already expanding its campaign of lies and is doing everything in its power to sabotage this bill.”

Stanback also serves as treasurer to the Salisbury Community Foundation which has financially supported the Southern Environmental Law Center ($1,322,000 from 1993-2002), the Environmental Defense Fund ($442,000 from 1993-2002) and the National Audibon Society and Sierra Club ($627,000 from 1993-2002).

Makes one wonder why Duke’s Robert Jackson selected only 68 water wells in five counties in northern Pennsylvania? Why not 168? Or 1,068? After all, there are more than 20,000 new water wells drilled each year in Pennsylvania!

Why did he pick the five counties in northern Pennsylvania? Why not in other parts of the state?

Why did he rush into his study and not do base-line testing?

Why is the study entitled “Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing?” Jackson admitted in the interview with Bloomberg that he “did not find any evidence” that hydraulic fracturing caused any contamination of water wells. The title of the paper obviously implies just the opposite.

So, why did the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University conduct this very limited and questionable study? Could Fred Stanback and his connections with environmental extremist groups and Duke have anything to do with it? Inquiring minds want to know.

The scientific community already has a black eye over the manipulation of facts by scientists studying climate change for the United Nations, which became known as Climategate. And, just a few weeks ago, it was discovered that the Environmental Protection Agency overreacted when it blamed natural gas drilling for the methane in water wells in Texas. It was proven that the likely source of the methane came from natural seepage from a natural gas bearing zone just several hundred feet below the water wells and not from natural gas wells.

Clearly, the objectivity of the research is in question. Skeptics could conclude that the environmental zealots wanted a study conducted that pointed a dirty finger at the oil and gas industry. In reality, they spent a lot of money to discover the obvious, and to once again confirm that hydraulic fracturing had nothing to do with the methane in the water wells.

http://www.businessinsider.com/france-bans-fracking-2011-5

The French Parliament has voted 287-146 to ban hydraulic fracturing or fracking, a crucial part of the shale gas extraction process that activists say is harmful to the environment, according to France24. The bill will be voted on by the Senate on June 1 before it becomes a law.

The bill to ban to fracking, but not shale gas exploration itself, was drafted by France’s ruling UMP party and the vote comes after months of protests by environmentalists who are concerned that the process contaminates the water table. Earlier this year, the government granted energy giants exploration permits for work without public consultation, but announced a temporary freeze on shale gas exploration in February.

France could become the first country to ban the controversial practice that involves using ‘slick’ water a combination of water, chemicals and mud, to fracture the rock with hairline cracks and prop open underground fissures. Fracking fluids can be fatal. In Louisiana fracking fluid made it to a pasture killing 17 cows at the farm.

French environment minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet is against fracking entirely. Bloomberg reports:

“I’m against hydraulic fracturing. We have seen the results in the U.S. There are risks for the water tables and these are risks we don’t want to take.

…“It was an error,” Kosciusko-Morizet said of the permits given last year. “These never should have been granted. An environmental evaluation should have been done before giving out the permits and not after.

…Hydraulic fracturing, which has also met resistance in the U.S., “is a technology that we haven’t totally mastered,” she said. “There is only one technology that can be used today to produce shale gas and that’s hydraulic fracturing and we don’t want it.”

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/france-bans-fracking-2011-5#ixzz1MMZyygCN

We Did It! You Did It!

Last night, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, the Delaware River Basin Commission unanimously voted to table a request by ExxonMobil to withdraw 250,000 gallons of water a day from a Special Protection trout stream in Broome County New York. The commission promised to hold a public hearing in the vicinity that would be impacted by the withdrawal before rendering a decision on the application.

In the meantime, you can continue to urge the DRBC say “No!” to Exxon Mobil’s plan to use our water to frack New York.

Thirteen Billion Is Not Enough, Now the Frackers Want Even More Corporate Welfare

Even though the gas industry hasn’t figured out a safe way to extract shale gas, it wants the American taxpayer to subsidize a program to create a demand for the product–and lock the U.S. into decades of dependency on fossil fuels. H.R. 1380 (AKA the Pickens plan) would use tax credits (Washington speak for “your money”) to promote the manufacture and purchase of vehicles that run on natural gas.

This costly giveaway would be on top of the thirteen billion dollars a year in subsidies that the industry already gets from the American taxpayer. Reality check: these corporations made a trillion dollars in profit over the last ten years. Now they want even more of your money!

Tell your Representative “Don’t be a fossil fool! Oppose H R. 1380!”

Proof Positive: Fracking Contaminates Drinking Water

Last month a peer-reviewed report from Cornell University demonstrated that shale gas was even dirtier than coal because the process of extraction and transmission creates enormous volumes of greenhouse gases. This week another peer-reviewed study, from Duke University, proves that hydraulic fracturing pollutes drinking water. Private water wells in the vicinity of fracking operations are seventeen times more likely to be contaminated with methane than wells in other areas.
Saturday June 4th, an Evening alongside the Delaware River

Join us for a screening of the movie Frack!, a pot-luck of home-made desserts, and music by Marc Black. Nothing fancy here, just a chance to celebrate the gift of community – and if you’re lucky you’ll win a homemade pie in the raffle.

The program begins at 6:30, but come early and picnic in the park. Director David Morris will be on hand to answer questions after the screening.

We’re asking for a donation of ten dollars at the door. Catskill Citizens will share the proceeds with David to help finance his film, and with Marc to help out with the music video for his original song “No Fracking Way ”

We hope to see you on the 4th – at the Delaware Youth Center, 8 Creamery Road in Callicoon, NY.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ramsay Adams
Phone: 845-482-5400
ramsay@catskillmountainkeeper.org

Youngsville, NY (April 21, 2011) – On Tuesday, at 11:45 pm, a major blowout occurred during a fracking procedure at a Chesapeake Energy-owned natural gas well in Bradford County, PA, spilling thousands of gallons of chemical-laced water into a nearby stream that flows into the Susquehanna River.
Seven families have already been evacuated from the area, and officials have advised farmers against allowing livestock to drink from the surface water.

Despite concerted efforts of crewmembers, tainted water continued to flow from the site as recently as Thursday morning.

The blowout has left many unanswered questions, and public safety officials have said it will be days or even weeks before they are able to gather a better understanding of how this leak will affect surrounding areas.

News reports indicate serious environmental damage headed toward the Susquehanna River Basin, and Catskill Mountainkeeper has filed a FOIA request with EPA Region 3 for the release of further information.

The spill, which was caused by an equipment malfunction, occurred on the eve of the one-year anniversary of BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, and drills home the point that current drilling practices and procedures are simply not safe.

Existing regulatory processes for natural gas drilling have proven time and again to be woefully inadequate.

Current procedure ensures not only that natural gas companies undergo almost no safety and procedural review, but also that these same companies are shielded from having to disclose information regarding the specifics of chemicals used during fracking operations – even though many of these chemicals have proven carcinogenic and radioactive.

With all of the budget cuts the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been facing over the last couple of years, it’s hard to imagine how they might now have the resources to deal with the aftermath of this spill.

“The disregard the industry has demonstrated with regards to the oversight of their fracking operations is criminal,” says Catskill Mountainkeeper Executive Director, Ramsay Adams. “We cannot stand by while big natural gas corporations – like Chesapeake – persist in the utilization and promotion of the same sorry, unsafe drilling practices, which once again here have proven to be unsafe. The continued implementation of such methods endangers the health and sustainability of our lands, water, and community.”

Click here to view Catskill Mountainkeeper’s FOIA request.

NYTimes Reports Natural Gas Companies Responsible for Injection of Hundreds of Millions of Gallons of Hazardous Chemicals in Over 13 States; and Cornell Study Finds Fracked Gas More Dangerous to Climate than Coal.

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today pledged to sue in 30 days if the federal government doesn’t commit to conducting a full environmental review of proposed regulations that would allow natural gas drilling – including the potentially harmful “fracking” technique – in the Delaware River Basin.

See full story here

From: Don Tracy

The first was forwarded to me by Andy Boyer, one of the “good” lawyers doing the right stuff.

REPORT ON WASHINGTON DC FLY-IN

As many of you know, I was recently asked to participate in a “Fly-In” with lawmakers in Washington DC. I previously testified at the Delaware River Basin Commission hearing and, based on the remarks I made at that hearing, was asked to be a Trout Unlimited representative at this week’s function. The event was jointly sponsored by the Natural Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Our alliance was called “Sportsmen For Responsible Energy Development” which consisted of thirty men and women from all over the country. After a briefing session, we broke into groups so that we could meet with as many lawmakers as possible. As it turned out, we lobbied a total of seventy representatives and Senators. Our focus was on the most newly elected officials. Our mission was to express concern that the current policies governing gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale do not adequately protect valuable and irreplaceable natural resources, including clean water and critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Also that gas extraction out west had significant negative impacts on air and water quality.

My group met with the following lawmakers or staff: Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY); Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY); Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC); Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ); Rep. Hanna (R-NY); Rep. John Runyan (R-NJ) and Rep. Rush Holt. In our group I focused on two areas of concern. The first was to emphasize the importance of closing the “Halliburton Loophole” by removing gas drilling industry exemptions from the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act and Clean Air Provisions. The second point I emphasized was the need to federally declare (through the EPA) that fracking waste products (processed water) be designated a hazardous substance and that transportation of such products be manifested and tracked. A follow up point on this topic was to point out the lack of adequate facilities to properly treat these waste products (existing waste water treatment facilities are primarily designed for biological waste and not chemical compounds, salts and radioactive products as are now being generated by the gas industry). Also, “dilution” is not an answer as the enormous amount of carcinogenic and radioactive waste water and is bound to have enormous health consequences in years to come. I liken this threat to a slow motion bullet being fired at our children and grandchildren and generations of Americans yet unborn. Dilution of pollution is not a solution.

We were able to schedule an impromptu session with Congressman Maurice Hinchey for the purpose of thanking him for his great leadership and tenacity. As more and more Americans become aware of the health hazard involved as a result of the practices of the industry, legislators are beginning to take more notice. Still an avalanche of public outcry is needed.

We found that most of the representatives seem to have a working knowledge of fracking and recognize that the debate has yet to fully come to Washington given the preoccupation with budget issues. I plan to open a line of communication with the elected officials I met with. We need to continue to get out the message not only with our New York representatives but also with federal representatives and agencies such as the DRBC, EPA and Congress. The industry has always brushed off the stories of health hazards, poisoned wells, increased emphysema and other such stories as being “antidotal”. At some point enough of these stories will have be recognized as fact based but it is an uphill battle. The N.Y. Times three part story was a big help.

We don’t have baseline data for most if not all of our streams and rivers so when deleterious substances are found in these waters, the industry is quick to claim that it’s not on account of the gas industry. Our State and Federal agencies must do more science and have better data. Every day we see more and more of the industry’s campaigns on television touting how “natural gas is vital to America’s future, how it means jobs and how safe and clean it is”. This propaganda must be countered and everyone is needed in the effort to get the truth out.

Please note that DRBC comment time has been extended one month. Also please plan to see the movie “Frack” on April 2 in Lumberland. It is another eye-opener.

Any questions, please do not hesitate to call or write.

Andy Boyar
845-557-8319
These next two sent by ROn Urban of TU:
..

Click here: Scientists: Delaware River faces threats | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com

2 firms to suspend earthquake zone injection wells

March 10, 2011
Pressconnects.com A Gannett Co.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Two natural gas companies agreed Friday to temporarily cease operations of injection wells in an area of central Arkansas that has seen more than 800 earthquakes during the past six months.

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy and Clarita Operating of Little Rock said they would comply with the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission’s emergency request to stop all injection activities in Greenbrier- and Guy-area wells used to dispose of wastewater from production. The panel’s next regular meeting is March 29.

Geologists are studying a swarm of recent area quakes, most tiny, in an attempt to determine whether there is a connection between the seismic activity and gas-drilling companies’ work in the Fayetteville Shale formation. A 4.7-magnitude earthquake, the most powerful reported in the state in 35 years, struck near Greenbrier on Sunday night.

A six-month moratorium on new injection wells in the area took effect in January to allow time to determine what relationship, if any, there is between the wells and the earthquakes.

Shane Khoury, deputy director and general counsel for the commission, said Arkansas Geological Survey researchers had found enough evidence to request an immediate shutdown of the two well locations. He added that the emergency order would not affect the five other injection wells currently operating in that region.

“We believe preliminary data from the moratorium study shows a potential connection between injection operations and earthquakes at one or both of those wells,” he said.

The Fayetteville Shale, an organically-rich rock formation underlying the region, is a major source of natural gas in Arkansas. Drillers free up the gas by using hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” which requires injecting pressurized water to create fractures deep in the ground. The two injection wells at issue dispose of waste “frack” water when it can no longer be re-used, by injecting it into the ground.

Khoury said there has been no evidence to indicate a connection between the earthquakes and production operations, only injection or disposal methods.

Neither company testified at the hearing or offered evidence on its behalf, but will have the opportunity to do so at the next hearing.

Danny Games Sr., director of corporate development for Chesapeake Energy, said the company complied with the emergency request because it needed more time to review the information.

“This is obviously a very involved and very complicated matter,” Games said. “There’s a lot of science and a lot of facts that should come to bear, and in light of the very short time frame that we had to work with, we simply did not have time to prepare in the manner we felt was proper for this discussion.”

Games said, however, that he does not agree with the commission’s conclusions and that the earthquakes are a natural occurrence.

“We believe there is a lot of natural seismicity in this area,” he said. “This is an area where there’s been seismic activity for over 30 years, and we think this is a continuation of that.”

Brian Hughes, general manager of Clarita Operating, declined comment. Clarita’s parent company is True Energy Services of Ada, Okla.

Marcellus rules compromise eluding W.Va. lawmakers
BusinessWeek
By LAWRENCE MESSINA Natural gas companies and environmentalists remained at odds Friday over the latest stab by lawmakers to approve proposed rules for drilling into West Virginia’s Marcellus shale field. With the House set to vote on legislation …
See all stories on this topic »
So very wrong
Lebanon Daily News
But we doubt, regardless of the length of time we wait, whether we could make any sense out of the egregious, insensitive, wrong-headed, next-door-to-criminal decision not to look into some form of severance tax on Marcellus Shale gas drilling. …
See all stories on this topic »
Lock Haven Clearfield Campus to Host Marcellus Shale Speaker
Gant Daily
CLEARFIELD – On Tuesday evening Lock Haven Clearfield Campus will host geologist Tristan Ashcroft, who offers his viewpoint on Marcellus Shale and the related natural gas. Why is there a gas drilling boom in the Marcellus? It is a simple question, …
See all stories on this topic »
Brian Rahm to lecture on Marcellus Shale
Wellsville Daily Reporter
The auditorium is in the David A. Howe Public Library, 155 N. Main St. What are the water resource risks associated with Marcellus Shale gas development? How can these risks be planned for, prevented, detected, and mitigated. Rahm and his colleagues at …
See all stories on this topic »
roundtable keys on gas drilling
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
By Chris Foreman Regulatory and financial issues related to drilling in the Marcellus shale formation dominated the discussion during a legislative roundtable Friday at the annual convention of the Westmoreland County Association of Township …
See all stories on this topic »
Equisol LLC forms Equisol Energy Services to help solve frac water challenges …
Water World
BB:EIHC), reported on Thursday the establishment of Equisol Energy Services (EES) to target opportunities in the emerging Marcellus Shale Natural Gas play. EES, which is based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, specialises in water treatment services …
See all stories on this topic »
Wales hearing set on ‘fracking’ ban
Buffalo News
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking or simply fracking, involves extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale deposits in New York and neighboring states. Wales residents, who depend solely on well water, fear the threat of …
See all stories on this topic »
State studying effects of gas well site spill, flare-up in Cecil
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
By Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette State regulators are awaiting results of soil and water tests after being notified Sunday of a spill at a Marcellus Shale well site operated by Range Resources-Appalachia LLC in Cecil, Washington County. …
See all stories on this topic »
Spencer: Wind energy works for Pennsylvania
GoErie.com
The Marcellus Shale formation may well make the Keystone State a major player in natural gas production. Even more importantly, it may be part of the solution to a $3 billion budget gap and providing jobs to 500000 unemployed Pennsylvanians. …
See all stories on this topic »
Sen. Bob Casey expresses support for national rail
The State Column (blog)
In his letter today, Senator Casey noted the importance of improving rail projects in the region to accommodate increased traffic associated with natural gas exploration and production in the Marcellus Shale formation. Revoking this funding now will …
See all stories on this topic »
The State Column (blog)

Blogs 1 new result for Marcellus gas

Rally Support for Responsible Natural Gas Development – Marcellus …
By admin
“Friends of the Marcellus Shale” Rally Support for Responsible Natural Gas Development. ICYMI — “Friends of the Marcellus Shale” Rally Support for Responsible Natural Gas Development. · An hour before the hearing began, a group calling …
Marcellus Shale Coalition – http://marcelluscoalition.org/

Web 2 new results for Marcellus gas

West Virginia Blue:: More on Marcellus gas drilling legislation
Why: The legislation to regulate the drilling of Marcellus gas has been debated all session. Now, time is running out. With only two days remaining, …
wvablue.com/diary/…/more-on-marcellus-gas-drilling-legislati…
17000 Marcellus Shale Gas Wells? | Geology.com
National Fuel Gas has been drilling wells into the Marcellus Shale and. … Marcellus Shale Gas to New York City March 3, 2010 | Reuters …
geology.com/news/…/17000-marcellus-shale-gas-wells.shtml

Interactive map provides Marcellus gas deposits infs
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
By Bayley Brown March 11, 2011 · In response to public and industry inquiries, the WV Geological and Economic Survey has created a map that shows where the state’s underground gas deposits in the Marcellus shale are located. …
See all stories on this topic »
Statoil says it could drill 17K Marcellus wells
Wall Street Journal
A Norwegian company partnering with Chesapeake Energy says it could drill as many as 17000 natural gas wells in the Marcellus shale field over the next 20 years. Statoil ASA made the prediction on its website. The Oslo-based company holds a 32.5 …
See all stories on this topic »
Shale panel lacks NEPA member
Republican & Herald
Tom Corbett on a wide range of policies related to Marcellus Shale drilling lacks any representation from Northeast Pennsylvania. The vacuum exists despite the northeast region hosting one of Pennsylvania’s most active and productive gas drilling belts …
See all stories on this topic »
Clarion-Venango to train students for gas field jobs
GoErie.com
OIL CITY — A new Clarion University of Pennsylvania program will train participants for entry-level jobs in Marcellus shale gas drilling. The natural gas technology program was designed with the help of industry leaders to ensure that students are …
See all stories on this topic »
Marcellus Shale Boom
Wealth Daily
It’s natural gas. And folks, the natural gas bottom may be in, as majors swoop in for a piece of cheap natural gas. And it’s only a matter of time before those same “majors” swoop into the Marcellus region to pick up natural gas land and drillers on …
See all stories on this topic »
Vitali renews fight against Marcellus Shale drilling in state forrests
Delaware County Daily Times
House Bill 150 would place a three-year moratorium on leasing state forest land for oil and gas drilling while the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources studies various drilling impacts in the natural gas-rich Marcellus Shale …
See all stories on this topic »
Retooled Marcellus is moving forward
Beckley Register-Herald
He pointed out that not all Marcellus shale is equal. The portion of the shale containing the gas under much of Pennsylvania, for instance, is of a higher pressure and in thicker deposit layers. He said there is some real opportunity in some northern …
See all stories on this topic »
Cabot’s expenditures in Susquehanna County: $1 billion
Citizens Voice
He said the fact that eight of the top 10 producing Marcellus Shale gas wells in Pennsylvania are Cabot’s far exceeded his company’s hopes. But he acknowledged that some have criticized Cabot for modest lease payouts four or five years ago in the $25 …
See all stories on this topic »
Local men join natural gas advisory commission
Williamsport Sun-Gazette
A state commission charged with developing a strategy on how to best take advantage of the development of natural gas resources in the Marcellus Shale will have local representation. Lycoming County Commissioner Jeff C. Wheeland and Vincent Matteo, …
See all stories on this topic »
Caiman Energy and NOVA Chemicals Sign MOU for Ethane Supply
Azom.com
By Cameron Chai NOVA Chemicals has entered into a MOU agreement to deliver ethane from Caiman Energy’s Fort Beeler plant, a gas processing facility, in Marcellus Shale to Sarnia, Ontario petrochemical market. As per the agreement, Caiman Energy will …
See all stories on this topic »

click here for article

Gas Drilling Technique Is Labeled Violation
By TOM ZELLER Jr.
Published: January 31, 2011

Oil and gas service companies injected tens of millions of gallons of diesel fuel into onshore wells in more than a dozen states from 2005 to 2009, Congressional investigators have charged. Those injections appear to have violated the Safe Water Drinking Act, the investigators said in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday.

click here for article

Beautifully done and to the point!

http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/687515/us_natural_gas_drilling_boom_linked_to_pollution_and_social_strife.html

Catskill Mountainkeeper

Joe Martens Yesterday, Governor Cuomo’s office announced that Joseph Martens will be nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Joe Martens, who has been president of The Open Space Institute for 16 years, has dedicated his career to safeguarding the environment and New York State. He has been responsible for preserving thousands of acres of open space and farmland during this time.

Joe Martens has served on the Board of a number of organizations including the Chair of the Catskill Mountainkeeper Advisory Board since our founding in 2007. Governor Cuomo has sited Martens’ ability to strike a critical balance between the importance of the environment and commerce in order to protect the environment while fostering economic growth.

We too believe that Martens is a practical person arriving at the right time to guide us through a critical period in New York’s history. Meanwhile, Catskill Mountainkeeper will continue to play its role in protecting the natural resources of the Catskills and surrounding areas.

We are proud of Joe Martens and wish him well.

Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy

New York State:

Governor Names New DEC Commissioner

“Joe knows how to strike the critical balance between defending our natural resources from pollution and destruction while at the same time fostering a climate of economic renewal and growth.” With those words Governor Cuomo nominated Joe Martens as DEC Commissioner. Mr. Martens will step down as President of the Open Spaces Institute if he is confirmed as Commissioner. Although he has never served in the DEC, Mr. Martens is highly regarded in the environmental community and also has a working knowledge of Albany. He served as Governor Mario Cuomo’s Deputy Secretary for energy and the environment, and chaired the Olympic Regional (Adirondack) Development Authority under Governors Spitzer and Paterson.

Cuomo Confirms Executive Order – High-volume Fracking Unlikely in 2011

On his first day in office Governor Cuomo extended Governor Paterson’s executive order that prohibits high-volume fracking until at least July 2011. More importantly, Executive Order 41 also called for a revised Draft SGEIS to be issued around June 2011. This will entail a second public comment period that’s likely to delay fracking for many months to come.

After all, the public comment period for the first draft lasted three months and elicited more than 13,000 comments which the DEC is still processing more than a year later. This time, with the public even more concerned about fracking dangers, another huge outpouring of public comments is to be expected. It’s hard to see how the DEC will be able to fulfill its legal obligation to consider all these comments before sometime in 2012.

Increased Scrutiny of Vertical Wells

With high-volume fracking still on hold, Catskill Citizens and other environmental organizations are now beginning to focus attention on a type of drilling that’s been going on for decades – vertical oil and gas wells that are fractured with less than 100,000 gallons of fracking fluid. It appears that more than ten thousand vertical wells in have been hydraulically fractured in New York State over the past fifty years. While it’s true that these vertical wells haven’t been associated with widespread reports of contamination, it’s equally true that the DEC has never examined the effect low-volume fracking has had on public health and the environment.

In fact, the DEC can’t even utilize the data that it’s already collected with regard to low-volume fracking. Precisely how many wells have been fracked in New York? How many millions of gallons of fracking fluid have been injected underground? What chemicals have been used in fracking fluids? If this information exists at all, it’s squirreled away in paper files warehoused in small upstate towns. The DEC needs to quickly to get this information online so that it’s readily available to policymakers, researchers, the general public – and the department itself.

The Delaware River Basin Commission:

In just two and a half months, the Delaware River Basin Commission plans to shut down public comment on its plan to permit high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the basin. As we’ve mentioned before, the DRBC is reckless in promulgating regulations without having conducted a cumulative impact study, and without the benefit of even a single peer-reviewed scientific study of fracking and drinking water safety.

Moreoever, the DRBC has announced that it will hold just three public hearings on its proposed regulations, and so far it has failed to provide either dates or locations. No matter what locations are finally selected, three hearings are clearly inadequate – the Basin itself spans hundreds of miles in four states, and provides drinking water to millions of people who live well outside the basin itself.

Take Action demand an extended comment period and additional public hearings before the DRBC greenlights fracking in the Delaware Basin.

A new film about gas drilling.
We will have special guest speakers too.
Where: Hancock Central School
When: Friday, December 10 at 7:00 pm

Agency orders Range Natural Gas Company to stop the contamination of Methane and Other Contaminants into drinking water near multiple residences

(DALLAS – December 7, 2010) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered a natural gas company in Forth Worth, Texas, to take immediate action to protect homeowners living near one of its drilling operations who have complained about flammable and bubbling drinking water coming out of their tap. EPA testing has confirmed that extremely high levels of methane in their water pose an imminent and substantial risk of explosion or fire. EPA has also found other contaminants including benzene, which can cause cancer, in their drinking water.

EPA has determined that natural gas drilling near the homes by Range Resources in Parker County, Texas, has caused or contributed to the contamination of at least two residential drinking water wells. Therefore, today, EPA has ordered the company to step in immediately to stop the contamination, provide drinking water and provide methane gas monitors to the homeowners. EPA has issued an imminent and substantial endangerment order under Section 1431 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Parker County is located west of Fort Worth, Texas.

In late August, EPA received a citizen’s complaint regarding concerns with a private drinking water well. During the inspector’s follow-up inquiry, EPA learned that the homeowner had previously complained to the Texas Railroad Commission as well as the company, but their concerns were not adequately addressed by the State or the company. EPA then conducted an on-site inspection of the private drinking water well with the homeowner and a neighboring residence, and returned to collect both water and gas samples. These samples were sent to an EPA certified laboratory for analysis. The data was received in late November 2010 and was carefully reviewed by EPA scientists. The EPA scientists have conducted isotopic fingerprint analysis and concluded the source of the drinking water well contamination to closely match that from Range Resources’ natural gas production well.

EPA has asked the company to conduct a full scale investigation. EPA is requiring Range Resources under this order to:

· Immediately deliver potable water to the two residences;
· Immediately sample soil gas around the residences;
· Immediately sample all nearby drinking water wells to determine the extent of aquifer contamination;
· provide methane gas monitors to alert homeowners of dangerous conditions in their houses;
· develop a plan to remediate areas of the aquifer that have been contaminated; and
· to investigate the structural integrity of its nearby natural gas well to determine if it is the source of contamination.

EPA has data showing the presence of natural gas at two wells. EPA is ordering Range to investigate other nearby properties to determine if their drinking water is at risk. EPA has been in contact with a rural water system operator approximately 1 mile away, and it is taking steps to test its water for natural gas constituents. Residents of other homes are advised to contact EPA immediately if their wells seize up or if their water begins to effervesce. EPA will contact nearby private well home owners to advise them of our actions and to let them know that we’ve required the company to test their wells.

The uncontrolled release of natural gas can be dangerous since it is odorless and flammable and it escapes facilities. Uncontrolled release of natural gas inside a building or home can cause a fire or explosion. Drinking water contaminated with natural gas impurities such as benzene is unhealthy.

EPA believes that natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and the process known as hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing that vital resource. However, we want to make sure natural gas development is safe. As we announced earlier this year, we are in the process of conducting a comprehensive study on the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water.

In the meantime, EPA has made energy extraction sector compliance with environmental laws one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011 to 2013. The initiative focuses on areas of the country where energy extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing are concentrated, and EPA’s enforcement activities will vary with the type of activity and pollution problem presented.

To read a copy of order to the company, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region6