Posts Tagged ‘Gas drilling’

Reports today note that a New York natural gas company and Pennsylvania natural gas company are at odds over the distribution of natural gas to residential and business consumers in Susquehanna County Pennsylvania. Both companies are trying to capitalize on the Marcellus Shale gas boom taking place it NEPA and elsewhere throughout the state. Proponents of natural gas drilling have predicted that competition from companies would occur and would benefit users with lower gas prices. The right to distribute natural gas by the two companies is being reviewed by the PUC.

The 13 trial lawyers at DOUGHERTY LEVENTHAL PRICE LLP–DLP—PENNSYLVANIA GAS TRUCK, AUTOMOBILE, GAS DRILLING RIG AND EXPLOSION ACCIDENT LAWYERS—-continue to follow this and other gas drilling stories in NEPA and Central Pennsylvania.

Today’s Marcellus Shale news includes the Republican dominated Legislature in Harrisburg failing to reach a compromise on major tax and regulatory legislation affecting Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling companies but passing noncontroversial legislation requiring signs to spell out the GPS location of drilling pads and drilling rig sites.  With primary elections only months away, and even the most conservative constituents calling for taxing and regulating of gas drillers  in light of service cuts and local school district tax increases, the Republican Senate and House leaders are calling for Governor Corbett to alter his pro gas industry no tax/no regulation policies and reach a compromise quickly avoiding campaign issues. Additionally, DEP officials announced the proposed construction of two (2) deep well fracking waste water disposal sites in Warren County. Deep well disposal sites recently came under scrutiny after earthquakes near deep well disposal sites occurred in Youngstown, Ohio. Finally, Pennsylvania electric producers are pushing to take advantage of the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom in Pennsylvania and are moving to switch from coal dependent to natural gas dependent electrical generation plants. The electric companies are hoping to lower the cost of electricity for Pennsylvania residential and business consumers. Natural gas drilling industry leaders have predicted this positive development for Pennsylvania consumers for some time.

The (13) trial lawyers at Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP–DLP—PENNSYLVANIA TRUCK ACCIDENT AND AUTO ACCIDENT CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYERS—contnue to follow these and other natural gas drilling rig issues in NEPA, Central and elsewhere in Pennsylvania including Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, Cameron, Clinton and Lycoming Counties.

Drinking water to at least three (3) properties in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania suffered methane gas pollution due to faulty drilling procedures by Cabot Natural Gas according to DEP officials. The water pollution violations occurred in September, 2011. DEP failed to post the violations as required by law. DEP officials noted failure to post was an “oversight”. Meanwhile, Cabot is supplying fresh water to the affected properties and is trying to correct the problems. Water contamination at or near natural gas drilling rig sites has been a primary issue with environmental groups overseeing natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale drilling regions of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

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The Philadelphia Inquirer today reports on issues outstanding over disposal of fracking waste water/liquids following earthquakes at a waste disposal deep well site near Youngstown Ohio. The fracking drilling process in the Marcellus shale region of Pennsylvania creates significant liquid waste containing many pollutants. Originally processed and released into Pennsylvania streams and rivers, the waste is now either recycled–the preferred method according to gas industry leaders—or trucked to deep well disposal sites mostly in Ohio. Environmental critics are citing the Youngstown earthquakes as another example of unregulated drilling and disposal of hazardous waste. Industry insiders note that there are hundreds of deep well disposal sites, and the Youngstown site earthquakes are unusual events and not the norm.

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A federal judge has denied a motion by Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation to dismiss a case brought by Dimock Township residents two years ago. The residents claim their water, health, and property was damaged by the Pennsylvania natural gas driller. Cabot motioned to have a federal judge throw out the case brought by over 60 residents of the Susquehanna County township. The gas company has argued that the families failed to establish a legal basis for the law suit against them.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Cabot could stop delivery of clean water by November 30. This was outlined in a December 2010 settlement between the DEP and Cabot.

The settlement also required that:

• Cabot offer to install methane-removal systems
• Fund escrow accounts with twice the tax-assessed value of each of the 19 affected Susquehanna County homes.

However, this settlement did not require the company to restore the water to its pre-drilling quality. Now Dimock Township residents are making last-minute push to prolong the water deliveries from Cabot. In a recent petition for an injunction, the families state the department’s settlement terms ignored state law, which requires drillers to permanently restore or replace water supplies contaminated by their operations. Cabot is denying contamination was caused by their drilling activities. Their argument is that the appeal came too late from the Dimock residents. Cabot is also claiming their well water is safe to drink and even if it were not, the Dimock residents could get their own fresh water delivered “at modest cost” or collect it from a local well in Montrose.

Filed almost two years ago in November of 2009, the Susquehanna County residents of Dimock, Pennsylvania claimed Cabot Oil and Gas’s drilling activities introduced methane and other toxins into their properties and drinking water, causing illness, property damage, fear of future sickness and emotional distress. Pennsylvania courts have not directly addressed whether gas drilling is an “abnormally dangerous” activity that fits the strict liability standard.

Recent reports estimated 48,000 new job positions related to gas rig drilling in Pennsylvania.  However, a new report claims only approximately 10,000 jobs have been created and the original numbers inflated to include “new hires”.  The twelve lawyers at DLP continue to monitor this issue as they represent individuals in gas drilling rig accidents, Pennsylvania tractor trailer/truck accidents and other serious injury claims throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania including the Northern Tier.

With the increase in gas drilling rig gas production and gas drilling rig accidents and production affecting local communities throughout the Commonwealth reports in Harrisburg show increasing support for some type of “gas tax” in Pennsylvania.  Many politicians have voiced opposition to any tax on the gas industry.  DLP continues to monitor this issue while representing victims of Pennsylvania truck accidents. gas drilling rig accidents and other serious incidents.

Reports today note the Department of Environmental Protection is pushing for tougher regulations on gas drilling companies and drilling rig sites.  Environmental concerns with water and air quality are driving the proposed regulations.  In the meantime talks continue in Harrisburg regarding some type of taxation on the gas drilling rig companies.  Safety issues regarding truck accidents in Pennsylvania due to increased truck traffic volume and highway damage also continue to be discussed.