Posts Tagged ‘pennsylvania department of environmental protection’
June 16 webinar explores air pollution from Marcellus gas activities
June 16th, 2011 | 
Author: A web-based seminar June 16, presented by Penn State Extension, will explore state findings regarding air pollution related to Marcellus Shale natural-gas activity in the commonwealth.
In the 1 p.m. webinar, titled “The Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Short-Term Ambient Air Sampling Project,” Nick Lazor, chief of the Air Quality Monitoring Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will discuss findings and conclusions of recent studies of emissions from gas sites.
Lazor, who has 16 years of environmental experience in the air-quality field, manages a staff of 32 for DEP and is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the commonwealth’s Ambient Air Monitoring Network.
Air pollution has been a concern since the beginning of 2008, when natural-gas exploration activities in the Marcellus Shale formation increased significantly in the commonwealth, according to Lazor. He noted that more than 2,349 wells have been drilled, primarily in the southwest, northeast and northcentral regions.
In response to the increased number of well sites and concerns about the impact of the Marcellus Shale natural-gas development activities on air quality, DEP launched a short-term, screening-level air-quality sampling initiative, he explained.
Air quality was sampled in DEP surveys at natural-gas facilities in the northcentral, northeast and southwest regions of the state.
“Due to the limited scope and duration of the sampling, and the limited number of sources and facilities sampled, the findings only represent conditions at the time of the sampling and do not represent a comprehensive study of emissions,” stated a report about the air sampling prepared by Lazor’s group within DEP.
“While this short-term sampling effort does not address the cumulative impact of air emissions from natural gas operations, the sampling results do provide basic information on the type of pollutants emitted to the atmosphere during selected phases of gas extraction operations in the Marcellus Shale formation,” the report noted.
According to the report, key findings of short-term air sampling include:
–Concentrations of certain natural gas constituents — including methane, propane and butane, and associated compounds were detected in the air near Marcellus Shale drilling operations.
–Elevated methane levels were detected at compressor stations and well sites.
–Certain compounds, mainly methyl mercaptan, were detected at levels which generally produce odors.
–Results did not identify concentrations of any compound that would likely trigger air-related health issues associated with Marcellus Shale activities.,
–Sampling for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone did not detect concentrations above National Ambient Air Quality Standards at any of the sampling sites.
“The elevated methane results at the sampling sites would seem to confirm that the natural-gas production infrastructure in general — from well sites to condensate tank farms to compressor stations — is a source of pollutant emissions through fugitive and/or direct means,” the report stated.
The June16 webinar is part of a series of online workshops addressing opportunities and challenges related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.
Future webinars will include speakers on the following topics: pipeline development and regulation; a research update on the effects of shale drilling on wildlife habitat; and current legal issues in shale-gas development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as the gas boom’s effect on landfills, water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners, and implications for local communities also are available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website (http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas).
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at (724) 837-1402 or [email protected]
Jeff Mulhollem
Writer/editor
(814) 863-2719
[email protected]
Posted At: PSU.edu
Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control And Gas Drilling Operations
Minimizing soil erosion and the resulting sediment pollution to waterways from earthmoving is the goal of Pennsylvania’s Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control program. Regulations within the Pennsylvania Code and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law require the implementation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) to minimize the potential for “accelerated erosion and sedimentation.” Accelerated erosion is the removal of the surface of the land through human activities and natural processes at a greater rate than would occur naturally.
One of the major concerns that could be faced by landowners during any gas drilling operation is the potential land disturbance caused by all of the equipment, drilling pads, roadways, and pipelines. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the main agency that has authority to approve gas drilling permits. For oil and gas exploration, production, processing, treatment and transmission activities that disturb five or more acres, Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit must be obtained before commencing any earth disturbance activities.
For erosion and sediment pollution control activity other than within the natural gas industry, many County Conservation Districts have delegated authority from the DEP to implement the Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control program and serve as the lead agency in conducting erosion control plan reviews, performing site inspections, and responding to complaints. Conservation Districts also continue to be responsible for reviewing plans, issuing permits, and earth disturbance inspections for certain oil and gas construction projects, such as transmission pipelines, separate compressor stations, and water withdrawal or pump stations.
Many gas drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale area disturb a large amount of earth for the drilling equipment, water trucks, water storage facilities, support apparatus, and gathering and transmission pipelines. All of these activities that disturb more than five acres must obtain Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit.
Part of the gas industry’s responsibility when obtaining a permit, is to submit an erosion and sediment pollution control plan to DEP. That plan should show the location of the drilling pad, amount of disturbance, and the BMPs that will be used during the activity to reduce sedimentation. If there will be any impacts to streams or other waterbodies, a DEP stream encroachment permit would be required, as well.
Earth disturbance is defined as: a construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing & grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, mineral extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or other earth materials.
Under the Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control program a written erosion and sediment pollution control plan is required for earthmoving under most conditions, including the following:
- The proposed earth disturbance activity will take place in an Exceptional Value (EV) or High Quality (HQ) Special Protection Watershed or have the potential to discharge to these waters.
- The proposed earth disturbance activity will result in a total disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more in a Cold Water Fisheries (CWF) or Warm Water Fisheries (WWF) Watershed.
- The person proposing the earth disturbance activity is required to develop a plan under the direction of other PA DEP permits or approvals (for example, stream encroachment and wetland permits).
- A written plan is required by municipal or county ordinances, permits, zoning, watershed plan, or similar requirements.
It is noted in the state regulations that even those sites that disturb less than 5,000 square feet of land, erosion control best management practices must be installed, implemented, and maintained to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation.
An erosion and sediment pollution control plan is a site specific plan identifying BMPs or ways in which accelerated erosion and sediment pollution will be minimized. BMPs are: activities, facilities, and measures, or procedures used to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation and manage stormwater to protect, maintain, reclaim and restore the quality of waters and the existing and designated uses of waters of the Commonwealth during and after construction activities. Such BMPs can include: filter fabric fence, compost silt socks, sediment basins, erosion control blankets, filter strips, rock filters, etc.
The erosion and sediment pollution control plan is developed by a person experienced in control methods and techniques and are developed prior to any earth disturbance. At a minimum, the erosion control plan should contain the following information: 1) A location map identifying the site location and topographic features; 2) soils information; 3) characteristics of the earth disturbance activity including proposed land use; 4) amount of runoff including the upstream watershed area; 5) stream and watershed locations along with the water quality classification; 6) types and location of BMPs that will be used to reduce erosion and sedimentation; 7) all construction schedules listing installation of controls and final stabilization; 8) supporting calculations; 9) plan drawings showing land features, water bodies, construction limits, and location of controls around construction area; 10) maintenance plan including inspection of controls especially following precipitation events and schedule of repairs if needed; 11) recycling and disposal of construction waste procedures. As a landowner allowing access to your property, you would want to review these documents from the gas company.
The erosion and sediment pollution control plan must be kept at the site throughout the duration of the earthmoving activities. Inspectors from the PA Department of Environmental Protection may visit the site and request to see the plan. For all other earthmoving activities, the Conservation District would be authorized to inspect such activities.
If you see a sediment pollution problem and are unsure if it is coming directly from a gas drilling site, contact the County Conservation District. All sediment pollution occurring on a gas drilling site will be reported to the regional DEP office.
Reprinted from the Clinton County Natural Gas Task Force (www.clintoncountypa.com )
Mary Ann Bower ([email protected]) serves as district manager for the Clinton County Conservation District.
Posted in Gas Drilling Injuries & News | 
Tags: county conservation districts, disturbance, erosion and sediment control, land, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, pollution control program, scranton personal injury lawyers, Sediment, sediment pollution control, sedimentation, water | 
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Pennsylvania American Water Releases Water Sampling Results
No Detectable Levels of Radiological Contaminants or Volatile Organic Compounds Found at Intakes
Following a full battery of tests at Pennsylvania American Water’s raw water intakes along the Allegheny, Clarion and Monongahela Rivers and Two Lick Creek, in Indiana, PA, the company found no elevated or harmful levels of radiological contaminants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or inorganic compounds (IOCs). The results confirmed that the quality of the water supplied by Pennsylvania American Water’s treatment plants has not been impacted by radioactive materials, VOCs or IOCs from Marcellus Shale drilling wastewater.
Analysis of the water at all sites tested determined that no detectable levels of the following radiological contaminants were found: Gross Alpha Radiation, Gross Beta Radiation, Radium-226, Radium-228, Strontium-90 and Tritium. The results also revealed no detectable levels of the following VOCs: Benzene; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chlorobenzene (mono); cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene; 1,2-Dichloroethane; 1,2-Dichlorobenzene (Ortho); 1,4-Dichlorobenzene(Para); 1,2-Dichloroethane; 1,1-Dichloroethylene; 1,2-Dichloropropane; Ethylbenzene; Dichloromethane; Styrene; Tetrachloroethylene; Toluene; trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene; 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene; 1,1,1-Trichloroethane; 1,1,2-Trichloroethane; Trichloroethylene (TCE); Vinyl Chloride and Xylenes (total).
The test results showed levels well within compliance standards for 32 IOCs, including chromium, mercury, arsenic, barium, copper, lead, cyanide and boron, uranium and cadmium. In addition Pennsylvania American Water, at the request of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), sampled our finished drinking water at three sites (Pittsburgh Aldrich, Pittsburgh Hays Mine and Clarion) in late March 2011, for total alkalinity, bromide, chloride, pH, total dissolved solids, uranium, gross alpha radiation, radium 226, and radium 228. All of the data received show that all results are within all acceptable water quality standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Pa DEP.
The company performed the additional testing over and above its routine sampling and monitoring for more than 90 contaminants to ensure compliance with all water quality standards. Pennsylvania American Water is dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality water service. The company will continue to work closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DEP to ensure that the water we provide customers meets federal and state regulatory standards.
http://www.amwater.com/alerts/alert15474.html
Posted At: Pioga.org
Study assesses state taxes on Marcellus Shale production
University Park, Pa. — The ongoing utilization of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas deposits has the state weighing the pros and cons of taxing the drilling activity. A study recently released by faculty in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences used state tax information in an effort to begin an objective analysis of the drilling’s impact on local economies and state tax collection.
The research, summarized in a four-page booklet titled “State Tax Implications of Marcellus Shale: What the Pennsylvania Data Say in 2010,” compared counties where there is Marcellus Shale drilling and production activity with non-Marcellus counties. The study was authored by Timothy Kelsey, professor of agricultural economics and Penn State Extension state program leader for economic and community development, and Charles Costanzo, an undergraduate student majoring in community, environment and development.
Data are drawn from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s report, “2010 Wells Drilled by County as of 02/11/2011,” as well as from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s “Personal Income Statistics for 2007 and 2008″ and its “Tax Compendium (2007-08 through 2009-10) with Statistical Supplements.”
Kelsey said while it’s still early in the natural gas drilling process, the analysis indicates that Marcellus Shale development brings some positive economic activity for communities.
The study found that state sales tax collections were up by an average of 11 percent in counties with major Marcellus activity, while collections dropped an average of more than 6 percent in counties without any Marcellus. Sales tax collections are an indicator that retail sales are booming in Marcellus counties.
“Tax revenues are only one side of finances, however, so this analysis only considers half of the issue,” Kelsey said. “The impact of Marcellus drilling on state and local government costs is yet unclear, so it is too early to understand the overall impact of Marcellus on the state government. This state tax analysis does not indicate the impact of Marcellus development on local government and school district tax collections, since royalty and leasing income is exempt from the local earned income tax, and local jurisdictions cannot levy sales taxes.”
Kelsey said researchers wanted to find out if state tax records could yield objective financial data on how local economies are being affected by Marcellus Shale development.
“The state tax information provides a glimpse at how sales activity and personal income are changing,” he said. “The state collects objective tax collection information every year, and that can provide a good snapshot of how residents’ income is changing and the amount of retail activity going on.”
Kelsey explained that the booklet can help the average citizen to understand that Marcellus Shale development is having a discernible economic impact on residents and in communities.
“We’re early enough in the development of the shale that much of what we ‘know’ is based on anecdotes and personal stories,” he said. “This analysis provides some real numbers behind those anecdotes. The data show clearly that there are economic benefits that are accruing because of the gas activity — higher personal tax collections, higher sales tax collections. Realty tax incomes in drilling counties are decreasing, but less than in non-drilling counties.
“The booklet will not tell you how those benefits relate to costs, because we weren’t able to look at that,” he added. “So, it is only a partial picture of what’s going on. You know there are dollars coming in but you don’t know if it’s a net gain or a net loss to the community.”
Kelsey cited increased highway repair and maintenance, greater administrative demands, changing human service needs, and law enforcement and courts among the costs that determine whether the drilling activity is adding to or subtracting from a county’s bottom line.
Kelsey stressed that, because the study focuses only on state tax collection, it doesn’t support assumptions about local tax changes. He points out that local governments don’t have the option of a sales tax, and that the personal income tax increases seen in the study are largely the result of leasing and royalty income, which are both exempted from earned-income tax.
“So we know from this analysis that state revenues are going up, but we don’t know if local tax revenues are increasing or decreasing as a result of the activity,” he said. “That’s a huge caveat.”
Single copies of “State Tax Implications of Marcellus Shale” can be obtained free of charge by Pennsylvania residents through county Penn State Extension offices or by contacting the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at 814-865-6713 or by email at [email protected]. For cost information on out-of-state or bulk orders, contact the Publications Distribution Center. The publication also is available on the Web athttp://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/ua468.pdf.
Copyright: PSU.edu
Posted in Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
Tags: Collection, development, information, Marcellus Shale, natural gas drilling, objective, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, pennsylvania department of revenue, scranton personal injury lawyers, state, state program leader |
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Pa.’s Natural Gas Rush
April 03, 2011|By Andrew Maykuth, Inquirer Staff Writer
Natural gas companies have been drilling in Pennsylvania for more than a century, but Marcellus Shale exploration is unlike anything before.
Consider Seneca Resources Corp., which has operated traditional wells that capture gas beneath a small acreage. Seneca has joined the rush to drill deep Marcellus wells, which collect gas beneath vast reaches of land.
“By the time we got to about six wells, we were producing more in the Marcellus than we were in our 3,000 shallow wells,” Matthew D. Cabell, Seneca’s president, told investors in January.
As Marcellus Shale operators move into full-scale production, several trends are emerging that underscore the huge transformation under way in Pennsylvania.
While the 1,386 Marcellus wells drilled last year fell short of early projections of 1,750, operators are drilling bigger wells with longer laterals, some reaching underground for more than a mile.
The bigger wells require larger amounts of water, steel – and money. Operators say they are spending $4 million to $6 million per well.
The drilling is producing greater environmental anxiety, measured by a growing opposition to hydraulic fracturing, the method used to extract gas from shale.
But investors are still bullish, emboldened by production figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
“The Marcellus is going to be far more prolific than we ever imagined,” said Subash Chandra, managing director of Jefferies & Co. Inc., an investment company. “It’s almost scary how good the Marcellus is. It’s supereconomic.”
Last month, 102 drill rigs were operating in Pennsylvania, up from 27 two years ago, according to Baker Hughes Inc., of Houston.
Though the Marcellus formation lies under half the state, drilling so far is concentrated in a few counties.
Five companies, led by Chesapeake Energy Corp., produced 69 percent of the Marcellus Shale natural gas over the 18 months ended Dec. 31, according the Powell Shale Digest, a trade publication.
And 80 percent of the Marcellus gas was produced in just five counties – Bradford, Susquehanna, and Tioga Counties along Pennsylvania’s northern border and Washington and Greene Counties in the state’s southwest corner.
Drilling has outpaced the industry’s ability to sell the gas.
Only 1,237 of more than 2,300 Marcellus wells drilled were producing gas at the end of 2010.
Hundreds of wells are finished but awaiting construction of pipelines to carry the fuel to consumers.
Philly.com
Posted in Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
Tags: Chesapeake Energy Corp., inquirer staff writer, Natural, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, percent, Rush, scranton personal injury lawyers, Seneca, Seneca Resources Corp., Staff, subash chandra |
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Punishments of Shale drillers now need OK from top
HARRISBURG, PA.
Approval of enforcement actions and punishments aimed at Marcellus Shale drilling operators must now go through top officials in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in a change that the agency said Wednesday is aimed at improving its consistency in handling the rapidly growing industry.
Acting Secretary Michael Krancer is changing the procedure after receiving complaints that agency staff in different regions of Pennsylvania were carrying out their responsibilities unevenly, a department spokeswoman said.
The new policy covers a variety of enforcement actions that can require a company to pay a fine or correct a problem, spokeswoman Katy Gresh said. In some cases, those matters reach top officials. But the policy also covers notices of violation — which Krancer’s predecessor, John Hanger, equated to a traffic ticket making its way up to the chief of police and said it represents an encroachment onto the professional independence of the agency’s inspectors.
The policy applies strictly to Marcellus Shale-related drilling activity, and not to any other activities that the agency also inspects across six regions, including mining, construction, water and sewer treatment, power generation and medical X-rays.
Gresh said the week-old policy may be only temporary.
“We need to make sure we are consistent and that we make our best effort to be the most effective regulator of this industry, which will benefit all Pennsylvanians,” Gresh said.
Gov. Tom Corbett, whose successful campaign last year received sizable donations from members of the natural gas industry, has said he wants to make Pennsylvania the Texas of the natural gas boom. Pennsylvania is the largest natural gas state not to tax the activity, and Corbett is against imposing a new tax on it.
Notice of the change surrounding the hotly pursued natural gas formation wasn’t announced publicly. Rather, a March 23 email from a top department official ended up in the hands of reporters.
In the email, the department’s regional directors and the director of the bureau of oil and gas management were instructed to seek approval for actions involving Marcellus Shale drilling from two top agency deputies, with final clearance from Krancer.
“Any waiver from this directive will not be acceptable,” wrote John Hines, the agency’s executive deputy secretary.
On Wednesday, Hanger called the change to longstanding practice “ill-advised.”
“I can’t think of anything more likely to erode public confidence in the inspection process than this,” Hanger said. “I urge them to rethink and reconsider.”
Hanger said it oversteps the built-in checks and balances that give every company the ability to contest a notice of violation by responding in writing, asking for a meeting with regional staff to discuss it, appealing a decision to the Environmental Hearing Board and even going to court.
If there are complaints about consistency, the best way to handle those complaints is to carry out a management-level review of consistency and then train staff, if necessary, Hanger said.
“The idea that the secretary himself and the deputy secretary would presumably review, literally hundreds if not thousands of (notices of violation) before they were issued, when they were not on the site, they didn’t do the inspection, is incredible,” Hanger said. “It’s a new full-time job for the secretary, is what’s going to happen.”
Copyright: BusinessWeek.com
Marcellus Shale Frequently Asked Questions
Review this list of questions and answers and if you still have a question, visit our Got Marcellus Questions? page.
Q: Where can I find maps or listings of permits that have been acquired for Marcellus Shale drilling?
A: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has maps and spreadsheets of the permits. For maps, you would click on Marcellus Shale and then “2010 Permits Issued & Wells Drilled Maps” (or the year of information you are looking for)
For the spreadsheet of permits, you would click on Reports and then “2010 Permit & Rig Activity Reports. “
You may also want to subscribe to the PA DEP’s e-notice system, which can notify you on well permit applications received in the counties your request.
Q: How do I know if I am part of a production unit?
A: It is up to the gas company to determine the production unit. They should notify all who are in the production unit. If they so choose, the company will file a copy of the Declaration of Pooling and Unitization Agreement at the county recorder’s office, which would be public record. If you are interested in viewing the agreement, it is helpful to have a parcel number, which can be obtained from the Assessor’s office
Q: Does the Marcellus Shale extend into my area?
A: The Marcellus Shale extends over a vast region. You can find several maps depicting the extent of the shale on our website at or at the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research website . Although the Marcellus Shale may show in a variety of areas, it may not at this time be economically feasible to develop.
Q: My property is surrounded by neighbors who have leased their properties to gas companies for Marcellus Shale drilling, but no one has approached me. What should I do?
A: A company will typically come back to fill in the gaps in an area they are considering for a unit, but it just might not be right away. Most companies prefer having leases with all of the land in a drilling unit as opposed to leaving spaces or gaps. Talk with your neighbors and ask them which gas companies have interest in the area. Check the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) website for companies active in your county and township.
Q: Can a gas company drill for natural gas on my property without obtaining a lease? Can a well from a neighboring property horizontally extend and extract gas from under my property?
A: A company cannot drill on your property without obtaining a lease for it, nor can they horizontally drill under your property without obtaining a lease for it. However, when there is a well near a property line, it is possible for gas from an area of greater concentration to flow to an area or lesser concentration – from under your property to the horizontal leg not under your property. Pennsylvania Law applies to the “Rule of Capture”. For more information, read this brief description.
Q: How much natural gas is being extracted from wells in my area?
A: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has passed a law stating that gas companies must release production numbers every six months. PA DEP’s website has posted that information for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. Keep in mind, there are many factors that can contribute to the volume of gas produced. Unknown factors such as length of the well, total fracs, differences in types of wells, length of time producintg, etc. all influence the total production numbers.
Q: I am currently enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Clean and Green Program. How would allowing Marcellus Shale drilling on my property affect my enrollment in the program?
A: In October 2010, Act 88 of 2010 was signed into law, which amends the Clean and Green Law to help protect Marcellus gas landowners.
Under Senate Bill 298, a roll-back tax could be levied only on the portion of land filed under the well restoration report and land which is incapable of being immediately used for agricultural use, agricultural reserve or forest reserve. Land devoted to subsurface transmission or gathering lines would be exempt from a roll-back tax, which is the difference between the taxes paid based on the Clean and Green rate and the taxes that would have been paid if the land were not enrolled in Clean and Green.
Q: I am concerned about the effects of Marcellus Shale drilling on my drinking water supply. Are there any precautions I can take to ensure that the quality of my drinking water has not been compromised?
A: If a Marcellus well will be drilled within 1,000 feet (or perhaps even further) from your drinking water supply, there is a good chance that the drilling company will want to test your water to document its quality before they begin drilling. Recent updates to the Oil and Gas Act stipulate that when water quality testing is done by a drilling company, the landowner and the PA DEP are each required to receive a copy of all water test reports within ten days of the gas company receiving them.
If you are outside of this distance, you may want to have your well tested voluntarily by hiring astate accredited water laboratory.We also have more information on managing your private water well or spring near gas drilling in our fact sheet.
Q: The gas company that I have a lease with is asking to do seismic testing on my property. What is seismic testing, and what does it mean for me?
A: Companies will do seismic testing in areas to develop more information regarding the various shale plays, the thickness, and depths. This information then helps them determine their strategies for development, such as well pad placement and drilling directions.
Q: Are there any public meetings offering more information about Marcellus Shale?
A: Penn State Extension holds various public programming and webinars across the state. These programs are posted on our events page and we also try and advertise them in local newspapers.
Copyright: PSU.edu
Posted in Areas of Practice, Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
Tags: Clean, Department of Environmental Protection, information, land, Marcellus Shale, pa dep, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers, rig activity, water, website |
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NEPA Natural Gas History
May 2008
Gas companies show interest in region’s gas deposits. Experts believe billions of dollars in gas is trapped in the Marcellus Shale. August 2008
The rush is on in western Wyoming County, with the Wyoming County Landowners’ Group and its more than 45,000 acres in the gas-filled Marcellus Shale region accepting a lease agreement with gas drilling companies.
December 2008
DEP adds a permit addendum for shale wells that requires accounting of water acquisition, consumption and disposal. Up to 4 million gallons of water might be used at a single gas well.
January 2009
State Department of Environmental Protection announces partnership with the drilling industry to address wastewater disposal.
March 2009
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issues a letter of violation to Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. alleging faulty well casings caused natural gas to infiltrate into at least nine homes in Susquehanna County.
November 2009
• Encana natural gas announces it will drill two exploratory gas wells in Luzerne County.
• Fifteen property owners in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, file a lawsuit against Cabot Oil and Gas, claiming it caused property damage, created health hazards and “hoodwinked” the residents into unfair contracts.
April 2010
Luzerne County Citizens for Clean Water is renamed the Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition. The group says it is charged with protecting communities and the environment from exploitative natural gas drilling.
June 2010
HBO airs Josh Fox’s movie, “Gasland,” portraying the dangers of drilling for natural gas. Fox owns property in Milanville, Wayne County.
July 2009
Encana begins drilling at its Buda H1 well site near Ricketts Glen State Park in Fairmont Township.
September 2010
Encana begins drilling at its Salansky H1 well site off Zosh Road in Lake Township.
October 2010
Lehman Township residents ask township supervisors to advertise and vote on an ordinance that effectively bans gas drilling in the township.
November 2010
• Pittsburgh’s City Council passes an ordinance banning gas drilling, the council becomes first in Pennsylvania to do so.
• Encana tests production at one of its wells and, eight days later, announces it will cease all operations in Luzerne County and Pennsylvania.
Posted in Areas of Practice, Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
Tags: cabot oil and gas, Environmental, natural gas drilling, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers, protection, region, ricketts glen state, ricketts glen state park, site, water |
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MSC: New, Fact-Based DEP Water Results “Encouraging”
Leading industry group announces $100k fund to heighten water monitoring, establishment of Energy Research Collaborative
Canonsburg, PA – As the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled a sweeping set of water quality monitoring results from November through December of 2010 associated with Marcellus Shale development across the Commonwealth, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) today announced a number of steps it is taking to further safeguard the environment as responsible energy production continues in the region. According to DEP, “All samples showed levels at or below the normal naturally occurring background levels of radioactivity.” Of the results, acting DEP secretary Michael Krancer says: “Here are the facts: all samples were at or below background levels of radioactivity; and all samples showed levels below the federal drinking water standard for Radium 226 and 228.”
“These fact-based results are not only encouraging, but they also underscore how closely and aggressively state regulators monitor water use and management associated with the development of clean-burning natural gas from the Marcellus Shale. As acting DEP secretary Krancer reinforced, it’s imperative that facts serve as the foundation of these ongoing conversations. These findings also address a host of recently raised claims in a series of intellectually dishonest news reports,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC.
Klaber noted that Pennsylvania’s shale gas industry is recycling more produced water each month, significantly reducing disposal to DEP permitted treatment plants and the Commonwealth’s waterways. As in other industries, water that is not recycled is treated in accordance with strict regulations to remove solids prior to permitted discharge. The landfills to which these solids are transported are also highly regulated and monitored for radioactivity.
Following today’s DEP notice, the MSC announced its own plans to further ensure that Pennsylvania’s drinking water supplies and natural resources are protected, while underscoring the importance of transparency during the ongoing development of the Marcellus Shale.
- The MSC announced the creation of a $100,000 fund to help support heightened water testing associated with ongoing Marcellus natural gas development and water treatment.
- The MSC also will facilitate an Energy Research Collaborative, including representatives from academia, government, industry, and other key stakeholders, to advance the science across the many disciplines associated with responsible shale gas development. This collaborative will focus on areas in need of more fact-based investigation, beginning with the important considerations around naturally-occurring radioactive material (NORM).
“The MSC’s Guiding Principles emphasize our commitment to state-of-the-art environmental protections, as well as continuously improving our practices in ways that increase transparency,” continued Klaber. “With these common sense obligations in mind, we’re pleased to announce the creation of a $100,000 industry-funded account aimed at heightening water testing and monitoring efforts at municipal authorities and other water treatment facilities. Coupled with our establishment of a diverse, multi-discipline Energy Research Collaborative, we remain as committed as ever to protecting our environment for our children and grandchildren and getting this historic opportunity right in the Marcellus.”
Copyright: Marcelluscoalition.org
Posted in Areas of Practice, Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
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Penn State Extension publication addresses water withdrawals for Marcellus gas drilling
This updated publication addresses the rapidly changing topic of water withdrawals for Marcellus shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania.
Penn State Cooperative Extension has released an updated version of a publication that addresses the rapidly changing topic of water withdrawals for Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Originally published in September 2009, “Water Withdrawals for Development of Marcellus Shale Gas in Pennsylvania” reflects the latest Marcellus-related regulatory changes enacted by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Water is a critical component in the process of extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. Public policies for managing and protecting water resources are common concerns of Pennsylvania residents, according to a water-policy expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
“Development of the Marcellus Shale could have major economic and environmental effects for Pennsylvanians and residents of neighboring states,” said Charles Abdalla, professor of agricultural and environmental economics. “Individuals, businesses and communities will be affected well into the future as this energy resource is fully developed.
“Citizens need to become aware of their stake in water-resource issues and policies and effectively participate in public policy-making,” he said. “Public policies for water management and protection will be improved if the affected parties — which include almost everyone — are well-informed about likely impacts and take advantage of opportunities to participate in decisions.”
Seeking to engage residents, landowners, federal and state agency personnel, environmental organizations, economic development groups and others, the publication discusses the fast-evolving issues and public policies related to water resources and Marcellus Shale gas exploration.
While adequate supplies of water are one of several essential inputs needed to extract gas from the shale, wastewater is an output from the process that must be treated or disposed of properly.
“Through this publication, we hope to increase the public’s understanding of water use and management related to Marcellus Shale gas development and help people understand how and where they can offer input into public decisions about water use and wastewater treatment,” said Abdalla, the publication’s lead author.
“Now is the time for people to learn about and help shape public policies that will guide development of the Marcellus Shale,” he said. “These policies will play a large part in determining the economic well-being and quality of life for residents of the commonwealth for a long time — perhaps generations — to come.”
Funding for the updated publication comes from the Pennsylvania Water Center at Penn State. To obtain a free copy, contact the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Publication Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802-2602; telephone: 814-865-6713; fax: 814-863-5560; e-mail: [email protected].
This publication also is available online athttp://extension.psu.edu/water/resources/publications/consumption-and-usage/marcelluswater.pdf/view.
The publication is the latest in a series initiated by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension to address issues related to Marcellus Shale gas exploration and development. Other publications in the series, along with related webinars, presentations and events, can be viewed at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas.
from Chuck Gill, Penn State Ag Sciences News
Originally Published at: PSU.edu
Posted in Areas of Practice, Gas Drilling Injuries & News |
Tags: Basin, delaware river basin, Delaware River Basin Commission, development, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers, shale, susquehanna river basin, susquehanna river basin commission, topic, water |
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