Friday, April 13, 2012

PA Marcellus News Digest 4/13/12



PA Marcellus News Digest
April 13, 2012

Special: Attached map showing PA counties that have adopted an impact fee

Articles
Tempers flare at Marcellus Shale drilling forum
69 News
Randy Kraft
Apri 13
(includes video)
NOCKAMIXON TWP., Pa. -
Anyone who went to Palisades High School in northern Bucks County Thursday night for an “educational forum” about Act 13, Pennsylvania’s new Marcellus Shale law, was in for a bumpy night.
It was not civility’s finest two hours.
Link:
http://www.wfmz.com/news/Tempers-flare-at-Marcellus-Shale-drilling-forum/-/121458/10678428/-/npaiphz/-/index.htm

Gas drilling forum finds little support in Bucks audience
Panel stacked with regulatory officials, conservative lawmakers presents rationale for Act 13
Morning Call
JD Malone
April 13
What was dubbed an "educational forum" chock full of supporters of recent oil and gas regulation revisions tapped a well of opposition in the Palisades High School cafeteria.
A day after a Commonwealth Court judge issued a 120-day injunction on provisions of Act 13 — an oil and gas act signed into law in February by Gov. Tom Corbett — regarding the act's power to supersede local zoning ordinances, the panel made their case to the public in support of the new law. The hostility of the crowd reminded one panelist of the boo birds at Lincoln Financial Field.
Link:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-bucks-gas-drilling-marcellus-forum-20120412,0,7386061.story

House leader condemns ‘hysteria’ over new Pennsylvania drilling law
Washington Post
AP
April 12
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — House Speaker Sam Smith said Thursday it’s “outrageous” for doctors to suggest that Pennsylvania’s new Marcellus Shale law could gag them from talking to their patients about chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/house-leader-condemns-hysteria-over-new-pennsylvania-drilling-law/2012/04/12/gIQAOuOoDT_story.html

Gas driller fined $160K over leaky Pa. well
Patriot-News
AP
April 12
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal environmental regulators say a natural-gas driller will pay a fine of nearly $160,000 after its wastewater disposal well in rural western Pennsylvania experienced mechanical failure last year.
Link:
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/gas-driller-fined-160k-over-leaky-pa/eea911d686d64fffa9c789eef92c4f16

Natural Gas Impact Fee Passed in Bradford County
WETM TV
Brittni Smallwood
April 12
(includes video)
[...]Bradford County Commissioners expect to receive between $6 and $10 million dollars in 2012 alone.Gas companies have to give the money to the Public Utility Commission.  The money will be distributed by the end of the year.
However the bill was not easily passed. Bradford County Commissioner, Doug McClinko was against the fee because he said the gas companies fix every problem they cause.
Link:
http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Natural-Gas-Impact-Fee-Passed-in-Bradford-County/5PmD_Z19pk6EKFub7oA9sg.cspx

Cabot plans CNG station for its vehicles in Dimock
Times-tribune
Robert L. Baker
April 13
By the end of May, Cabot Oil & Gas will have a fueling station for its fleet of vehicles that can operate on compressed natural gas, or CNG, a company spokesman George Stark told the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce during a Wednesday luncheon.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/cabot-plans-cng-station-for-its-vehicles-in-dimock-1.1299235#axzz1rwV7WNtZ

Docs say drilling law hurts health
Times-Tribune
AP
Kevin Begos and Michael Rubinkam
April 12
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Public health advocates and doctors on the front lines of Pennsylvania's natural gas-drilling boom are attacking the state's new Marcellus Shale law, likening one of its provisions to a gag order and complaining that vital research money into health effects was stripped at the last minute.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/docs-say-drilling-law-hurts-health-1.1298974#axzz1rwV7WNtZ

DEP highlights 'deficiencies' in Cabot investigation report
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
April 12
The Department of Environmental Protection found "several deficiencies" including "definite evidence" of a spill or seep in a natural-gas driller's report that the company had said disproved a whistle-blower's claims of failures at its well sites.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/dep-highlights-deficiencies-in-cabot-investigation-report-1.1298896#axzz1rwV7WNtZ

Judge stalls zoning limits in shale law Order in lawsuit from 7 municipalities
Times-Tribune
Marc Levy
AP
HARRISBURG - A judge on Wednesday ordered a temporary halt to the section of Pennsylvania's new Marcellus Shale law that puts limits on the power of municipalities to regulate the booming natural-gas exploration industry, a victory for the seven municipalities that sued.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/judge-stalls-zoning-limits-in-shale-law-order-in-lawsuit-from-7-municipalities-1.1298893#axzz1rwV7WNtZ
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the PA-OIL-GAS-COMM list, send any message to: PA-OIL-GAS-COMM-signoff-request@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp

No comments: