PA Marcellus News Digest 4/16/12

PA Marcellus News Digest
April 16, 2012

Articles

Shale law Act 13 means new money, more regulations
Post-Gazette
Laura Olson
April 15
HARRISBURG -- When oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania wake up on Monday, they'll be under new rules on how they deal with officials, where they can locate their operations and the price tag attached to wells.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/marcellusshale/shale-law-act-13-means-new-money-more-regulations-631437/

House leader defends new Pa. drilling law
Statesman
Michael Rubinkam
AP
April 13
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.statesman.com/news/nation/house-leader-defends-new-pa-drilling-law-2301474.html

Go beyond Act 13: Gas companies should acknowledge local needs in community compacts
Post-Gazette
John H. Quigley and Joel P. Epstein
April 15
Recent passage of amendments to Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas law -- Act 13 -- is a gateway to Pennsylvania's fourth energy wave as natural gas from shale beds succeeds a couple of centuries of coal mining, the Titusville oil and shallow gas era, and the dawn of nuclear power.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/go-beyond-act-13-gas-companies-should-acknowledge-local-needs-in-community-compacts-631389/

Public health: Back burner
Times-Tribune
Opinion
April 15
No one knows for sure whether proximity to gas drilling causes health problems, and Pennsylvania's industry-friendly government apparently intends to keep it that way. That theory seems to be that which Pennsylvanians don't know can't hurt them.
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/public-health-back-burner-1.1300050#axzz1sDUhrjUz

State releases compressor explosion report
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
April 14
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-releases-compressor-explosion-report-1.1299636#axzz1sDUhrjUz

Public vents at DEP's compressor hearing
Times-Tribune
Robert L. Baker
April 12
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/public-vents-at-dep-s-compressor-hearing-1.1298891#axzz1sDUhrjUz

DEP: Drilling mud spilled into Greene County creek
Tribune-Review
AP
April 13
PINE BANK -- The state Department of Environmental Protection says about 500 gallons of drilling mud spilled into a Green County stream at a pipeline project site.
Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_791170.html

Shale industry welcomes military skills
Post-Gazette
Molly Born
April 16
If there's one bright spot for veterans on the local job front, it's in the oil and natural gas industry.
Many military men and women logged long, tireless hours working in extreme conditions or operating heavy equipment. So it's a natural transition that they'd pursue similar work upon their return here, where the Marcellus Shale formation underlays about 60 percent of the state.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/shale-industry-welcomes-military-skills-631617/?p=0

DEP boss raps Wilkes report on drilling
Abington Journal
Matt Hughes
April 14
During a February visit to the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research at Wilkes University, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer praised the institute’s work in conducting unbiased scientific research into the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Link: http://theabingtonjournal.com/stories/DEP-boss-raps-Wilkes-report-on-drilling,138644

Rep. George Introduces Injection Well Moratorium Bill
PA Environment Digest
April 16
Rep. Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield) Thursday said he has introduced House Bill 2350 would provide a two-year moratorium on the drilling of new deep injection wells in Pennsylvania, as well as provide better water protection for future wells after the moratorium expires.
"I have received calls and e-mails about this issue for months," Rep. George said. "People are concerned about their water and the potential dangers associated with injection wells."
House Bill 2350, known as the Injection Well Safe Water Act, was introduced today after last minute changes were implemented to reflect the recent earthquakes in Ohio that have been linked to deep injection wells.
Link: http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=22065&SubjectID=&PrintVersion=1

House Speaker: Drilling Law Chemical Disclosure Requirement One Of Strongest In Nation
PA Environment Digest
April 16
Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) released the following statement regarding the misinformation being perpetuated by some special interests regarding the chemical disclosure language in one paragraph of Act 13, the Marcellus/Utica Shale Impact law:
“Doctors will be able to provide all of the information needed to discuss any patient ailment.
Link: http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=22066&SubjectID=&PrintVersion=1

Marcellus Shale Support Firm TRC Engages Ridge Global As Strategic Advisor
PA Environment Digest
April 16
TRC Companies, Inc. has engaged Ridge Global LLC as a strategic advisor in support of business consulting in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The partnership will expand relationships and teaming opportunities, and support deeper engagement and enhanced service for current and prospective TRC customers in the region.
Link: http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=22087&SubjectID=&PrintVersion=1

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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