PA Marcellus News Digest
April 24, 2012
Articles
Fractured law
Lancaster Online
Intelligencer Journal
Editorial
April 23
If you ever doubted the influence of the gas drilling industry in Pennsylvania, a close look at the new gas extraction law — which went into effect last weekend — makes it clear just who calls the shots here.
While most of the attention has been directed to the law's impact fee provisions, other sections of the legislation are troubling to the extreme.
Landowners say gas companies duped them
Tribune-Review
Timothy Puko
April 23
Dozens of landowners in Western Pennsylvania are angry about gas leases they signed years ago for as little as $3 an acre now that $3,000 an acre is a typical price, but legal experts say they face an uphill battle if they decide to sue.
Peters council hears update on drilling law challenge
Post-Gazette
Janice Crompton
April 24
Peters council members on Monday night heard an update about their multi-municipality lawsuit challenging the state's new Marcellus Shale law, including what the expected response may be from state agencies defending the new law called Act 13.
McIlhinney pushing Act 13 amendment
Philly Burbs
Gary Weckselblatt
April 24
State Sen. Chuck McIlhinney reiterated Monday he will introduce an amendment to Act 13 that exempts Bucks County municipalities from some requirements of the new natural gas drilling law.
Chesapeake Energy shareholders irate over loans by CEO
Post-Gazette
Erich Schwartzel
April 24
Chesapeake Energy, the nation's second-largest producer of natural gas, is facing the threat of lawsuits and calls for management resignation over a little-known practice that shareholders worry indicates troubled times at the major Marcellus Shale player.
Trailer park becomes Aqua America's PR problem
Inquirer
Andrew Maykuth
April 18
When Aqua America Inc. bought a 12.5-acre waterfront site in Lycoming County in February, the Bryn Mawr company acquired more than a $550,000 property to build a water project to serve Marcellus Shale natural gas interests.
It also acquired a public relations migraine.
Link: http://articles.philly.com/2012-04-18/business/31361933_1_fracking-trailer-park-anti-drillinghttp://articles.philly.com/2012-04-18/business/31361933_1_fracking-trailer-park-anti-drilling
Marcellus committee launches 'rapid response' effort
Times Online
Bill Utterback
April 21
AMBRIDGE — As nearly 100 residents walked out of a three-hour water protection presentation Saturday, Marcia Lehman was one of several people collecting fistfuls of blue volunteer cards.
“We’re getting a ton of these,” she said after the meeting in the Ambridge Area High School auditorium.
Controversy abounds over new Pennsylvania drilling law
Inquirer
Bill Reed
April 17
Natural gas drilling near homes, wastewater pits near schools, and pipelines running through parks are all allowed under the controversial Marcellus Shale drilling law that took effect Monday.
DEP citing company after drilling mud leaks intio creek
Herald Standard
Steve Ferris
April 19
A company constructing a natural gas pipeline in Greene County is facing a state citation for allegedly allowing 500 gallons of bentonite drilling mud to escape from a bore hole into a tributary of Dunkard Creek.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said it will issue a notice of violation to Equitrans for the “mess” in Garrison Fork, a small tributary in Gilmore Township, said DEP spokesman John Poister.
Hikers Asked to Track Marcellus Activity
NPR State Impact
Susan Phillips
April 23
Scarnati Aide Says Drilling Foes Hijack Act 13 Doctor Provision
NPR State Impact
Susan Phillips
April 20
Drought curbing gas drilling in Pennsylvania
Lack of rain has affected 10 companies in five counties.
Morning Call
Jeanine Prezioso
April 19
NEW YORK — Drought conditions in Pennsylvania have forced at least one natural gas driller to scale back production, as companies temporarily suspend withdrawing water needed for drilling in certain dry areas.
Talisman Energy, one of 10 companies operating in a drought-affected area, said it had scaled back drilling — but did not say by how much.
Marcellus Coalition Supports Study Using Mine Water In Fracking Operations
PA Environment Digest
April 23
Marcellus Coalition Supports Study Using Mine Water In Fracking Operations
Marcellus Shale Coalition President Kathryn Z. Klaber Wednesday highlighted conclusions released this week by the RAND Corporation in support of the use of coal mine water in hydraulic fracturing operations in the Marcellus Shale and other regional shale plays in the Appalachian Basin.
The MSC commissioned RAND report follows a roundtable hosted by RAND in late 2011, at which researchers, hydraulic fracturing operators, industry representatives, the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, legal experts, and regulatory representatives from Pennsylvania and neighboring states addressed the feasibility of using mine water for drilling and hydraulic fracturing of shale gas wells.
Environmental, legal expert speaks about recent 'fracking' legislation
Lehigh Valley Live
Brown and White Staff
April 23
Michael Krancer, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), spoke and answered questions about Act 13 —a new state law establishing regulations over the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process being used to drill natural gas out of the Marcellus Shale deposit in many northern and western Pennsylvania counties— at a town hall meeting in Packard 101 Friday.
EPA acts for cleaner air
Times-Tribune
Opinion
April 20
EPA finds arsenic in Dimock, Pa., well
Centre Daily Times
Michael Rubinkam, AP
April 20
Federal regulators released another batch of test results for the northeastern Pennsylvania village of Dimock on Friday and said that one homeowner's well was found to have a high level of arsenic.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested the well water of scores of homes in Dimock, where a gas driller is being blamed by some residents and anti-drilling groups for polluting the aquifer.
Fracking protesters take aim at Aqua America
The Reporter
April 24
LOWER MERION - A dozen protesters stood outside the Bryn Mawr offices of Aqua America Wednesday afternoon claiming that the company is forcing people from their homes and poisoning water in Lycoming County.
Former DEP secretary: Natural gas is top energy choice
Philly Burbs
Amanda Cregan
April 20
EXTON, Chester County — The benefits of natural gas drilling strongly outweigh its environmental impact, said former state Department of Environmental Protection Agency Secretary John Hanger.
At a special presentation before a group of Greater Philadelphia business leaders in Exton on Thursday, Hanger noted that saying “no” to gas drilling would mean saying “yes” to more oil and coal production.
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