PA Marcellus News Digest
May 15, 2012
Releases
SRBC TECHNICAL REPORTS ON WATER QUALITY MONITORING, WATER
AVAILABILITY, MINE DRAINAGE AND OTHERS AVAILABLE ONLINESRBC Newsroom
May 15
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Among its major responsibilities, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC, www.srbc.net) is a leader in data collection and analysis for water quality monitoring, mine drainage and water resource availability. SRBC makes its findings readily available to the public both on-line and through printed publications. Following are SRBC’s more recent technical reports available at www.srbc.net/pubinfo/techdocs/Publications/techreports.htm or by requesting printed copies.
Link: http://www.srbc.net/newsroom/NewsRelease.aspx?NewsReleaseID=85
AVAILABILITY, MINE DRAINAGE AND OTHERS AVAILABLE ONLINESRBC Newsroom
May 15
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Among its major responsibilities, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC, www.srbc.net) is a leader in data collection and analysis for water quality monitoring, mine drainage and water resource availability. SRBC makes its findings readily available to the public both on-line and through printed publications. Following are SRBC’s more recent technical reports available at www.srbc.net/pubinfo/techdocs/Publications/techreports.htm or by requesting printed copies.
Link: http://www.srbc.net/newsroom/NewsRelease.aspx?NewsReleaseID=85
White joins colleagues in filing legal brief supporting Act 13 constitutionality challenge
Wallaby
May 15
State Rep. Jesse White announced today the House Democratic Caucus has filed a special legal brief, known as an "amicus curiae," to support arguments in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the elimination of local zoning ordinances for oil and gas operations under Act 13, the Marcellus Shale law passed earlier this year.
Link: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012051557.HTM
Wallaby
May 15
State Rep. Jesse White announced today the House Democratic Caucus has filed a special legal brief, known as an "amicus curiae," to support arguments in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the elimination of local zoning ordinances for oil and gas operations under Act 13, the Marcellus Shale law passed earlier this year.
Link: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012051557.HTM
Articles
Marusiak covers easements during Elk County Gas Task Force meeting
Ridgway Record
Victoria Stanish
May 14
Matt Marusiak of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy gave a special presentation on source water protection and conservation easements at Monday's meeting of the Elk County Gas Task Force.
Link: http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/content/marusiak-covers-easements-during-elk-county-gas-task-force-meeting
Ridgway Record
Victoria Stanish
May 14
Matt Marusiak of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy gave a special presentation on source water protection and conservation easements at Monday's meeting of the Elk County Gas Task Force.
Link: http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/content/marusiak-covers-easements-during-elk-county-gas-task-force-meeting
Drilling boosts local tax revenue
Observer-Reporter
Christie Campbell
May 15
A study of sales tax collections for Pennsylvania counties where drilling into the Marcellus Shale occurred between 2007 and 2011 shows an increase in state and local tax collections, with Greene County having the second-most dramatic increase in the state.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-15-12-marcellus-tax-study
Observer-Reporter
Christie Campbell
May 15
A study of sales tax collections for Pennsylvania counties where drilling into the Marcellus Shale occurred between 2007 and 2011 shows an increase in state and local tax collections, with Greene County having the second-most dramatic increase in the state.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-15-12-marcellus-tax-study
Chesapeake to slow land acquisition, focus on oil and gas-liquids drilling
Post-Gazette
Erich Schwartzel
May 14
Chesapeake Energy may be focusing on drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shales after company executives told investors this morning they plan to focus on oil- and liquids-rich holdings and slow their rapid-fire land acquisitions.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/chesapeake-to-slow-land-acquisition-focus-on-oil-and-gas-liquids-drilling-635850/
Post-Gazette
Erich Schwartzel
May 14
Chesapeake Energy may be focusing on drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shales after company executives told investors this morning they plan to focus on oil- and liquids-rich holdings and slow their rapid-fire land acquisitions.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/chesapeake-to-slow-land-acquisition-focus-on-oil-and-gas-liquids-drilling-635850/
Shale drilling will play a role in Erie-area economy
Times-News
Jim Martin
May 14
The state Department of Environmental Protection's most recent report on gas well permits suggests that the shale drilling boom has yet to arrive in our corner of Pennsylvania.
So far, no shale wells have been drilled or permitted in Erie or Crawford counties.
Link: http://www.goerie.com/article/20120515/NEWS02/305149908/Shale-drilling-will-play-a-role-in-Erie-area-economy
Times-News
Jim Martin
May 14
The state Department of Environmental Protection's most recent report on gas well permits suggests that the shale drilling boom has yet to arrive in our corner of Pennsylvania.
So far, no shale wells have been drilled or permitted in Erie or Crawford counties.
Link: http://www.goerie.com/article/20120515/NEWS02/305149908/Shale-drilling-will-play-a-role-in-Erie-area-economy
Pittsburgh rides wave of westward drilling
Pitt Trib
Timothy Puko
May 14
Low natural gas prices and a migration to neighboring states may have hurt drilling development in Pennsylvania -- but not around Pittsburgh.
The state's count of active drilling rigs dropped to 95, from 108 a year ago this week, according to numbers released by Baker Hughes Inc., a Texas-based drilling services company.
Link: http://triblive.com/state/marcellusshale/1796357-74/drilling-gas-rigs-pittsburgh-experts-west-pennsylvania-prices-shale-virginia
Pitt Trib
Timothy Puko
May 14
Low natural gas prices and a migration to neighboring states may have hurt drilling development in Pennsylvania -- but not around Pittsburgh.
The state's count of active drilling rigs dropped to 95, from 108 a year ago this week, according to numbers released by Baker Hughes Inc., a Texas-based drilling services company.
Link: http://triblive.com/state/marcellusshale/1796357-74/drilling-gas-rigs-pittsburgh-experts-west-pennsylvania-prices-shale-virginia
EPA: No water contamination from shale drilling
Post-Gazette
Don Hopey
May 15
Well water tests in the northeastern Pennsylvania town of Dimock have not found unsafe levels of contamination from Marcellus Shale gas drilling that warrant further action, according to federal environmental regulators.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/epa-no-water-contamination-from-shale-drilling-635962/
Post-Gazette
Don Hopey
May 15
Well water tests in the northeastern Pennsylvania town of Dimock have not found unsafe levels of contamination from Marcellus Shale gas drilling that warrant further action, according to federal environmental regulators.
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/epa-no-water-contamination-from-shale-drilling-635962/
Gas Cuts Pollution & Boosts Competitiveness: Most Conservatives & Environmentalists Are Mute About This Truth
John Hanger's Facts of The Day
Blog
May 15
The natural gas boom offers embarrassments for both conservatives and environmentalists and is creating an unspoken bond of silence between both about gas's impacts on carbon pollution and the economy's competitiveness.
Link: http://www.johnhanger.blogspot.com/2012/05/most-conservatives-environmentalists.html
John Hanger's Facts of The Day
Blog
May 15
The natural gas boom offers embarrassments for both conservatives and environmentalists and is creating an unspoken bond of silence between both about gas's impacts on carbon pollution and the economy's competitiveness.
Link: http://www.johnhanger.blogspot.com/2012/05/most-conservatives-environmentalists.html
How Shale/Sub $3 Gas Created An Avalanche Of Switching From Coal To Gas
John Hanger's Facts of The Day
Blog
May 14
Though it is well understood that coal has lost a lot of electricity generation market share to natural gas, few are aware how natural gas prices below $3 have caused an avalanche of switching just in the last 12 months. Over a 12-year period from 2000 to the first quarter of 2012, coal's market share loss stands at 16 percentage points. But remarkably one half of coal's market share loss happened in the last 15 months.
Link: http://www.johnhanger.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-shalesub-3-gas-created-avalanche-of.html
John Hanger's Facts of The Day
Blog
May 14
Though it is well understood that coal has lost a lot of electricity generation market share to natural gas, few are aware how natural gas prices below $3 have caused an avalanche of switching just in the last 12 months. Over a 12-year period from 2000 to the first quarter of 2012, coal's market share loss stands at 16 percentage points. But remarkably one half of coal's market share loss happened in the last 15 months.
Link: http://www.johnhanger.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-shalesub-3-gas-created-avalanche-of.html
With Gas Boom, Pennsylvania Fears New Toxic Legacy
NPR All Things Considered
Christopher Joyce
May 14
(includes audio)
[...]"Are we really going to let this happen to Pennsylvania again?" asks David Yoxtheimer, a hydrologist at Penn State who grew up here. "Are we going to make sure that we have enough money and that these companies' feet are held to the fire to make sure that once their operations are done, they put everything back together, tidy it up, and make it look like nothing happened there in the first place?"
Link: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/14/149631363/when-fracking-comes-to-town-it-s-water-water-everywhere
NPR All Things Considered
Christopher Joyce
May 14
(includes audio)
[...]"Are we really going to let this happen to Pennsylvania again?" asks David Yoxtheimer, a hydrologist at Penn State who grew up here. "Are we going to make sure that we have enough money and that these companies' feet are held to the fire to make sure that once their operations are done, they put everything back together, tidy it up, and make it look like nothing happened there in the first place?"
Link: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/14/149631363/when-fracking-comes-to-town-it-s-water-water-everywhere
Mike Krancer And The EPA: It’s Complicated
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 15
Link: https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/15/mike-krancer-and-the-epa-its-complicated/
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 15
Link: https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/15/mike-krancer-and-the-epa-its-complicated/
Corbett’s Old Company Converting Thousands Of Trucks To Natural Gas
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 14
Link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/14/corbetts-old-company-converting-thousands-of-trucks-to-natural-gas/
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 14
Link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/14/corbetts-old-company-converting-thousands-of-trucks-to-natural-gas/
Analysis: Insurers find it tough to price fracking risk
Reuters
Braden Reddall and Ben Berkowitz
May 11
From water worries to well blowouts, the inherent risks of oil and gas extraction are often played down by those in the business. But another group of profit-seekers has every reason to keep a close eye on dangers for drillers: their insurers.
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/11/us-fracking-insurance-idUSBRE84A13R20120511
Reuters
Braden Reddall and Ben Berkowitz
May 11
From water worries to well blowouts, the inherent risks of oil and gas extraction are often played down by those in the business. But another group of profit-seekers has every reason to keep a close eye on dangers for drillers: their insurers.
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/11/us-fracking-insurance-idUSBRE84A13R20120511
Reporting of fracking and drilling violations weak
CNN Money
Erica Fink
May 1
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (CNNMoney) -- For Pennsylvanians with natural gas wells on their land, chances are they won't know if a safety violation occurs on their property.
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/01/news/economy/fracking-violations/index.htm?hpt=hp_c1
CNN Money
Erica Fink
May 1
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (CNNMoney) -- For Pennsylvanians with natural gas wells on their land, chances are they won't know if a safety violation occurs on their property.
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/01/news/economy/fracking-violations/index.htm?hpt=hp_c1
Hikers enlisted to monitor drilling violations on area nature trails
Observer-Reporter
Christie Campbell
May 13
People who hike Pennsylvania trails are being tapped for assistance in monitoring the natural gas drilling industry.
With 3.5 million hikers in Pennsylvania, it is hoped that the men and women who regularly use the trails will report possible drilling violations as well as other trail violations, such as the illegal use of mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles on areas marked only for hiking or on state forest roads.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-13-2012-hikers-gas-industry
Observer-Reporter
Christie Campbell
May 13
People who hike Pennsylvania trails are being tapped for assistance in monitoring the natural gas drilling industry.
With 3.5 million hikers in Pennsylvania, it is hoped that the men and women who regularly use the trails will report possible drilling violations as well as other trail violations, such as the illegal use of mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles on areas marked only for hiking or on state forest roads.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-13-2012-hikers-gas-industry
House hearing Tuesday on Marcellus shale water safety
Times Online
J.D. Prose
May 10
HOPEWELL TWP. -- The state House Majority Policy Committee plans a public hearing in Hopewell Township next week on water-safety issues related to Marcellus shale drilling, state Rep. Jim Christiana said.
The hearing will start at 1 p.m. Tuesday at The Club at Shadow Lakes, 2000 Beaver Lakes Blvd.
Link: http://www.timesonline.com/news/local_news/house-hearing-tuesday-on-marcellus-shale-water-safety/article_81676272-d5d2-56b8-bb67-240e2d38d45b.html
Times Online
J.D. Prose
May 10
HOPEWELL TWP. -- The state House Majority Policy Committee plans a public hearing in Hopewell Township next week on water-safety issues related to Marcellus shale drilling, state Rep. Jim Christiana said.
The hearing will start at 1 p.m. Tuesday at The Club at Shadow Lakes, 2000 Beaver Lakes Blvd.
Link: http://www.timesonline.com/news/local_news/house-hearing-tuesday-on-marcellus-shale-water-safety/article_81676272-d5d2-56b8-bb67-240e2d38d45b.html
Westmoreland official joins fight against drilling regulation
Rich Cholodofsky
Pitt Trib
May 10
While Westmoreland County will take no formal position on a lawsuit challenging zoning aspects of legislation overseeing Marcellus shale drilling in Pennsylvania, Commissioner Ted Kopas has signed on to support the litigation.
Link: http://triblive.com/news/1617185-74/law-lawsuit-support-kopas-anderson-county-courtney-legislation-local-zoning
Rich Cholodofsky
Pitt Trib
May 10
While Westmoreland County will take no formal position on a lawsuit challenging zoning aspects of legislation overseeing Marcellus shale drilling in Pennsylvania, Commissioner Ted Kopas has signed on to support the litigation.
Link: http://triblive.com/news/1617185-74/law-lawsuit-support-kopas-anderson-county-courtney-legislation-local-zoning
Lawmakers expected to defend their votes
Philly Burbs
Kathy McQuarrie
Opinion
May 10
Making a tough decision on controversial legislation isn't easy, but it is the job legislators have. It's why we elect them. So when they make the choice, they have to be able to defend it. What they can't do is try to have it both ways.
Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/opinion/lawmakers-expected-to-defend-their-votes/article_229f90b2-9396-5c9e-a4d2-f4e4bc37bbdf.html
Philly Burbs
Kathy McQuarrie
Opinion
May 10
Making a tough decision on controversial legislation isn't easy, but it is the job legislators have. It's why we elect them. So when they make the choice, they have to be able to defend it. What they can't do is try to have it both ways.
Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/opinion/lawmakers-expected-to-defend-their-votes/article_229f90b2-9396-5c9e-a4d2-f4e4bc37bbdf.html
Arguments scheduled in Pa. Act 13 lawsuit
Observer-Reporter
Brad Hundt
May 10
The lawsuit filed against the state's oil and gas drilling law will be argued before the state's nine-member Commonwealth Court in June.
Arguments will take place between June 4 and 8 in Harrisburg. Also, according to an order issued Wednesday, a representative from natural gas trade organizations and companies will be allowed five minutes to state their objections to the suit, which asks that portions of Act 13 be overturned on constitutional grounds.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-10-2012-Act-13-suit-scheduled
Observer-Reporter
Brad Hundt
May 10
The lawsuit filed against the state's oil and gas drilling law will be argued before the state's nine-member Commonwealth Court in June.
Arguments will take place between June 4 and 8 in Harrisburg. Also, according to an order issued Wednesday, a representative from natural gas trade organizations and companies will be allowed five minutes to state their objections to the suit, which asks that portions of Act 13 be overturned on constitutional grounds.
Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/05-10-2012-Act-13-suit-scheduled
PUC approves guidelines for most of Marcellus Shale drilling law
Post-Gazette
Laura Olson
May 10
HARRISBURG -- The state Public Utility Commission this morning approved final guidelines for most of the new Marcellus Shale drilling law, though rules regarding the zoning provisions being challenged in the state court system were put on hold.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24530-puc-approves-guidelines-for-most-of-marcellus-shale-drilling-law
Post-Gazette
Laura Olson
May 10
HARRISBURG -- The state Public Utility Commission this morning approved final guidelines for most of the new Marcellus Shale drilling law, though rules regarding the zoning provisions being challenged in the state court system were put on hold.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24530-puc-approves-guidelines-for-most-of-marcellus-shale-drilling-law
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission opens comments on pipeline fees
New charges for electric, water and gas lines.
Morning Call
Tim Darragh
May 10
Consumers now have the opportunity to tell state regulators how they feel about new fees they'll be charged to speed up the replacement of aging underground pipelines.
Link: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-pennsylvania-utility-improvement-fee-20120510,0,6731902.story
New charges for electric, water and gas lines.
Morning Call
Tim Darragh
May 10
Consumers now have the opportunity to tell state regulators how they feel about new fees they'll be charged to speed up the replacement of aging underground pipelines.
Link: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-pennsylvania-utility-improvement-fee-20120510,0,6731902.story
Peters councilman David Ball: State group is failing townships over shale law
Post-Gazette
Janice Crompton
May 10
A Peters councilman has sent a scathing letter to the head of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, calling out the organization for publishing a "deliberately misleading" bulletin about a legal challenge to the state's new Marcellus Shale law. The letter also says the organization has "failed miserably" in its duty to protect municipalities from having zoning, planning and other rights stripped.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24528-peters-councilman-david-ball-state-group-is-failing-townships-over-shale-law
Post-Gazette
Janice Crompton
May 10
A Peters councilman has sent a scathing letter to the head of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, calling out the organization for publishing a "deliberately misleading" bulletin about a legal challenge to the state's new Marcellus Shale law. The letter also says the organization has "failed miserably" in its duty to protect municipalities from having zoning, planning and other rights stripped.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24528-peters-councilman-david-ball-state-group-is-failing-townships-over-shale-law
Planned shale site aims to use waterless fracking method
Post-Gazette
Amy Friedenberger
May 10
In what is being seen as a "game-changing technology," a planned drilling project in New York will strive to used a waterless form of hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24529-planned-shale-site-aims-to-use-waterless-fracking-method
Post-Gazette
Amy Friedenberger
May 10
In what is being seen as a "game-changing technology," a planned drilling project in New York will strive to used a waterless form of hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas.
Link: http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24529-planned-shale-site-aims-to-use-waterless-fracking-method
Residents: Pennsylvania ignoring their health complaints
Pitt Trib
AP
May 12
The Pennsylvania Department of Health says it investigates every claim by residents that gas drilling has caused health problems, but several people say the agency's actions don't match its words.
Two western Pennsylvania residents told The Associated Press that health officials have fallen short in responding to their health complaints.
Link: http://triblive.com/home/1670080-74/health-agency-complaints-drilling-gas-pennsylvania-department-public-mcintyre-officials
Pitt Trib
AP
May 12
The Pennsylvania Department of Health says it investigates every claim by residents that gas drilling has caused health problems, but several people say the agency's actions don't match its words.
Two western Pennsylvania residents told The Associated Press that health officials have fallen short in responding to their health complaints.
Link: http://triblive.com/home/1670080-74/health-agency-complaints-drilling-gas-pennsylvania-department-public-mcintyre-officials
Gardner Denver dedicates plant in Enterprise Campus
Company makes, fixes pumps for Marcellus Shale drilling
Altoona Mirror
William Kibler
May 11
TIPTON - The pumps companies use to free natural gas from Marcellus shale operate at high pressure and often break down.
Gardner Denver makes and fixes pumps, and wanted a bigger share of the fracking business, so it asked its Marcellus customers in Pennsylvania what to do.
Link: http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/560685/Gardner-Denver-dedicates-plant-in-Enterprise-Campus.html?nav=725
Company makes, fixes pumps for Marcellus Shale drilling
Altoona Mirror
William Kibler
May 11
TIPTON - The pumps companies use to free natural gas from Marcellus shale operate at high pressure and often break down.
Gardner Denver makes and fixes pumps, and wanted a bigger share of the fracking business, so it asked its Marcellus customers in Pennsylvania what to do.
Link: http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/560685/Gardner-Denver-dedicates-plant-in-Enterprise-Campus.html?nav=725
DEP releases info on drilling mud
Times Leader
May 11
The state Department of Environmental Protection released additional details Friday about several releases of drilling mud during recent construction of a natural gas pipeline in Dallas Township.
Link: http://www.timesleader.com/stories/DEP-releases-info-on-drilling-mud,149581
Times Leader
May 11
The state Department of Environmental Protection released additional details Friday about several releases of drilling mud during recent construction of a natural gas pipeline in Dallas Township.
Link: http://www.timesleader.com/stories/DEP-releases-info-on-drilling-mud,149581
DEP monitoring spills at Dallas Twp. natural gas pipeline installation
Times-Tribune
May 11
DALLAS TWP. - The state Department of Environmental Protection is monitoring a series of drilling mud spills at a natural gas pipeline installation.
Chief Gathering LLC, recently bought out by PVR Partners, hired contractors to install a pipeline to connect natural gas wells in Susquehanna County to the Transco interstate pipeline in Dallas Twp.
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-monitoring-spills-at-dallas-twp-natural-gas-pipeline-installation-1.1313792
Times-Tribune
May 11
DALLAS TWP. - The state Department of Environmental Protection is monitoring a series of drilling mud spills at a natural gas pipeline installation.
Chief Gathering LLC, recently bought out by PVR Partners, hired contractors to install a pipeline to connect natural gas wells in Susquehanna County to the Transco interstate pipeline in Dallas Twp.
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-monitoring-spills-at-dallas-twp-natural-gas-pipeline-installation-1.1313792
EPA releases last Dimock tests; no cause for more action
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
May 12
The final round of test results from federal regulators' investigation of Dimock Twp. water supplies did not give the Environmental Protection Agency reason to "take further action," the agency said in a statement Friday.
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/epa-releases-last-dimock-tests-no-cause-for-more-action-1.1313884
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
May 12
The final round of test results from federal regulators' investigation of Dimock Twp. water supplies did not give the Environmental Protection Agency reason to "take further action," the agency said in a statement Friday.
Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/epa-releases-last-dimock-tests-no-cause-for-more-action-1.1313884
EPA: Well water in Pa. gas drilling town is safe
Times Leader
AP
May 11
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Federal regulators say the latest well-water test results for the northeastern Pennsylvania village of Dimock do not show unsafe levels of contamination.
Link: http://www.timesleader.com/stories/EPA-Well-water-in-Pa-gas-drilling-town-is-safe,149531
Times Leader
AP
May 11
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Federal regulators say the latest well-water test results for the northeastern Pennsylvania village of Dimock do not show unsafe levels of contamination.
Link: http://www.timesleader.com/stories/EPA-Well-water-in-Pa-gas-drilling-town-is-safe,149531
Corbett Wants More Natural Gas-Powered Vehicles On Pennsylvania Roads
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 14
Link: https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/14/corbett-wants-more-natural-gas-powered-vehicles-on-pennsylvania-roads/
State Impact
Scott Detrow
May 14
Link: https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/05/14/corbett-wants-more-natural-gas-powered-vehicles-on-pennsylvania-roads/
Pa. commission sets rules for impact fee
E&E News
Ellen M. Gilmer
May 14
(full text below)
A Pennsylvania commission has finalized procedures for collecting and doling out funds from a new drilling impact fee on unconventional wells.
E&E News
Ellen M. Gilmer
May 14
(full text below)
A Pennsylvania commission has finalized procedures for collecting and doling out funds from a new drilling impact fee on unconventional wells.
The fee was established earlier this year with the passage of the expansive Act 13, which amends the state's 1984 oil and gas law to regulate hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in Pennsylvania, as industry activity proliferates in the region.
The five-member Public Utility Commission voted unanimously last week on well reporting requirements for township officials and oil and gas companies. The commission will begin distributing money collected from the fees to local governments this fall.
Townships can then spend those funds on improvements related to drilling, like roads, public safety and environmental protection. It's unclear how strictly the state will enforce that spending requirement. PUC commissioners have said that oversight won't be strenuous but that discrepancies will be referred to state officials, according to news outlet StateImpact Pennsylvania.
Comments on the commission's order will be accepted until the end of May.
The PUC will wait to address another section of Act 13, this one establishing that state authority trumps local control over oil and gas operations. That section is currently mired in a legal challenge from seven municipalities (EnergyWire, April 2).
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Study of health effects in Marcellus Shale planned
E&E News
Gayathri Vaidyanathan
May 14
(full text below)
A hospital system on the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania has begun a project to assess the health effects of hydraulic fracturing.
E&E News
Gayathri Vaidyanathan
May 14
(full text below)
A hospital system on the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania has begun a project to assess the health effects of hydraulic fracturing.
Geisinger Health System, widely recognized as one of the nation's most innovative hospital networks, will be mining through its trove of electronic medical records on patients that it began collecting in 2005 for the initiative.
Using the information, researchers will draw conclusions on whether certain health problems could be linked to shale gas extraction, said David Carey, director of Geisinger's Weis Center for Research.
The research program is in the planning stage, with funding from a foundation, and is looking to partner with private foundations, the government and possibly industry for the actual study.
"We'd like to collect the data and do the research to get scientifically rigorous answers to the question, which is, 'Is it harming people or not?' And if it's not, then that's the outcome. We are not out to get anybody; it's not a gotcha study," Carey said.
Anecdotes of health effects in residents living near shale gas drilling sites have abounded in recent years, and health clinics have opened in Pennsylvania to treat people who say they suffer from the effects of shale gas extraction. Emotions often run high in public meetings, with some residents charging industry with harming their health by "fracking," the catch-all term applied to shale gas extraction.
It's unclear whether there's any truth in these accusations. Symptoms of health effects may be generic, and it can be difficult to determine whether there has been exposure and, if so, what the routes of exposure may have been. The illnesses may also have a psychological component.
To establish clear links, researchers typically conduct epidemiological investigations with data from large numbers of patients. And they may trace the health status of a community before and after the advent of a particular industry, such as shale gas. But these studies have not been carried out so far because of a lack of data.
The Institute of Medicine recognized this data deficit last week as it invited medical professionals and federal scientists from U.S. EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the U.S. Geological Survey to a roundtable last week to discuss how to set up a system to assess health effects.
Meanwhile, Geisinger has stepped up.
The health network is the primary provider in northeastern Pennsylvania, where Marcellus drilling is happening, as well as in north-central Pennsylvania, where there is relatively little oil and gas development. It has clinics and tertiary care hospitals, and it began maintaining electronic health records on patients in 2005. This means the hospital has detailed, accessible information on patient care from before the shale gas industry began expanding in northeastern Pennsylvania in 2008.
Asthma
Geisinger may look into asthma, a relatively easy illness to study because it is exacerbated in patients when air quality worsens. The hypothesis would be that oil and gas drilling leads to bad air quality, which would affect people's health.
"There's some data that there may be release of hydrocarbons from some of this activity -- either methane, volatile organic compounds, other things -- into the air that might have negative impact on the quality of the air," Carey said. "So you can make a plausible hypothesis that if that is the case, then one of the effects could be to exacerbate symptoms in people with pre-existing diseases like asthma."
The hospital network maintains data on prescriptions of asthma medication as well as doctor visits and records of respiratory tests. It would aim to do a generic study to see whether an increase in shale gas drilling could correlate with asthma and emergency room visits. It would compare this study with a similar one done in counties without gas drilling.
If the study indicates a potential rise in asthma in only the counties with drilling, the researchers may conduct more detailed studies on health care end points such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Geisinger also maintains a detailed genomic database called MyCode, collecting blood and other samples from consenting patients for genetic research. Researchers may mine this database for studies designed to look into the effects of drilling on the molecular level. These may include genetic markers that indicate acute stress in the body, which may or may not coincide with shale gas drilling.
Exposures
The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project in Washington County was created earlier this year in response to a need felt by residents to get answers about their perceived shale-gas-related health problems, said John Suggs, managing director of the project, which is unrelated to Geisinger and caters to patients who say they have been affected by shale gas extraction.
Chemicals from fracking are often blamed for the witnessed symptoms.
Patients have come from as far away as Ohio for advice, Suggs said.
"We see a lot of rashes, nosebleeds, headaches, fatigues, we see metal tasting in people's mouths -- a whole different range in which people are manifested, and everybody is different," he said.
The center does not try to pinpoint the cause of their symptoms or say that there has been exposure to any problematic chemicals. Rather, it tries to advise patients about possible routes of exposure, which may include air, water and food, that they can choose to avoid.
The project also maintains a registry of patients that it may share with epidemiologists looking to carry out detailed research, Suggs said.
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