Monday, October 1, 2012

PA Marcellus News Digest 10/1/12

PA Marcellus News Digest
October 1, 2012

Release

EPA Orders Swamp Angel Energy to Pay Penalty for Unauthorized Disposal of Brine Waste 
Wallaby
Sept 28
Agreement and Final Order requiring Swamp Angel Energy, LLC, to pay a civil penalty of $54,324 and plug a well that was used illegally for dumping oil production brine waste. The well is located in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest where Swamp Angel operates oil production wells.
Link:
http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012092885.HTM

Articles

On gas drilling, local officials deserve control
Post-Gazette
Mary Kate Ranii
Letter to the Editor
Sept 28
I am writing in response to "Pennsylvania Agency Urges Pittsburgh-Area Officials to Clarify Shale Drilling Rules" (Sept. 6). It is troubling to know that Pennsylvania municipalities must combat state laws to protect themselves and their citizens from the effects of gas drilling.
Link:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/on-gas-drilling-local-officials-deserve-control-655279/

Suit challenges refinery emission deal
Inquirer
Andrew Maykuth
Sept 29
The Clean Air Council is challenging a decision by environmental regulators to allow the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery to claim credit for a reduction in emissions caused by the closure of Sunoco's Marcus Hook refinery.
Link:
http://articles.philly.com/2012-09-29/business/34149443_1_philadelphia-energy-solutions-philadelphia-refinery-sunoco-s-marcus-hook

Philadelphia shows support for Nockamixon, Yardley fight against Act 13
Philly Burbs
Amanda Cregan
Sept 28
On Thursday, the Philadelphia City Council approved a resolution to oppose Pennsylvania’s oil and gas regulations, also known as Act 13.
Link:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/palisades/philadelphia-shows-support-for-nockamixon-yardley-fight-against-act/article_8bf52ecb-fb16-5a03-953a-733c9d296f8c.html

Why does state Chamber oppose solar?
Erie Times-News
John Purvis
Sept 28
Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce President Gene Barr shows that the chamber is a shill for big corporations in his letter to the editor Aug. 24.
Link:
http://www.goerie.com/article/20120928/OPINION08/309289994/Purvis%3A-Why-does-state-Chamber-oppose-solar%3F

Noise from natural gas station startles neighbors
Citizens Voice
Elizabeth Skrapits
Oct 1
The emergency shutdown of a natural gas dehydration station in Monroe Township startled humans and animals alike Sunday morning.
Link:
http://citizensvoice.com/news/noise-from-natural-gas-station-startles-neighbors-1.1381260

Leases for gas drillers don't last forever
Legal tangles make it tricky to determine if deals have expired
Post-Gazette
Erich Schwartzel
Oct 1
Robert Burnett hears from clients about expiring gas leases "almost every day" from his position as chair of the oil and gas group at the Downtown-based Houston Harbaugh law firm.
Link:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/leases-for-gas-drillers-dont-last-forever-655624/

Support Slips for More Rules as Gas-Fracker Campaign Pays Off
Morning Call
Jim Efstathiou, Bloomberg News
Sept 28
Public support has cooled for stricter environmental regulation of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, a drilling method that has lowered U.S. energy prices while raising concerns over its impact on drinking water.
Link:
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-fracking-poll-20120928,0,7371121.story

Lt. Governor Cawley Tours Water Treatment Plant Creating New Jobs in Clarion County
Red Orbit
PR Newswire
Sept 26
CLARION, Pa.— Lt. Governor Jim Cawley today toured the Clarion Altela Environmental Services (CASE) plant in Clarion to see firsthand how the local Marcellus Shale industry is creating jobs in the area. The plant is currently under construction and will purify the wastewater generated at natural gas drilling sites.
redOrbit (
http://s.tt/1orZB)
Link:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1112701668/lt-governor-cawley-tours-water-treatment-plant-creating-new-jobs/

UGI withdraws application to DEP for natural gas compressor station
Times Leader
Andrew M. Seder
Sept 26
WEST WYOMING -- The state Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that UGI Energy Services has withdrawn its application for an air quality permit for a natural gas compressor station in West Wyoming.
Link:
http://www.timesleader.com/stories/UGI-withdraws-application-to-DEP-for-natural-gas-compressor-station,209935

UGI moves forward with West Wyoming compressor station
Citizens Voice
Elizabeth Skrapits
Sept 28
UGI Energy Services will forge ahead with plans to construct a natural gas compressor station in West Wyoming, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.
Link:
http://citizensvoice.com/news/ugi-moves-forward-with-west-wyoming-compressor-station-1.1379931

What’s in a Flame? Industry Says it Burns Only for Them
NPR State Impact
Susan Phillips
Sept 28
Link:
http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/09/28/whats-in-a-flame-industry-says-it-burns-only-for-them/

Supreme Court won’t hear from gas industry in Act 13 appeal
Pitt Trib
Timothy Puko
Sept 26
Drilling industry officials will not be allowed to argue in front of the Supreme Court when it hears arguments in a case contesting the state’s new oil and gas laws, according to an order the court issued this week.
Link:
http://triblive.com/news/2674310-74/court-supreme-arguments-drilling-state-industry-according-allowed-commonwealth-front#axzz282w7qRiu

Drilling concerns deserve respect
Times Leader
Sept 28
AS NATURAL GAS industry leaders gathered in Philadelphia late last week for the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s annual conference, two points were emphasized repeatedly.
Link:
http://www.timesleader.com/stories/Drilling-concerns-deserve-respect,210521

Pa. regulator: ‘Outsiders’ to blame for criticism of DEP without ‘the facts’
Pitt Trib
Debra Erdley
Sept 28
Pennsylvania’s top environmental regulator said Thursday his agency is getting a bad rap on natural gas drilling from outsiders “who don’t have the facts.”
Link:
http://triblive.com/news/2680302-74/court-gas-drilling-industry-krancer-act-outsiders-pennsylvania-appeal-carlucci#axzz282w7qRiu

Cabot beats EPA to punch on well's water
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
Sept 30
Of the 62 water wells the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sampled in Dimock Twp. early this year, one spurred the agency to take immediate action.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/cabot-beats-epa-to-punch-on-well-s-water-1.1381054

Are leaking wells letting methane get into Dimock's water?
Times-Tribune
Laura Legere
Sept 30
More than two years after the state halted a natural gas driller's operations in a corner of Dimock Twp., the right answer to a last question is all that stands between drill bits and earth.
Link:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/are-leaking-wells-letting-methane-get-into-dimock-s-water-1.1381012

Sen. Scarnati Working On Marcellus Shale Health Advisory Panel Bill
PA Environment Digest
Oct 1
Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) circulated a memo to members of the Senate this week announcing his intent to develop legislation to create a Marcellus Shale Health Advisory Panel.
Link:
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=23449&SubjectID=

Philadelphia Council Calls For Overturning Marcellus Drilling Law
PA Environment Digest
Oct 1
Activists and community leaders from across the Philadelphia area praised the Philadelphia City Council’s resolution Thursday opposing Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale drilling law-- Act 13.
Link:
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=23466&SubjectID=

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