Tuesday, April 30, 2013

PA Marcellus Digest - April 30, 2013

PA Marcellus Digest – April 30, 2013

We are still playing catch-up, and apologize for the delay in sending you some of these articles.

Commonwealth Pipeline plan officially suspended
Philly.com
Andrew Maykuth
April 20, 2013
The Commonwealth Pipeline, a $1 billion trunk-line project proposed last year by three companies to transport Marcellus natural gas from Williamsport to Washington, has officially been suspended, according to the venture's website.

New companies continue to be courted by growing oil-and-gas industry
TribLive
Anthony Puko
April 19, 2013
When Mascaro Construction Co. LP first tried to sell itself to the region's Marcellus shale gas drillers two years ago, the meeting didn't last long, and the company came away empty-handed.

http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3873937-74/gas-oil-companies#ixzz2RxYurtBx 
DEP proposes to increase shale well permit fees
Times Tribune
Laura Legere
April 20, 2013
The state Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to increase permit fees for Marcellus Shale and other unconventional natural gas wells by an average of between $1,000 and $1,800 to keep pace with the growing costs of regulating new wells and pipelines.

Protesters occupy DEP's Washington Landing office
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Don Hopey
April 22, 2013
Demonstrators came by boat and bike trail to Washington's Landing on the Allegheny River Monday, loudly protesting what they said was the state Department of Environmental Protection's failure to adequately regulate fossil fuel industries, including Marcellus Shale gas, or support renewable energy development.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/protesters-occupy-deps-washington-landing-office-684552/#ixzz2RxZLPE2c

DEP: State Is Getting ‘Serious’ About Promoting Natural Gas Vehicles
State Impact
Marie Cusick
April 23, 2013
At the same time a package of bills promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles is making its way through the House, the state Department of Environmental Protection is promoting a grant program to encourage more CNG use as well.

For business, climate change holds both risks and rewards but let the market decide who wins
The Patriot News
John Luciew
April 23, 2013
Be careful what you call it in certain business circles. Global warming is politically charged. Climate change is a little better, but some insist the jury is still out on whether any of the changes are being driven by mankind and its industry.

DEP Announces Change in Location for May 1 Public Hearing in Washington County
DEP
John Poister
April 23, 2013
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced today a new location for an open house and public hearing on Wednesday, May 1, to discuss a proposed air quality plan approval for MarkWest Liberty Midstream and Resources LLC to install and begin temporary operation of new equipment at its Smith Compressor Station. The facility is located in Smith Township, Washington County.

100 environmentalists march in Meadville on Earth Day
GoErie.com
Jarid Barringer
April 23, 2013
About 100 environmentalists took to the streets in Meadville on Monday, celebrating Earth Day by marching from Diamond Park in the city square to the office of the state Department of Environmental Protection, about five blocks away.

Protesters Rally Outside DEP Offices On Earth Day To Fight Marcellus Shale Fracking
CBS Philly
Kim Glovas
April 22, 2013
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was the target of protest this Earth Day by more than 62 organizations fighting Marcellus Shale drilling or fracking.  Six DEP regional offices were protested, including the one in Norristown. 

Public sessions planned on state-forest gas drilling
Philly.com
Andrew Maykuth
April 24, 2013
Pennsylvania conservation officials, who are in the hot seat over a proposal to open Loyalsock State Forest for Marcellus Shale gas development, have agreed to hold public informational sessions on drilling plans for the popular recreational area.

Accountability demanded by protesters
Sun Gazette
Mark Maroney
April 23, 2013
Earth Day - a day to remember the importance of clean air, land and water - became a day of protest Monday in Williamsport.

Earth Day protesters rally against fracking -Green Party supporters call for more transparency in drilling industry
Times Leader
Jon O’Connell
April 22, 2013
On Public Square, protesters remembered Earth Day singing songs about the Susquehanna and listing demands for more responsible resource development.

Earth Day call for 'fracking' ban
PhillyBurbs.com
Margaret Gibbons
April 23, 2013
Rush-hour traffic zipped by them. The chilly wind blew through them. But that did not prevent some 30 determined environmentalists and conservationists from bringing their battle against “fracking,” a controversial drilling process using pressurized fluids to bring natural gas to the surface, to the streets of downtown Norristown in time for Monday’s Earth Day.

Hydraulic fracturing: Well completion and fracture stimulation
The Daily Review
Johnny Williams
April 23, 2013
Ever since the natural-gas industry began production from the Marcellus Shale, the process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has been the focus of public controversy. However, through the use of rigorous and robust safety measures, Chesapeake Energy has used the common and proven technique to successfully produce the natural gas that would otherwise be impossible to reach.

Local group protests against oil and natural gas well fracking
The Meadville Tribune
Keith Gushard
April 23, 2013
While chanting “DEP, can’t you see you’re the case of all this misery?” and “No fracking way,” a crowd marched peacefully from Diamond Park down Chestnut Street on Monday while carrying a coffin to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s northwest regional office in Meadville.

Fracking fluid dangerous - LTE
TribLive
April 22, 2013
Re. the article “Township expects $332K influx from gas lease,” (April 12) about drilling in Clinton: The article fails to fully disclose the environmental health hazards associated with hydrofracturing, even though those hazards were clearly and thoroughly presented to your reporter during her 25-minute phone interview with me.
http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/3858716-74/gas-compounds-fluid#ixzz2Rxh4qD6l 
Shale truck sets off alarm in South HuntingdonTribLlive
Paul Peirce
April 23, 2013
A truck loaded with Marcellus shale drill cuttings that triggered a radiation alarm at a hazardous waste landfill in South Huntingdon was ordered back to a Greene County drilling site last weekend.
http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/3888698-74/radiation-max-poister#ixzz2RxhJo9Yi

Lawmakers Urge Against Drilling In Loyalsock State Forest
State Impact
Marie Cusick
April 24, 2013
State lawmakers and environmental groups are urging the state not to pursue natural gas drilling in the Loyalsock State Forest

Pennsylvania’s Wind Energy Installations Nearly Doubled Last Year
State Impact
Marie Cusick
April 24, 2013
Bloomberg reports Pennsylvania’s wind energy installations nearly doubled during 2012, but wind still only makes up about one percent of the state’s overall electricity.

Pa. judge conviction leads to delay in gas drilling ruling
PhillyBurbs.com
Amanda Cregan
April 24, 2013
The corruption conviction of Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her ensuing resignation from Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court might have caused a delay in the Act 13 decision, according to attorney Jordan Yeager.

Shale deals in Pennsylvania reach $882 million
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Erich Schwartzel
Mergers, acquisitions and partnerships that happened across Appalachia's gas fields were enough to make the Marcellus Shale and the Utica Shale the country's second- and third-most popular formations for big-ticket deals in the first quarter of 2013, according to an analysis released Wednesday by PwC.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/shale-deals-in-pennsylvania-reach-882-million-684759/#ixzz2RxiFptBy

A pragmatic approach to O&G policymaking
Observer-Reporter
Michael Bradwell
April 23, 2013
As deputy secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s office of oil and gas management, Scott Perry acknowledges that he finds himself with a variety of leanings that could appear to be in conflict.

Making progress
Daily American
April 23, 2013
It's good news to hear that energy developers and environmental groups were able to work out an agreement regarding future drilling for natural gas.

Marcellus Works, but renewables work better
Wallaby
April 24, 2013
State Rep. Greg Vitali said the "Marcellus Works," a package of bills advancing through the state House that is aimed at putting more natural gas vehicles on the road, takes the wrong approach because it excludes other alternative fuel vehicles.

Range supports disclosure, new technologies
Observer Reporter
Matt Pitzarella
April 23, 2013
A recent letter by Brian Rothermund, “Range oblivious to irony,” which appeared in the April 16 edition of the Observer-Reporter, repeated a false statement that the contents of fracturing fluid in oil and natural gas development are a secret.

‘Marcellus Works’ Event Highlights Aqua’s Fleet Conversion to Compressed Natural Gas
Wallaby
April 24, 2013
DeBenedictis will discuss the company’s Pennsylvania subsidiary’s (Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.) fleet conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) and call attention to the state’s abundant, clean-burning Marcellus Shale natural gas resources.

Consol makes drilling deal for park site
Trib Live
Timothy Puko
April 24, 2013
Consol Energy Inc. will get to drill for gas under Ryerson Station State Park in exchange for paying to rebuild the park's dam and settling an eight-year conflict with the state, officials plan to announce on Wednesday. The deal suggests a coming end to a troubled situation in Greene County.

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