Marcellus Shale Newswire 04/08/2011

Vol. 2, Issue 04

A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Gas Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond

PennEnvironment

The Inquirer

Shale-gas regulation near river divides Pa. 

By Sandy Bauers

April 3, 2011

http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-03/news/29377391_1_marcellus-shale-natural-gas-fracking 

The drinking water for millions of people in Philadelphia and its suburbs is at stake. To the Philadelphia Water Department’s Crockett, the stakes are too high to dismiss, given the potential scale of the industry, the speed at which it is moving, and scientific uncertainty. The department calls for more water monitoring, full reforestation of lands cleared for drilling, and not allowing any wastewater discharges upriver, even if treated. It, too, wants more studies. 

 

The Patriot-News

Special treatment? A change in policy for violations in natural gas drilling is a bad move

April 3, 2011

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/04/special_treatment_a_change_in.html 

Even though the department is saying it is temporary, a pilot project, this is an unnecessary U-turn in state policy. It also smacks of special treatment for one industry. “They are putting us on a leash,” one stunned inspector told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

The Patriot-News

Shift by Pennsylvania in regulating Marcellus Shale drilling concerns environmentalists

By Donald Gilliland

April 3, 2011

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/state_department_of_environmen.html 

News that Marcellus Shale drilling violations must be approved by the Department of Environmental Protection’s top leaders rocked the environmental community. “We’ve been down this road before, and the agency suffered from an image of undue influence from powerful people,” [Rep. Camille George] said. 

 

Valley News Dispatch

Ferlo fears Pennsylvania drilling oversight hampered

By Brian C. Rittmeyer

April 5, 2011

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_730746.html 

State Sen. Jim Ferlo is calling on Gov. Tom Corbett to immediately rescind a policy change that requires all permitting and enforcement orders relating to Marcellus shale gas drilling to be reviewed by the new chief of the Department of Environmental Protection. Inspectors must have “a free hand to shut down sites,” and the discretion to initiate citations and take enforcement actions, Ferlo said.

 

Centre Daily Times

Agency unlikely to allow drilling

By Cliff White

April 7, 2011

http://www.centredaily.com/2011/04/07/2632538/agency-unlikely-to-allow-drilling.html 

Black Moshannon State Park will not see any Marcellus Shale drill rigs on it – for now. Corbett has not made clear if he would be willing to lease land for drilling in parks where the state owns the mineral rights. “The people of Pennsylvania love their parks, and the administration will be under the microscope if and when there is drilling in those parks,” [former DCNR secretary, John Quigley] said.

 

Centre Daily Times

Drilling paints an ugly picture of the state

By Sarah Pollock

April 5, 2011

http://www.centredaily.com/2011/04/05/2626697/drilling-paints-an-ugly-picture.html 

The rapid growth of the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling industry leads me to wonder how much longer I will be able to praise the unspoiled beauty of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. With a whopping 2,021 violations amassed at Marcellus Shale wells in less than two years, Pennsylvania faces hazards ranging from radioactive wastewater to significant air pollution. And it’s only getting worse.

 

abc27 – Harrisburg, Pa.

Pa. environmental groups condemn memo to DEP inspectors

By Dennis Owens

April 1, 2011

http://www.abc27.com/story/14365200/pa-environmental-groups-condemn-memo-to-dep-inspectors?redirected=true 

A leaked memo is polluting the already-fragile relationship between Marcellus shale gas drillers, Gov. Tom Corbett and skeptical environmentalists. “The public is already cynical about whether or not they’re gonna be protected by this administration,” said Jeff Schmidt, director of the Sierra Club Pennsylvania chapter. “This is just one more example of the lack of protection.”