Marcellus Shale Newswire 4/20/2012

Vol. 2, Issue 53

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

PennEnvironment

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New air-quality rules issued today for Marcellus operations

By Don Hopey  

April 18, 2012

http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12109/1225168-455-0.stm

Marcellus Shale operations in Pennsylvania and oil and gas operations nationwide will need to reduce air pollution emissions to comply with new federal rules issued today. 

The News Journal

Docs say drilling law hurts health

By Kevin Begos and Michael Rubinkam

April 14, 2012

 http://www.delawareonline.com/viewart/20120415/BUSINESS13/120414042/Docs-say-drilling-law-hurts-health?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CBusiness%7Cp

PITTSBURGH — Public health advocates and doctors on the front lines of Pennsylvania’s natural gas-drilling boom are attacking the state’s new Marcellus Shale law, likening one of its provisions to a gag order and complaining that vital research money into health effects was stripped at the last minute.

 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gas industry wants a say in shale lawsuit

By Laura Olson

April 18, 2012

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/marcellusshale/gas-industry-wants-a-say-in-shale-lawsuit-631878/

HARRISBURG — A Commonwealth Court judge said he hopes to rule by Monday on whether the gas-drilling industry and top Republican legislators should be permitted to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the state’s new Marcellus Shale law.

 

Seattle Times Newspaper

Expert says all Pa. oil, gas waste needs treatment

By Kevin Begos

April 15, 2012

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017987916_apusgasdrillingwastewater.html

PITTSBURGH —A former top environmental official says Pennsylvania’s successful efforts to keep Marcellus Shale wastewater away from drinking water supplies should be extended to all other oil and gas drillers.

 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shale law Act 13 means new money, more regulations

By Laura Olson

April 15, 2012

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/marcellusshale/shale-law-act-13-means-new-money-more-regulations-631437/

HARRISBURG — When oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania wake up on Monday, they’ll be under new rules on how they deal with officials, where they can locate their operations and the price tag attached to wells.

 

Essential Public Radio

Natural Gas Industry Looking at Possibility of Using Coal Drainage instead of Fresh Water

By Deanna Garcia  

April 19, 2012

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-04-19/natural-gas-industry-looking-possibility-using-coal-drainage-instead-fresh-water-10

A report issued by the RAND Corporation finds that using abandoned mine drainage for hydraulic fracturing gas wells could be employed more frequently in future development, thereby lessening the burden on fresh water supplies. The report, funded by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, concludes that drainage from closed mines is plentiful, and the technology to use it is feasible. 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Beaver County township orders Chesapeake to stop drilling on farm

By Rich Lord  

April 18, 2012

http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12109/1225121-503-0.stm

A Beaver County township has ordered a halt to shale gas drilling on a farm that is also a habitat for bats, saying that it violates local zoning rules.

The gas company, Chesapeake Appalachia, disputes the township’s cease-and-desist order and continues work on the well. 

 

CentreDaily.com

Towns, doctors contest Marcellus Shale impact fee

By Cliff White 

April 16, 212

http://www.centredaily.com/2012/04/16/3164045/towns-doctors-contest-law.html

NEW YORK—The U.S. natural gas market is bursting at the seams.

A new law imposing an impact fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas wells is being challenged by an informal coalition of municipalities, an environmental group and some medical professionals, who have lodged a legal challenge arguing provisions in the legislation make it unconstitutional.

 

The Philadelphia Inquirer 

New law empowers Marcellus gas drillers

By Bill Reed

April 16, 2012

http://articles.philly.com/2012-04-16/news/31350183_1_unconventional-drilling-natural-gas-drilling-zoning-laws

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.

 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Studies try to measure economic boom spurred from Marcellus Shale

By Amy Friedenberger

April 16, 2012 

http://shale.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/archives/24474-studies-try-to-measure-economic-boom-spurred-from-marcellus-shale

The Morning Call took a look at towns that boomed from the Marcellus Shale industry moving into town. What the reporter found was that it’s hard to quantify the increase in jobs in the towns and whether they are a direct result from the industry. 

 

Farm and Dairy

Pennsylvania: Marcellus Shale legislation goes into effect for fees, but not zoning portion

By Kristy Foster

April 17, 2012

http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/pennsylvania-marcellus-shale-legislation-goes-into-effect-for-fees-but-not-zoning-portion/36517.html

SALEM, Ohio — Most of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale impact fee legislation is now official, but a state appellate judge blocked part of it with an injunction April 11.

 

The Times-Tribune

Water test reports leave homeowners in need of a translator 

By Laura Legere

April 16, 2012

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/water-test-reports-leave-homeowners-in-need-of-a-translator-1.1300620#axzz1sbLhsrja

FRANKLIN TWP. – The pages Tammy Hadlick pulled from an envelope marked certified mail on a recent afternoon held a wealth of information about her family’s drinking water, none of which she could decipher.