Marcellus Shale Newswire 08/05/2011
Vol. 2, Issue 21
A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Gas Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond
PennEnvironment
Syracuse Post-Standard
EPA proposes new rules on emissions released by fracking
August 1, 2011
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/epa_proposes_new_rules_on_emis.html
On July 28, the EPA released a set of proposed federal regulations to reduce air pollution from hydraulic fracturing. The proposed rules would help limit the emissions released during the natural gas drilling process. It mainly targets the volatile organic compounds released during fracturing but it would also help capture lost methane in the process which companies would then be able to sell. It would reduce emissions 95 percent.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Danger above and below: Man dies on the job at gas well site
By Rich Lord
July 31, 2011
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11212/1164150-503.stm
On July 22, Kerry E. Duncan Jr. died in a tragic accident at a natural gas drilling site in Greene County, owned by Target Drilling of Smithton. Investigators believe that he was electrocuted while trying to turn off a fuel pump. Duncan Jr. went into the natural gas drilling industry because he believed it was safer than going into the coal mines. Target has not commented on the accident.
Scranton Times-Tribune
Drilling truck overturns, kills Susquehanna County man
July 31, 2011
http://thetimes–tribune.com/news/gas–drilling/drilling–truck–overturns–kills–susquehanna–county–man-1.1182351
A truck owned by Southeast Directional Drilling LLC. overturned onto a car on July 29, killing the driver of the car. The company is now investigating the accident as the truck was carrying waste from a natural gas drilling site.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Breath of fresh air: The EPA sets rules for drillers to cut pollution
August 1, 2011
http://www.post–gazette.com/pg/11213/1164289-192.stm
The EPA released a set of guidelines in July 28 that will help reduce air pollution caused by hydraulic fracturing. The proposed rules are not just for Marcellus shale wells but for national oil and gas operations. Some of the biggest air emissions come from hydraulic fracturing wells, according to the EPA and so these regulations are necessary.
NPR
Worries Over Water As Natural Gas Fracking Expands
By Christopher Joyce
August 2, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/02/138820966/worries–over-water–as–natural-gas–fracking–expands
Duke University’s Rob Jackson and a group of students are travelling around northern Pennsylvania, testing people’s well water for methane caused by hydraulic fracturing. More and more people are becoming concerned that their well water has been contaminated, especially dairy farmers who’s livelihood depends on clean water. So far numerous wells have been found to be contaminated with deep methane from a mile down.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Safety, Legislature consume meeting on Marcellus Shale
By Don Hopey
August 3, 2011
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11215/1164740-454.stm
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing on Tuesday in Greene County. The main topic of discussion was the failure of the legislature to pass a Marcellus Shale impact fee or tax Rep. DeWeese said that the severance tax will be the focus of the House Democrats in the fall.
Lebanon Daily News
Corbett suggests drilling fee could plug old wells
August 5, 2011
http://www.ldnews.com/state/ci_18623498
Gov. Corbett suggests on Thursday that if a Marcellus shale impact fee was put into place, the funds should go towards plugging older abandoned wells as they are an environmental hazard. He also said that the fee should help municipalities that have been affected by gas drilling.
Scranton Times-Tribune
Controversial billboard depicting contaminated water comes down
By Stace Wilson
August 4, 2011
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/controversial-billboard-depicting-conta…
Craig and Julie Sautner of Dimock, PA put on a billboard earlier this week depicting a contaminated pitcher of water said to have been drawn out of their well. The billboard merely said “Fix it!” but the advertising company took it down after two days because of complaints they had received. “That billboard is going up someplace,” Mrs. Sautner said. “We’ll just have to see where it is going up.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
D.C. group says 1982 incident shows risk of fracking
By Don Hopey
August 4, 2011
http://post-gazette.com/pg/11216/1165077-455-0.stm
According to the Environmental Working Group, in 1987, the EPA concluded that a hydraulic fracturing well in West Virginia contaminated shallower groundwater and private wells. This is significant because the natural gas industry continuously says that drilling does not affect groundwater or wells.