Marcellus Shale Newswire 08/05/2011

Vol. 2, Issue 21

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

Explainer

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://thetimestribune.com/news/gasdrilling/drillingtruckoverturnskillssusquehannacountyman-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.postgazette.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/worriesover-waterasnatural-gasfrackingexpands

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.