Marcellus Shale Newswire 11/18/2011
Vol. 2, Issue 36
A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Gas Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond
PennEnvironment
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
DEP reviews its shale insections
By Don Hopey
November 17, 2011
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11321/1190513-454.stm
State inspectors found 633 violations at Marcellus Shale drilling sites during the first five months of this year, and were almost three times more likely to find violations at drill sites in north central Pennsylvania than in the southwest, according to a Department of Environmental Protection report released Tuesday.
The Sun Gazette
Shale and Us
By Mike Reuther
November 18, 2011
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/571177/SHALE-AND-US.htm…
A report released by the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition revealed concerns regarding the growth of the Marcellus Shale gas industry.
Benefits of drilling for natural gas also were noted in the report, which solicited ideas and information about the industry from the community.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local officials oppose Marcellus Shale legislation
By Don Hopey
November 12, 2011
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11316/1189397-503.stm
Local opposition is signing up against state legislative proposals, backed by the Corbett administration, that would prohibit counties and municipalities from enacting and enforcing their own ordinances and zoning rules aimed at controlling Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.
County and municipal officials, mostly in Western Pennsylvania, are urging legislators in a joint letter to preserve existing rights to enact local zoning ordinances by voting against House Bill 1950 and Senate Bill 1100.
The Buffalo News
Fracking boom could go bust in N.Y.
By Jerry Zremski
November 13, 2011
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/washington/article631309.ece
Larry Beahan of Buffalo and Mike White of Steuben County live 130 miles away from each other, and their views on fracking seem at least that far apart. Yet, strangely, the Buffalo environmentalist and the Southern Tier property owner are equally pessimistic about what once was seen as a likely natural gas boom in the Southern Tier to match one that has transformed northern Pennsylvania.
Delaware First Media
Fracking critics urge officials to block Delaware Basin gas development
By Jon Hurdle
November 14, 2011
http://www.delawarefirst.org/19762-gas-fracking-critics-Delaware
Opponents of a controversial method of natural gas extraction staged a last-ditch effort on Monday, November 14 to stop an interstate regulator from giving the go-ahead for gas production in the Delaware River Basin.
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), consisting of the governors of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, plus Army Corps of Engineers which represents the federal government, is due to vote on Nov. 21 on proposed rules that would allow tens of thousands of gas wells to be drilled in the basin. Approval would lift a moratorium.
The Marning Call
Standards for Marcellus Shale drilling to be set
By Tim Darragh
November 13, 2011
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-marcellus-fracking-votes-20111113,0,123085.story
The next eight days will be big ones for supporters and opponents of natural gas drilling or “fracking” in eastern Pennsylvania.
Bills in both houses of the General Assembly may be voted on as early as Monday that would set uniform statewide standards and give the state the power to preempt local ordinances regulating drilling.
Then the Delaware River Basin Commission, the multi-state/federal government agency that oversees water issues in the watershed, plans to vote Nov. 21 on its own regulations for natural gas drilling.
Public News Service
Environmental Groups Say Clock is Ticking on Effective Marcellus Shale Bills
By Tom Joseph
November 14, 2011
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23252-1
HARRISBURG, Pa. – There are only nine days left on Pennsylvania’s legislative calendar, and environmental groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are concerned that the session could conclude without solid legislation in place to address potential problems associated with Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling projects.
The Asbury Park Press
Group continue push for state fracking ban
By Bob Jordan
November 15, 2011
http://www.app.com/article/20111115/NJNEWS1002/311150017/Groups-continue-push-for-state-fracking-ban
TRENTON — Environmental groups ramped up pressure Monday on Republican Gov. Chris Christie to oppose gas drilling in the Delaware River watershed, delivering a letter co-signed by New Jersey lawmakers and a petition from thousands of citizens calling for a continued regional moratorium on fracking.
The Charleston Gazette
State ignored previous warnings about drilling inspector shortage
By Ken Ward Jr.
November 15, 2011
http://wvgazette.com/News/201111150238
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Long before most West Virginians had ever heard the words “Marcellus Shale,” outside auditors were warning that the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency was greatly underfunded and severely understaffed.
PR Newswire
PA DEP Takes Steps to Improve Consistency in Marcellus Shale Enforcement
By Katy Gresh
November 15, 2011
HARRISBURG, Pa.– The Department of Environmental Protection is working to more consistently enforce natural gas drilling regulations in various regions of the state, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said today.
“From my first days on the job, I’ve repeatedly heard that DEP’s enforcement of our oil and gas oversight was often inconsistent from region to region,” Krancer said. “One of Governor Corbett’s promises was to see that DEP’s programs are administered fairly and uniformly, and that’s what we’re striving to achieve.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Family claims gas driller lied about property value
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11320/1190190-503.stm
By Don Hopey
November 16, 2011
The Hallowich family, which settled its lawsuit alleging Marcellus Shale drilling damaged the family’s health and property value, has filed a court action claiming Range Resources has violated the confidential settlement.
The family claims that the natural gas driller falsely stated it paid $550,000 for the 10-acre property in Mount Pleasant.
The actual price, according to the emergency petition filed in Washington County Common Pleas Court Monday, was $100.
The Buffalo News
To ‘frack’ or not? Public responds
By David Robinson
November 17, 2011
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article636201.ece
DANSVILLE — Jim Van Blarcom is all for expanded natural gas drilling in New York. The Bradford, Pa., farmer has gas wells tapping into the Marcellus Shale on his property, and he says that it has allowed him to invest in his farm and bring his sons back home to work it.