Marcellus Shale Newswire 2/10/2012
Vol. 2, Issue 44
A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Gas Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond
PennEnvironment
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Shale driller Chesapeake Appalachia is fined by state DEP for major violations
By Sean D. Hamill
February 10, 2012
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12041/1209294-503-0.stm
HARRISBURG — The state Department of Environmental Protection Thursday said it has fined gas driller Chesapeake Appalachia a total of $565,000 for major violations at three Marcellus Shale sites that occurred since 2010, including a well blowout in Bradford County last April that took five days to secure.
The Washington Post
With deep concerns over fracking, a Va. County says no to more gas drilling
By Darryl Fears
February 05, 2012
In BERGTON, Va. — Carrizo Oil and Gas had every reason to believe this rustic town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains was an ideal place to build Virginia’s first well to explore for natural gas in the state’s Marcellus Shale.
Altoona Mirror
Outdoor groups urge Corbett to uphold moratorium on state forest gas leases
By Zach Geiger
February 05, 2012
Pennsylvania’s 20 state forests encompass more than 2.2 million acres, giving residents year-round access for pursuits such as hiking, snowmobiling, boating, hunting and fishing.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State Senate passes Marcellus Shale legislation
By Laura Olson
February 07, 2012
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12038/1208663-100-0.stm
HARRISBURG — The state Senate passed a Marcellus Shale regulatory and impact fee measure this morning, sending the plan for a final vote in the state House of Representatives.
Hornell Evening Tribune
Alleghany County Board of Health to vote on well testing recommendations
By Brian Quinn
February 05, 2012
The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hasn’t started issuing oil and gas drilling permits for the Marcellus Shale area. Still, the Allegany County Board of Health wants to take a “pre-emptive” measure to help public and private well owners who may be worried about their water quality if drilling goes forward, said county Environmental Health Director Thomas Hull.
Penn Live
Public health impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling still unknown
By Dr. Marilyn J. Heine
February 05, 2012
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/02/public_health_impacts_of_marce.html
Uncertainty prompts me to write that as a doctor I do not know what to tell Pennsylvania patients when they ask me if hydraulic fracturing — fracking — in their neighborhood or region might affect their health. I’ve seen anecdotal stories in the media.
CNN iReport
Marcellus Shale Reality Tour Part 3 EPA comes to Dimock
By Scott Cannon
February 05, 2012
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-742456?hpt=us_bn2
CNN PRODUCER NOTE: iReporter ScottCannon, a board member of the Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition, Inc., shot this video in Dimock, Pennsylvania, a town at the heart of an EPA water drilling investigation. The video includes an interview with Susan Roos, a resident of Dimock who claims her water supply has been contaminated by gas extraction practices. This video package also includes an interview with EPA spokesperson Trish Taylor, who is part of a team investigating claims in the area.
UPI.com
New website tracks Marcellus shale drilling records
By Associated Press
February 08, 2012
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) — Advocacy group Sierra Club filed a formal objection over plans to export liquefied natural gas from a port in Maryland because of ties to fracking.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Bill would register, set limits on Allegheny shale well sites
By Tony LaRussa
February 04, 2012
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_779974.html?_s_icmp=NetworkHeadlines
Two Allegheny County councilmen will introduce legislation on Tuesday that would create a registry of permits issued for Marcellus shale gas well sites and set restrictions on where drilling operations can be situated on county-owned property.
Care2
How New York State Residents Can Protect Themselves From Fracking Pollution
By Gina-Marie Cheeseman
February 06, 2012
New York sits on the northern edge of major shale deposits, known as the Marcellus Shale. Most of the Marcellus Shale is in New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. The way to drill for the shale is with hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, which pollutes drinking water supplies. Fracking also produces more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional drilling methods.
The Times Leader
Shale affects homeless veterans
By Bill O’Boyle
February 07, 2012
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Shale__affects__homeless__veterans_02-07-2012.html
HARRISBURG – The ranks of homeless veterans are growing, and a state Senate committee Monday heard testimony that the Marcellus Shale industry is making the problem worse.
Long Island Press
DEC: Much Work Needed on Fracking Regs
By Mary Esch
February 07, 2012
http://www.longislandpress.com/2012/02/07/dec-much-work-needed-on-fracking-regs/
New York’s environment commissioner told lawmakers Tuesday that the proposed state budget doesn’t include money for regulating hydraulic fracturing because it’s uncertain when — or if — the natural gas drilling technology will be allowed in the state.