'Fracking' Delayed in New York State to Ensure Clean Water
It is estimated that there are 262 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas trapped in the Marcellus shale formation, the largest known shale deposit in the world, which wraps from western Virginia through upper Pennsylvania and lower New York State.  To obtain the gas, the driller forces 3 to 5 million gallons of water and chemical additives into the well to fracture or “frack” the shale beds.  Most of the water remains underground, but approximately 20 to 30 percent is brought back up to the surface.  The water that is recovered also contains salts and naturally occurring radioactive materials from deep in the ground.  This toxic water must be treated before being released.  Potential impacts include water consumption, potential spills and the impacts to groundwater and streams, treatment of flow-back water, and land disturbance (A five acre area can contain a pad with 6 to 10 individual wells which also require access roads and interstate transmission pipelines).  New York state conducted a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of fracking, which will be released later this year.  No fracking is allowed in New York till this is completed.
By Carol Collier, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission
http://www.delawareestuary.org/pdf/EstuaryNews/2010/SummerNews10.pdf
Video: New Yorkers at Union Square Park say, "Don't Frack With New York's Water!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68mCx8mwiSY&feature=player_embedded&july_eletter

Senator Casey Statement for EPA Field Hearing on Fracking
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement on July 22, 2010 that was read at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s public listening session about the proposed study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water.  To read his statement, visit http://casey.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=a353f05e-e40e-4dd2-adbb-92c9250419d9

 

Online Tracking Tool to Assess Impact of Marcellus Shale Drilling
A new web-based tool, www.Fractracker.org, has been provided to track and visualize data related to gas extraction.  This interactive site provides data, gives the ability to map information, interact with other people, and contribute by adding data or pictures.  It is designed to assess documented and predicted impacts of gas extraction and correlate them with existing wells and production facilities.  This tool will be helpful to identify and evaluate economic, environmental and public health concerns that could be caused by gas extraction at the Marcellus Shale formation, which covers about 65,000 square miles in seven states including Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York.  Over 4,200 Marcellus drilling permits were granted in PA from 2005 to June 11.  Nearly 1,600 wells have been drilled during that time.
Website Tracks Shale Drillers
By Rick Stouffer, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 1, 2010
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_688398.html#

Beneath the Surface: A Survey of Environmental Risks from Shale Gas
A new assessment by the Worldwatch Institute states that better regulatory oversight and improved adherence to drilling best practice are necessary to protect the environment and the public from shale gas production.  Click on the link below to download the report.
By Mark Zoback, Saya Kitasei and Brad Copithorne, the Worldwatch Institute, July 2010.
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6421
 

PA DCNR Releases GIS Maps On Impacts Of Leasing Additional State Forest Land For Drilling
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) has released a new series of GIS maps illustrating the potential impacts of leasing additional State Forest land for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.  Gas drilling impacts plants, animals, the forest as a whole, and the people who enjoy it.  Approximately 700,000 acres out of 2.2 million acres of State forest are available for natural gas extraction.  The GIS maps show the impacts that additional natural gas leasing on state forest land will have on water quality, ecological integrity, backcountry recreation, scenic beauty and other social and environmental values.  For more information and to view the maps, visit
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/marcellus/moratorium.html

Report: Marcellus Shale Drillers in Pennsylvania Amass 1435 Violations in 2.5 Years – 952 Identified as Most Likely to Harm the Environment
This report details the 1435 violations identified by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association using PA DEP records.  These do not involve violations by drilling wastewater haulers.  Of the 952 violoations that were most likely to harm the environment, 268 were due to improper construction, 10 involved improper well casings, 154 were due to the discharge of industrial waste, and 16 involved improper blowout prevention. 
For more information, visit http://www.conserveland.org/violationsrpt
To view the report, visit http://conserveland.org/uploaded_files/0000/0596/report_finalaug10.pdf

Marcellus Shale Coalition Unveils New, Interactive Online Headquarters
The Marcellus Shale Coalition is an organization representing the majority of shale gas producers throughout the Appalachian region.  This new website provides information, fact sheets, economic impact studies, and more.  It also has an interactive job portal providing employment opportunities.
http://marcelluscoalition.org/

Independent Report Faults Clearfield County Gas Well Operators for June 3 Blowout DEP Outlines Proper Procedures for all Marcellus Drilling Firms
DEP Secretary Says Blowout ‘Could Have Been a Catastrophic Incident’
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) released an independent investigation stating that the natural gas blowout in Clearfield County on June 3 was caused by untrained personnel and failing to use proper well control procedures.  The blowout caused natural gas and wastewater to escape from the well for 16 hours.  EOG Resources was ordered to take nine corrective actions and C.C. Forbes was ordered to take six corrective actions.  They were fined over $353,400 and $46,600, respectively.  To review a copy of the complete investigation report and related documents, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the report graphic under the “Latest News” tab.
PA DEP News Release, July 13, 2010
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=12818&typeid=1

Gas Well Drillers: Water Wells Contaminated With Many Things Not Caused By Drilling
The Marcellus Shale Coalition has provided a report on contamination problems in Pennsylvania’s private, drinking water wells that are not related to Marcellus Shale drilling.  In Pennsylvania, over 3 million people utilize private wells for drinking water.  Researchers from Penn State have released a study conducted over two years on over 700 private water wells that found that 40 percent of tested wells did not meet Pennsylvania’s drinking water standards.  33 percent of the wells were contaminated with fecal coliform, and 14 percent tested positive for E. coli.  Wells that were contaminated had variables such as the type of bedrock geology, soil moisture and inadequate well construction.  Pennsylvania does not have regulations on the construction of private water wells and does not require periodic water testing.  According to the U.S.G.S., Pennsylvania’s wells have high contaminant concentrations for arsenic, nitrates and radon. 
PA Environment Digest, July 12, 2010
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=16236

Proposed Tax Breaks for Natural Gas Industry Are Bad Deal for Pennsylvanians
The General Assembly is considering proposals to enact severance tax on natural gas production.  Pennsylvania is the largest natural gas-producing state with out a severance tax.  If the proposed exemptions are adopted, only one-third of Marcellus Shale well production would be subject to a severance tax and they would pay for only nine years of the 40-year life of the well.
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, June 24, 2010
http://www.pennbpc.org/proposed-tax-breaks-natural-gas-industry-are-bad-deal-pennsylvanians

Gasland Film
This informative film/documentary details the Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing.  The filmmaker, Josh Fox, researches this topic first hand.  This film will be broadcast on HBO through 2012 and will be on sale in December 2010.  To host a public screening in your community, visit the website below.
http://gaslandthemovie.com/about-the-film