Good Water Gone Bad:
Tioga Co. Landowners Still Seek Justice
This is a follow-up to Landowners With Contaminated Water Reach Out, published in last month's RDA newsletter. In May, DEP determined gas drilling contaminated Jeff and Tina Richardson's water. The statement below offers more details into their situation. It was read by Jeff Richardson at a public meeting in Wellsboro, PA on 8/28/12.
Hello and Good Evening. We are Jeff and Tina Richardson and we moved into Tioga County in 1993. We are here tonight in part to talk about what is happening to us regarding natural gas drilling. We have no background in law, nor in any field related to the natural gas industry. We are here as concerned citizens. We hope that what we are going through isn't happening to others. For us, along with environmental, health and safety concerns, there are also the issues of the impact on property value and on quality of life. We want to give you a brief summary of a portion of what we have been dealing with. I'm going to read a short statement about our situation and concerns. First, we want to say that we are NOT against drilling, but are extremely concerned that it is done safely. In February 2010, when we learned of the planned drilling activity that was to take place next to our property, with the pad just over 1,000 feet from our well, we feared we could be impacted by the drilling because it would be so close to our water supply; environmental and health issues were our first concern. Then came the decision of signing or not signing a lease. We asked ourselves - if we didn't sign on, would the natural gas be extracted from our property without us getting compensated for it? We wanted to protect ourselves as much as possible. We sought legal advice. We were advised to sign a non-surface lease with several addendums for added protection.
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Gas Gossip
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Photo: Denbow
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"We helped another company clean up a spill that was 10 feet long and a quarter inch thick. DEP never found out about it."
-PA Gas Worker
"Some laundromats won't accept our clothes because they break the machines." -MI Gas Worker Know some juicy Gas Gossip?
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Quote Of The Week
"In Pennsylvania, outdoor recreation is responsible for about one sixth of Pennsylvania's $33 billion tourism economy - the state's second largest industry. Our state parks system alone is an economic engine, returning almost $10 to local economies for every dollar invested by the state, generating more than $1 billion in economic activity in nearby communities and support almost 13,000 related jobs. Pennsylvania's outdoor recreation money machine is at risk. We must conserve the public lands if we are to protect our economy."
-Former DCNR Secretary John Quigley
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DEP Needs You!
If You See Something, Say Something
While Corbett and Krancer are busy slicing the DEP's budget, the number of Marcellus shale operations is only increasing. We must be vigilant to protect our community's health.
Make note (better yet - take pictures!) of any unusual or suspicious activity you see. Then:
- For environmental emergencies, tell EPA, too.
- Finally, let RDA know so we can follow up and inform the community.
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Support RDA's
Keep It WILD Campaign
Responsible Drilling Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded entirely by donations. Running the Keep It WILD campaign costs money, and we need your help to recuperate funds. Please considering donating. We accept money through PayPal via the Donations may also be sent by mail to:
Responsible
Drilling Alliance
PO Box 502 Williamsport, PA 17703
Thank you for your support!
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Rock Run Concerns Continue
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Some of the meeting's attendees.
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by Morgan Myers
Communications and Outreach Director
TROUT RUN - The Lycoming Creek Watershed
Association held a meeting Tuesday to voice concerns about Anadarko's purchase of mineral rights in the Clarence Moore tract. The acreage in question includes the Exceptional Value Rock Run, the Devils Elbow Natural Area, a 27-mile circular hiking trail known as Old Loggers Path, the Masten Ghost Town and lands that drain into headwaters of Pleasant Stream, Slacks Run, Salt Run, Wallis Run, and Mill Creek.
"Trust me, I understand your concerns," said PA State Rep. Garth Everett at the meeting. "I agree this is a sensitive and beautiful area."
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Garth Everett PA State Rep, 84th Dist.
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Anadarko and DCNR declined invitations to attend, but Representative Everett relayed their public point of view.
"I sat down with Anadarko. Anadarko feels they have the right to the Clarence Moore tract, but at this time they're quite busy just keeping up with the leases they already have," said Everett. "They have no concrete plans to develop Clarence Moore right now."
Everett recapped a conversation he had earlier that day with DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. "He was very aware of the situation. [Secretary Allan] said there's a lot of heat being generated, but right now there's been no application by Anadarko to DCNR to do any development in the Clarence Moore tract."
Everett went on to add that "the court of public opinion" may be the reason why Anadarko has not yet submitted an application to DCNR.
"Anadarko, in my experience, has been a good company. They're here to drill gas and make money, but they like to say they're good corporate citizens," said Everett. "That doesn't mean a truck won't fall over that has chemicals in it on Pleasant Stream Road or Rock Run Road. That's the danger: the accidental, not the intentional."
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Jason Detar
Fish and Boat Commission
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Jason Detar, Fish and Boat Commission's North Central Fisheries Manager, spoke about the importance of protective regulation for streams that support native fish.
"Pleasant Stream and Rock Run both support wild trout populations," said Detar. "Any wetlands associated with streams essential to the natural reproduction of wild trout get upgraded to 'Exceptional Value' status. Those wetlands receive maximum protection because of their importance in maintaining water quality in the streams themselves."
However, a wetland's "Exceptional Value" designation does not guarantee it won't be developed.
"We have a proactive role and a reactive role," said Detar. "From a proactive standpoint, we can go out and assess our resources so that we can provide as much protection to them as the regulations allow. From a reactive standpoint, we can provide comment on permits to DEP."
Whether DEP heeds Fish & Boat Commission advice when making permit decisions is beyond the latter's authority.
"There's a basic conflict because any company is going to want to optimize their resource area," said RDA President Ralph Kisberg. "That means a certain perfect placement of well pads and laterals. So the question is: what will DCNR let [Anadarko] get away with?"
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Ralph Kisberg Responsible Drilling Alliance
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"Anadarko owns their half of these rights in perpetuity; What's the big hurry?" said Kisberg. "Maybe in the future they'll be able to run laterals from private land without disturbing the surface at all."
As for the present, many remain concerned about the cultural and environmental degradation posed by the possibility of Clarence Moore tract development. Responsible Drilling Alliance, along with environmental organizations across the state, have asked DCNR and Anadarko to include the public in any conversations about Clarence Moore. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Over 2,600 e-mails have been written to DCNR Secretary Allan so far. We must keep the momentum going. Please help Keep It Wild in the Loyalsock State Forest by the taking action described below.
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Action Alert!:
You Can Help Keep It Wild
RDA has created a list of talking points to help you draft a letter urging DCNR Secretary Allan to protect the Loyalsock State Forest near Rock Run. Click here for Keep It Wild talking points...
Action Alert!: A Bill To Sell Public Land
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Green Mountain Vista, Sproul State Forest Image: Responsible Drilling Alliance
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If passed, HB22224 would alter the Donated or Dedicated Property Act to allow cash-strapped municipalities to sell parkland and other public lands. The PA Senate will vote on the bill Monday, September 24th. Please take a moment to write your State Senator asking them to vote "No" on HB22224.
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An abandoned well bubbling with methane.Image: Save Our Streams PA
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Action Alert!:
The Hazards of Unplugged WellsLost, orphan, and abandoned oil and gas wells are one of the most effective pathways for methane and other contaminants to reach groundwater.
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