Responsible Drilling Alliance
Seeking truth about the consequences of shale gas development   
RDA e-Newsletter September 2012 v.4    
In This Issue
Environmental Review: What It Is (And Isn't)
RDA In The News
Support RDA
Proprietary Fluid Leaks Into Pine Creek
Lost & Found In The Loyalsock
Environmental Review: What It Is (And Isn't) 
 
by Robert "Butch" Davey
Former district forester, Sproul State Forest
  

 

On the Environmental Review Process
The Environmental Review which DCNR Bureau of Forestry uses is not an environmental impact statement which examines various alternatives including no change. The environmental review is an internal document consisting of 20 or so items which are addressed as to the environmental effect, good or bad, of the proposed project. The environmental review can be prepared by Forest District personnel or a company requesting a project or activity occurring on State Forest land. The document is submitted to the central office of the B of F for review. Each of the division chiefs prepares comments or signs off on the review without comment. This is not a document of choices and alternatives but rather a document concerning a proposed project. Unless the procedure has changed the public is not involved. The environmental review should be available to the public.

  

On Threatened and Endangered Species
The Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) is a historical compilation of data and locations of species of flora and fauna of special concern. When a project is being planned the PNDI records are searched in the Harrisburg Central office for the area where the project is proposed to determine if a species of concern will be affected. This is determined to be a "hit". The information on the species being harmed is kept confidential. This is done to keep collectors from disturbing the species of concern.

  

For instance, in North Central Pennsylvania the Allegheny Wood Rat (Neotomia magister) is a species of concern. The habitat and population of this rodent has diminished. The Allegheny wood rat is listed as a threatened species and has been proposed as a candidate for the federal endangered species list. There are several web sites with more and better information on PNDI.


On DCNR and Public Comment
To the best of my knowledge the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has yet to conduct a public meeting where statements are recorded under oath. However DCNR has conducted many public informational meetings.

 

The Bureau of Forestry conducts public informational meetings when Forest Resource Plans are revised every 15 years. These type of meetings are done when policies and procedures within the Bureau of Forestry mandate are updated. Usually the attendees can ask questions and make statements. The main purpose of such meetings is informative rather than to seek input from citizens.
  

On Soil Erosion and Sedimentation  
In Pennsylvania all earth-moving activities require a written accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation prevention plan (E&S). For most earth-moving activities the county Conservation District staff reviews the plans for completeness and adequacy to prevent accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation. A letter to this affect is sent to the earth mover by the Conservation District. The major exception to this procedure is the oil and gas industry.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Oil and Gas has been tasked with the review for all gas drilling permits. This policy change was the result of oil and gas operators being slowed down in their zeal to have permit applications processed pronto. The average time DEP spends on reviewing an E&S for a gas well site is reported to be 25 minutes.

  

If 20 acres or more of earth disturbance is planned a full-scale earth disturbance permit is required. This is a much more detailed plan and requires more information and review.

From the information it appears that the watersheds in the Rock Run section of the Loyalsock State Forest are high quality and exceptional value. These are streams with the highest quality water and the least human and industrial activity and pollution.  It is crucial to protect these valuable water courses.   

Robert "Butch" Davey is a former district forester of Sproul State Forest and worked for the Bureau of Forestry for over 40 years. Davey is also on the board of directors of Keystone Trails Association.
 
RDA In The News

Penn State's Academic Integrity Tested By Complaint


Local News
   
  
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Thank you for your support! 
A boom placed in Pine Creek catches contamination

by Morgan Myers

RDA Director of Communications and Outreach 

 

WATERVILLE, PA - A Minuteman Environmental Services truck released 3,600 gallons of  HydroRecovery LP's "Hydraulic Stimulation Fluid" into Pine Creek after crashing into a cliff along Route 44 yesterday afternoon. Firefighters placed booms in the creek to mitigate contamination. By the time Emergency Response arrived on the scene, the tanker had drained completely. The valve had been severed from the tank.

 

"Hydraulic Stimulation Fluid is a brine water that has some residual components in it," said Teresa Copenhaver, Business Development Manger of HydroRecovery LP, a frack water recycling plant in Blossburg. "We do a chemical precipitation process that removes heavy metals, minerals, and other constituents from the waste waster. It's diluted down from when it came in."

 

When asked for specifics about what "residual components" besides brine were in the treated water, Copenhaver called it "proprietary information."

 

"Coke and Pepsi won't tell you what's in theirs," said Copenhaver. "Were not trying to hide anything from anybody, we create a product."

 

In addition to Hydraulic Stimulation Fluid the truck released "a few gallons of transmission fluid and a couple pints of power steering fluid," according to Wes Gordon of Minuteman Environmental Services. "These were more of a concern than the treated water. The treated water is almost like drinking water again."

 

"You wouldn't drink it," said Copenhaver. "It's meant 100% for recycling for fracking. The gas companies don't need a very clean treated water to go down hole."

 

DEP and Minuteman took stream readings following the accident.

 

"We took water samples above, below, and at the incident to see if anything had changed. The samples went to the lab this morning," said Gordon.

 

According to readings from the USGS station in Waterville, Pine Creek is currently flowing at about 2,300 gallons per second. Gordon of Minuteman said that 3,600 gallons of treated water were released. Responsible Drilling Alliance is still trying to understand what impact the accident will have on the creek.

 

Several things played into the accident. "The driver wasn't feeling good so he rolled down the window to get some fresh air at a section of the road without a berm. He creased the first set of rocks, which pushed the front of the cab into the second set of rocks," said Gordon.

 

The driver hauling the treated water was not injured.

 

"He was a little stunned at the beginning but he was checked out by EMS on scene and at the hospital," said Gordon. "Due to DOT protocol we had to have him drug tested, but this guy has a good record. He passed."

 

The accident happened near one of Pine Creek's deepest fishing holes, a beloved spot near the railroad bridge above Torbert village.

 

"Pine Creek is a beautiful area," said Copenhaver. "I used to live there, hike, and bike the rail trail. I don't want [accidents] to happen and I know the gas companies don't either."

Lost & Found In The Loyalsock 
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation stake on Sullivan Mountain.

A map of Anadarko's planned well pad site.
 
by Morgan Myers 

RALSTON, PA - Responsible Drilling Alliance got lost in the Loyalsock State Forest this week and found a secret well pad site. Happy accident? Perhaps not for Anadarko, who last week told PA House Representative Garth Everett they had "no concrete plans to develop Clarence Moore right now."

Clarence Moore is the tract of land encompassing portions of Rock Run, Old Loggers Path, Masten Ghost Town, and other beloved areas of the Loyalsock State Forest. RDA launched the Keep It Wild campaign earlier this month to pressure DCNR & Anadarko to leave the sensitive area undeveloped. Despite public outcry, Anadarko's intentions to move forward with development are clear.

Anadarko picked a discreet place for their future well pad. It's on the Crandall Town Trail, an offshoot of Old Loggers Path. Despite marshy conditions, Anadarko chose a patch of forest on the broad, flat top of Sullivan Mountain.
Anadarko's proposed site will be built on marshy ground.
Anadarko's planned well pad is between two headwaters, Buck Run that feeds into Rock Run, and an unnamed stream that feeds into Pleasant Stream. Doe Roe is another vulnerable Sullivan Mountain stream with headwaters in Anadarko's bulls eye zone. The snapshot below shows how streams begin in this ecologically sensitive area.
Doe Run headwaters
As evidenced by the pink flagging tied on tree branches on either side of the stream, the Doe Run area is a sensitive wetland. However, the wetland delineation seems a bit narrow:
Flagging delineates the wetland  
The well pad stakes aren't the only evidence of the gas industry's footprint on Sullivan Mountain. Seismic flagging litters the forest floor and the dirt road is torn up from heavy traffic.
Road damage on Sullivan Mountain
Still, RDA's hike on Sullivan Mountain wasn't all bad news. We saw a snake, a turkey vulture, two does, and lots of bear droppings.
A snake sunning itself on Old Loggers Path
The clock is ticking for the Loyalsock State Forest, and Anadarko isn't wasting any time. Responsible Drilling Alliance will continue to say, "Not here, not now."

Please join us in support of this wild wonder by telling DCNR, Anadarko, and your local newspaper to "Keep It Wild."