Responsible Drilling Alliance
Seeking truth about the consequences of shale gas development   
RDA e-Newsletter, November 2012 v.4        

In This Issue
Help Us Keep it Wild
RDA In The News
Williamsport Guardian Needs Volunteers
Support The Keep It Wild Campaign
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea Separates Marcellus Myth from Reality
One of Earth's Last Tranquil Places
Acceptable Risks in Pennsylvania's Historic Oil and Gas Region?
The Good Ole Boy Extraction Club
Help Us Keep it Wild
 
In August 2012, we launched a campaign to protect Rock Run, its watershed, and the Old Loggers Path trail from industrial development. Normally subsurface rights are predominant over surface rights, but a clause in the deed from the Commonwealth's 1933 purchase of the land grants DCNR unique control over the majority of the surface. We want DCNR to deny mineral rights owners surface access where the deed empowers them to do so.
 
Although the natural gas deposits beneath Rock Run may be rich, we believe the surface has an even greater value. Its beauty is exemplary and recreational value enormous. This should be one of the last places developed, not the first. 
 
Unfortunately, protecting Rock Run will be an uphill battle. DCNR has met privately with Anadarko and denied public input. Anadarko has already staked out well pads and pipelines around Old Loggers Path. 
 
The good news is that when enough people speak up the government eventually listens. If you love Rock Run and the OLP, please help fight for it. It takes five minutes to write your politician. Your letter could be the critical mass that compels DCNR to tell Anadarko, "Not here, not now." 
 
Please, write to DCNR Secretary Richard Alan: 

Richard J. Allan, Secretary
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
P.O. Box 8767
Harrisburg, PA 17105

Rock Run should stay a wonderland, not become a wasteland! 
To learn more visit the Keep it Wild blog.
RDA In The News

Local News
 

The energy company Chief Gathering LLC (recently aquired by PVR Partners LP) has withdrawn their application for a compressor station on Crawley Hill Road in Hughesville, PA. 

State News  
 
Research

Williamsport Guardian Needs Distribution Volunteers 

 

Responsible Drilling Alliance would like to thank the Williamsport Guardian for their efforts at keeping the public informed about shale gas development and for publishing the work and concerns of RDA.

The Williamsport Guardian needs a volunteer with a vehicle to help distribute the newspaper to 8 locations at the west end of Williamsport. The time needed for distribution is only an hour and a half every other month.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Cynthia at: [email protected] 
Support the 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
RDA website. Donations may also be sent by mail: 

Responsible Drilling Alliance 
PO Box 502 
Williamsport, PA 17703 



Thank you for your support!
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea Separates Marcellus Myth from Reality
 
WPSU's Emily Reddy interviews Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, a professor of Engineering at Cornell University who did research and development for the oil and gas industry for 25 years.
Don't Despoil Our Tranquil Refuge
   
 By: B.

I grew up adjacent to the Old Loggers Path/Rock Run area. My grandfather was part of the CCC project in the 1930's to reclaim and preserve the forest land and Pleasant Stream after the loggers and industry (a clothespin factory in Masten) had overharvested.

Generations of us since have quietly enjoyed the little-known area. It is an area which, once encountered, leaves a lasting impression of serenity, unspoiled nature, and tranquil other-worldliness that is almost unknown in our modern world. To despoil this paradise with gas drilling or any other industry would be nothing short of ungodly. The surrounding area has suffered enough, leave the people some refuge.
 
Share your Rock Run/Old Loggers Path memories with the Appalachian Mountain Club. Contact Cathy Frankenberg at [email protected] 

 

Acceptable Risks in Pennsylvania's Historic Oil and Gas Region?

 

by Laurie Barr

Save Our Streams PA

 

A 2009 PA DEP draft report titled Stray Natural Gas Migration Associated with Oil and Gas Wells details many incidents of stray gas migration associated with oil and gas wellsOne of the most tragic natural gas migration incidents happened in Jefferson County, when the bodies of a couple and their 17 month-old grandson were found buried in the debris of their home after methane migrated from abandoned wells near active operations and caused an explosion. 


In 2010 The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) volunteered to have its hydraulic fracturing program reviewed by The State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc (STRONGER).

  

STRONGER reviews regulations, identifies issues and makes recommendations to the state to address identified issues. The review team was comprised of three team members and four official observers. The three team members were: Lori Wrotenbery, Oil and Gas Conservation Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission; Wilma Subra, Subra Co., New Iberia, Louisiana; and Jim Collins, Independent Petroleum Association of America. The official observers were: Tom Au, Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club; Steve Rhoads, East Resources; Brad Field, Division of Mineral Resources of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; and Dave Rectenwald, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  

According to STRONGER, the review began with a questionnaire that was prepared by the STRONGER Board which was intended to capture the status of Pennsylvania's Hydraulic Fracturing Guidelines. Following the review, STRONGER compiled a review report which made recommendations for improvements in the regulations which govern hydraulic fracturing. One of recommendations STRONGER made to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was the following:

  

The review team recommends that DEP consider whether there are areas or situations in which wells (active and abandoned) in the vicinity of hydraulic fracturing operations provide pathways for fluid movement into groundwater. In such areas or situations, DEP should require operators to identify and eliminate these potential pathways for fluid movement into groundwater before conducting hydraulic fracturing operations.

  

August of 2102  The Office of Oil and Gas Management (OOGM) Technical Advisory board's 'Summary of Proposed Conceptual Changes (with brief justifications)' Draft report recommended  the following changes to Title 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78: 

 

Propose adding a requirement that a well operator identify on the well permit application the location of abandoned gas or oil wells within 1000 feet of the entire well bore length. This requirement comports with a recommendation made by STRONGER to prevent communication between wells.

 

On March 8, 2011, Tom Corbett, established the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. The purpose of the Commission was to develop a comprehensive, proposal for the responsible and environmentally sound development of Marcellus Shale. This commission was comprised of industry stakeholders, members from the environmental community, natural gas industry, local government representatives and state government officials.

 

One of the responsibilities of the commission was to review the existing and proposed statutes, legislation, regulation and policies that regulate or affect Marcellus Shale natural gas development and to provide "analysis and recommendations." and to submit a final report on before July 22, 2011. The commission's final report recognized abandoned wells provide pathways for contamination stating: 

 

New wells drilled through a formation that has previously been drilled and fractured present a potential pathway for groundwater contamination. This potential pathway for contamination must be addressed through the application of well casing and construction standards.

 

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