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P rotecting Communities and Special Places
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e-Newsletter October 25 , 2013
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"As we race toward the future, we must never forget the fundamental reality of our situation:
we are flying blind." ~ Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and
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PUBLIC MEETING
PSU West Campus
Steam PlantOctober 30
6:30 p.m.
State College Area
High School
South Auditorium
650 Westerly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will conduct a public meeting to discuss the proposed Air Quality plan approval (14-00003F) application submitted by the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) for the construction of two (2) new natural gas boilers as part of the West Campus Steam Plant (WCSP) Improvement Project proposal. WCSP produces steam for the University Park Campus.
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Mobilize to defend the Loyalsock!
On November 1 where will you be?
You are invited to join Marcellus Shale Earth First! for a family-friendly day of action against fracking, which will include speakers, music, hiking, a potluck dinner, and supervised kids' activities. Let's show Anadarko Petroleum Corp. that we're not going to let them frack in the
Loyalsock State Forest. Schedule of the day: Rally: 1:00-2:45 p.m. at the intersection of Yellow Dog Road and Ellenton Ridge Road, Loyalsock State Forest Hike: 3:00-5:00 p.m. starting at the same location Dinner, Discussion & Debrief: 5:30-8:00 p.m. location TBA (nearby) Look here for more information on the rallyFall Action Camp
Oct 27 - Nov 3
Marcellus Shale Earth First! invites you to Northeastern Pa. for a week of workshops, trainings, camping, hiking, and a mass forest mobilization on November 1 at the beautiful waters of Rock Run.
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TAKE ACTION!
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Save the New Jersey Pinelands
 | Video: Don't Gas
The Pinelands |
Our neighbors in New Jersey need your help!
Call Gov. Chris Christie at (609) 292-6000 and demand that the pipeline NOT be built through the Pinelands!
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PUBLIC HEARING
Brine Disposal Underground Injection Control
Well Permit
Monday, October 28
7:00 PM
Marion Center, PA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (EPA) plans to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit to PGE under the authority of the Federal UIC regulations at 40 C.F.R. Parts 124, 144, 146, and 147. The permit is necessary to construct and operate one class II-D brine disposal injection well.
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IN THE NEWS
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This Week's Scoops
Surprises abound, as citizens in Nockamixon who didn't want to see natural gas drilling take place in their area breathed a sigh of relief when Arbor Resources decided to end efforts to locate drilling operations in their town.
Legislators surprisingly decided to end efforts on the Marcellus Works Bills, at least for now, tabling the set of bills designed to encourage natural gas-powered transportation in Pennsylvania.
Finally, dedicated videographer Vera Scroggins received a nasty surprise when served with papers last Friday from Cabot Oil and Gas Corp., who apparently doesn't like surprises and wants to stop Vera's surprise visits to their operations.
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We welcome your active participation and are in
need of help for special events, publicity, research, and other projects.
Contact us for details.
As a 501(c)(3)
non-profit
organization, RDA
relies on donations
for the important work we do. In order for
RDA to continue its valuable education
and advocacy
outreach in 2013, please consider
a tax-free contribution
to our efforts.
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IMAGES by PETE STERN, COURTESY OF FRACTRACKER
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Loyalsock From the Sky
Several weeks ago, RDA brought you on-the-ground images of drilling on Bodine Mountain in the Loyalsock State Forest. Now, through the collaborative work of Fractracker and aerial photographer Pete Stern, we have the opportunity to see the impacts of shale gas extraction in the Loyalsock Forest from the sky. Check out Pete Stern's story and his amazing photo tour with a bird's-eye view of drilling impacts on Bodine Mountain. | |
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Marcellus Shale Coalition's Goals Will Continue With David Spigelmyer's Leadership
By ANN PINCA
"It seemed like a logical next step," said David Spigelmyer in reference to his new position as president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), an industry-based organization founded in 2008. Spigelmyer was a founding member of MSC and served in various positions prior to becoming the organization's second president. In a Tuesday afternoon interview for the Pittsburgh Business Times, Spigelmyer said his goals include "consistent, predictable regulations" and a build-up of gathering and pipeline systems to transport wet gas from the Marcellus regions. Spigelmyer also spoke of "increased advocacy" at the federal level with lawmakers and agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that "have a role in approving development." It is interesting
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IMAGE: ANN PINCA
Gathering pipeline construction in Sullivan County.
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that Spigelmyer specifically mentions pipelines and the Army Corps of Engineers in his goals, as history reminds us of an earlier issue concerning a combination of those two with which Spigelmyer dealt while employed by Chesapeake Energy. In late July of 2011, a letter signed by Spigelmyer was sent to over 17,000 Chesapeake Energy leaseholders in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties outlining Chesapeake's complaints over a July 1 change in pipeline permits that included updated requirements by the Army Corps of Engineers. Spigelmyer called the new requirements, designed to better protect streams and wetlands through a more cumulative review, as "unnecessary, time consuming and redundant." His letter to the leaseholders urged them to submit form letters included with the mailing to their Congressional representatives, saying that the permit review changes were "unnecessary and are infringing on [your] ability to develop your mineral rights." Spigelmyer cited the reason for the letter as Chesapeake's responsibility to leaseholders to let them know why their royalty payments would be delayed. It is nice to think that Chesapeake once showed such concern for their leaseholders in view of more recent developments that include a federal class-action suit settlement of $7.5 million dollars for royalty underpayment and the discovery of language in Chesapeake leases allowing the illegal inclusion of impact fee charges in royalty deductions. Originally tapped for Governor Corbett's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission in March 2011, Spigelmyer did not serve on the commission created to develop natural gas drilling policies. Some controversy surrounded his absence from the commission. A Chesapeake spokesman gave the reason as Spigelmyer's need to attend to company matters and his duties with the MSC; other sources indicated that Gov. Corbett asked Spigelmyer to withdraw from the commission after a February 2011 fire on a Chesapeake well pad in Avella, Washington County, created negative publicity for the corporation. At an August 2011 forum in Lancaster County, Spigelmyer's presentation on behalf of Chesapeake Energy contained the usual industry information: nearly a 60-year history of hydraulic fracturing and huge economic benefits to Pennsylvania through jobs and tax revenue. An image of a child waving the stars and stripes with the featured words "abundant, affordable, and American" on the final slide concluded the presentation.
Spigelmyer's opening of that 2011 presentation extracted acknowledgment from the audience that they had depended on fossil-fuel-driven technology to arrive at the program, but did not acknowledge the fact that everyone there had also depended on clean air and clean water to enable them to attend. Likewise, Spigelmyer's goals as head of the Marcellus Shale Coalition will continue the focus on the "enormous economic upside" of gas development, but will no doubt leave out any discussion of environmental impacts or health impacts to the public--making him indeed the next logical leader of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.
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Pipeline construction in Sullivan County. IMAGE: ANN PINCA
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On Top of the World at Smith's Knob BY MANDY MAURER
So, remember my commentary on our last hike, on the Bob Webber Trail? How the elevation caught me off guard and I was...winded by the time we
got to the top? THAT one was easy compared to our journey to Smith's Knob last Saturday. You know how I know? Because only half a dozen people showed up for this challenge, and one of them turned around and went back half way through!
I should have gone with him. But no, I'm stubborn. Did I mention that I had approximately 15-20 lbs of crap in my pack? Yeah, I did. Fun fact: 20 pounds feels like a BILLION when the incline is SO steep that you're concentrating equally hard on not falling over backwards as you are choosing your next step!
As I plodded along behind the rest of the group, I began thinking about my narrative for this article. What words would do justice to the peaceful tranquility of this part of the Loyalsock State Forest? How could I best describe this part of the Loyalsock Trail?
As it turns out, it's really hard to think with your heart beat pounding in your ears. But days later, I still cannot find the words to describe the stillness of the deep forest or the overwhelming beauty on display at Helen's Window or the immense joy I felt when I FINALLY got to the top of that mountain. Of course, when I say joy, what I really mean is the dizzying head rush that comes with prolonged, labored breathing.
While I once considered the members of the Land Conservation Committee my friends, I'm fairly certain, after these last two hikes, that certain members of the aforementioned committee are plotting my demise. Oh sure, it will look like an "accident', but I'm telling you all, if I happen to have a cardiac episode during the December hike, it was premeditated!
P.S. It really was an absolutely amazing day in the forest with some fantastic company.And once we started to go DOWNhill everything started looking up for me.
See you next month,
Mandy
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TEDX: The Endocrine Disruption Exchange Turns Ten
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Watch Dr. Theo Colborn's brief video,
The Fossil Fuel Connection, on Link TV
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After raising four children, working as a pharmacist and helping to operate a sheep ranch in Colorado with with her husband, Theo Colborn's growing concern over the effects of nearby mineral and coal mining pollution sent her back to school to earn a Master's degree in ecology and a Ph.D. in zoology at age 58 so she could better study the impacts. Ten years ago, Dr. Theo Colborn founded TEDX, the endocrine disruption exchange, a non-profit organization whose mission is dedicated to compiling and disseminating the scientific evidence on the health and environmental problems caused by low-level exposure to chemicals that interfere with development and function, called endocrine disruptors.
The information contained on TEDX's web site is the stuff that can scare the pants off of you. Reading about the likes of benzene and toluene induced a shudder in me when thinking back to how good we thought gasoline smelled as we neighborhood kids played around the gas can in the back yard while our fathers cut the grass. TEDX presents important information that everyone should know concerning chemical exposure in our world.At age 86, Dr. Colborn is turning over the reigns of TEDX, but will still be involved with the organization she founded. Help Dr. Colborn celebrate the tenth anniversary of TEDX by sending her a comment and be sure to watch her brief video on The Fossil Fuel Connection.
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RDA Newsletter 
Ann Pinca, managing editor
Ted Stroter, RDA Board of Directors editor
Ralph Kisberg, contributing editor
Robbie Cross, President - RDA Board of Directors
Jenni Slotterback, Secretary - RDA Board of Directors
Barb Jarmoska, Treasurer - RDA Board of Directors
Mark Szybist - RDA Board of Directors
Roscoe McCloskey - RDA Board of Directors
This weekly e-letter is written and designed by the RDA consultants and Board of Directors and sent to RDA members/subscribers. Every effort is made to assure complete accuracy in each issue. This publication and the information contained herein is copyrighted by RDA and Ann Pinca and may not be reproduced without permission.
All rights reserved. Readers are invited to forward this newsletter in its entirety to broaden the scope of its outreach. Readers are also invited to comment to the managing editor regarding contents and to submit articles to be considered for publication in a future issue.
Please note: The RDA newsletter includes reporting on a variety of events and activities, which do not necessarily reflect the philosophy of the organization. RDA practices only non-violent action in voicing the organization's beliefs and concerns.
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Donations may also be sent by mail to: Responsible Drilling Alliance, P.O. Box 502, Williamsport, PA 17703
Thank you for your support!
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