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P rotecting Communities and Special Places
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e-Newsletter February 7, 2014
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"If Anadarko's plans are in anyone's interest,
it seems unlikely it's the Commonwealth's."
~ Adam Kron
Environmental Integrity Project
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VIDEO SPECIAL
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Fracking II: Should
We Lift the Ban?
This week, a debate took place at Cornell University to discuss fracking and the current moratorium in New York.
Panelists included
Tom Shepstone, Scott Kurkoski, and John Conrad for the pro-fracking side vs. Anthony Ingraffea, Sandra Steingraber, and Walter Hang for the moratorium.
The debate was sponsored by the Cornell Forensics Society and moderated by Professor Sam Nelson. Thanks to Vera Scroggins for taping and posting the event.
 | | Fracking Debate at Cornell U. - 2-4-14 |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Public Hearing on Proposed Oil and Gas
Regulations
New hearing dates:
February 10 Troy High School150 High St., Troy, PA February 12Warren County CourthouseWarren, PA
New deadline for
written comments:
March 14
Several groups have developed talking points. Find PennFuture's talking points here and another set of talking points here.
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Film Screening
"Triple Divide"February 8
2:00 p.m.
Campus Theater
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Screening sponsored by Shale Justice; free admission, donations requested.
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Film Screening
"The Ethics
of
Fracking"February 19
4 - 5:00 p.m.
McGowan School of Business
Burke Auditorium
Kings College
The film asks ethical and moral questions of the highly publicized gas extraction process of "fracking" by looking at it from many different perspectives including scientific, medical, religious, political, and advertising.
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Shalefield Justice
Spring Break
March 15-22 Krislund Camp Madisonburg, Pa. Shalefield Justice Spring Break (SJSB), inspired by the Mountain Justice Spring Break (MJSB) and Summer camps hosted in the coalfields of Appalachia will bring together members of extraction communities, college students, environmentalists and concerned residents who are interested in learning more about shale gas hydraulic fracturing and its infrastructure, as well as other forms of extreme energy extraction. Look here for more information and to register |
TAKE ACTION!
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February 20
Baltimore, Md.
Join hundreds of people--from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania to the Western mountains of Maryland to the D.C. suburbs and the Eastern Shore--in one
of the largest environmental rallies ever organized in downtown Baltimore to draw a region-wide line in the sand against Cove Point.
Look here for more information and to register.
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Join RDA!
We welcome your active participation and are in
need of help for special events, publicity, research, and other projects. Contact us
for details.
Membership levels: Adventurer..............$10 Explorer.................$20 Woodlander............$50 Guardian..............$100 Naturalist.............$500 Preservationist...$1,000
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 2014, please consider a tax-free contribution
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"NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMONWEALTH"
By ANN PINCA
More than one out of every three violations incurred by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation during natural gas operations in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2013 was related to a discharge of pollution to waters of the Commonwealth. Those violations earned Anadarko a seventh place "worst" statewide ranking for the number of discharge-related violations and a top-twenty ranking out of nearly 600 operators, placing Anadarko within the top three percent of violators statewide.
These disturbing statistics were revealed in a report released this week by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) on behalf of the Save the Loyalsock Coalition, a group of organizations working together to protect an area of the Loyalsock State Forest known as the Clarence Moore lands. Responsible Drilling Alliance (RDA) is a member of the Save the Loyalsock Coalition.
The Coalition requested the analysis, culled from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) data, to address concerns over Anadarko's proposed development of the Clarence Moore lands for natural gas production. Unfortunately, the report confirmed the Coalition's fears, concluding "there is a pattern of incidents that raises concern for the sensitive landscapes and waters of the Loyalsock and demands further consideration by DCNR."
The Coalition has shared the report with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as a resource for the consideration of Anadarko's proposal concerning the split estate Clarence Moore lands. Anadarko is part-owner of the subsurface mineral rights, but the DCNR has control over most of the surface land rights through an unusual deed arrangement. As RDA Board of Directors member and PennFuture staff attorney Mark Szybist notes, "The EIP's new report provides a new and important perspective on the impacts that the DCNR has to consider."
EIP report key findings include:
- For overall number of violations between 2009 and 2013, Anadarko has a top-twenty ranking out of nearly 600 operators, which places it within the top three percent of violators statewide.
- Anadarko has a history of discharge-related violations out of proportion to its overall violations. More than one out of every three of Anadarko's violations between 2009 and 2013 was due to a discharge to waters of the Commonwealth or a related offense. During this time period, Anadarko ranked seventh statewide for number of discharge-related violations.
- Given that the Clarence Moore Lands contain most of the watershed of Rock Run--a pristine, scenic, and "Exceptional Value" water of the Commonwealth--it is hard to reconcile Anadarko's history of discharges with DCNR's duty to ensure that the interest of the Commonwealth be protected and promoted.
- Anadarko's history of violations should give the DCNR reason to carefully scrutinize Anadarko's plans for natural gas development in the Clarence Moore Lands of the Loyalsock State Forest.
Adam Kron of EIP, attorney and lead report author, questioned how the DCNR could find the development of the Clarence Moore lands to be in the best interest of the Commonwealth and its citizens. That opinion was echoed by State Rep. Greg Vitali, minority chair, House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Rep. Vitali has toured the Clarence Moore lands and has expressed his opinion that any development, even without violations, will ruin the state forest.
Anadarko has maintained in the past that when it comes to developing natural gas, environmental stewardship and protection is their priority. Mary Wolf, government relations advisor for Anadarko and former Williamsport mayor, made that comment at a hearing last May at Lycoming College. Wolf referred to Anadarko's "strict 'eyes on' spill-prevention policy related to the transfer of fluids on location," noting that Anadarko recognizes the importance of public lands in Pennsylvania, including the Loyalsock State Forest, and will minimize surface disturbance.
But as Rep. Vitali concluded Thursday, "It's clear from this report that this cannot be done without violations. Violations are a part of this process; discharges are a part of this process." Vitali hopes that the Corbett administration uses the tools it has at its disposal to prevent the substantial degradation that natural gas development will inflict on the Clarence Moore lands.
Local resident Barbara Jarmoska
shares that hope. As vice president and treasurer of RDA, she has been "working to protect the land" that she loves. "Life in rural Pennsylvania has been drastically changed by the gas industry," said Jarmoska. It's a change she felt very personally when her children and grandchildren moved away "off the shale" for a safer life. Having seen first-hand the impacts of the natural gas industry on the land, Jarmoska questions why the pristine lands and streams of the Clarence Moore lands would be "on the chopping block."
DCNR's mission is to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania's natural resources for present and future generations' enjoyment. Last May, Wolf said on Anadarko's behalf, "When we and DCNR come to an agreement, you can be assured that it will be in the best interests of the Commonwealth."
But after analyzing Anadarko's violation data, EIP report author Adam Kron has a different opinion. "If Anadarko's plans are in anyone's interest, it seems unlikely it's the Commonwealth's."
Listen to an audio link of the news event here.
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All images in this article are of Anadarko's drilling operations in the
Tiadaghton State Forest. IMAGES: ANN PINCA
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www.keepitwildrda.org 
Keep It Wild Hike
Jacoby Falls
February 16
11:00 a.m.
Last May, a large group of all ages hiked with RDA to Jacoby Falls. Join the hike this month to see the Loyalsock State Forest dressed in winter white. The hike is approximately 3.2 total miles and begins at the Cotner Farm on Wallis Run Road.
Look here to see photographer Richard Karp's photos from May
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The forest in winter. IMAGE: ANN PINCA
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Will Corbett Lift the Drilling Moratorium?
By ANN PINCA
Earlier this week, Governor Tom Corbett presented his 2014-15 budget to the General Assembly. As expected, he touted the benefits of Pennsylvania's shale gas, saying, "It's great for Pennsylvania, and even greater for the United States." But what he didn't reveal about shale gas was his plan to balance the budget with royalties from additional state forest and state park leases. Maybe his specially hired speech writer told him not to tell, and for good reason, since fierce editorials began after the plan was discovered.
It's interesting that an apparently image-conscious Corbett in an election year took the trouble to hire a former Bush speech writer, yet included such a contentious plan to raise revenue. Perhaps the Governor didn't hear about the latest poll conducted by Franklin & Marshall College, where 68% of the participants--all were registered Pennsylvania voters--were opposed to opening more state forest land to drilling. Maybe he doesn't know that of the remaining seven Democratic gubernatorial candidates, all but one have publicly supported a moratorium on drilling in public parks and forests. Maybe he thought his announcement a few days earlier of the Enhance Penn's Woods project, a 2-year, $200 million effort to repair and upgrade state parks and natural areas, would make up for the new public land leases.
Apparently, it doesn't.
Corbett's plan would end a three-year moratorium on leases of public lands and would open the door for drilling in state parks for the first time. The $75 million raised would go to the general fund the first year; subsequent income in following years would benefit the parks and forests--maybe.
Recent articles by Trib Total Media staffwriter Timothy Puko detail how Gov. Corbett is following former Gov. Ed Rendell's precedent of using oil and gas lease money to fund budget needs, spending it almost as quickly as it comes in. This is not how it was meant to be. The 1955 Oil and Gas Lease Fund Act was created to insure that rents and royalties from oil and gas leases on Commonwealth-owned lands (other than game and fish lands) were kept in a fund to be used exclusively for conservation, dams, or flood control. In other words, revenue generated by public lands is meant to benefit those lands. Many feel this is especially important now with the impacts of shale gas extraction in Pennsylvania. Former DCNR Secretary John Quigley writes in his blog that lifting the moratorium on public forests and parks to fund current budget needs is short-sighted and equivalent to "burning the furniture to heat the house."
Just last week, State Rep. Greg Vitali introduced House Bill 1500 to reverse this process, calling to restore the original oil and gas lease act. In addition, the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation (PEDF) filed a suit in
April 2012 against Gov. Corbett and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding further leasing of state lands for Marcellus Shale gas drilling, citing the misappropriation of funds from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund Act as one of its reasons for initiating litigation. The PEDF also looks to prevent additional leasing, citing the 2010 DCNR study determining that after the original leasing of 700,000 acres of public lands, only lands too environmentally sensitive for drilling remain.
Corbett's Energy Executive Patrick Henderson was quick to argue that the new executive order will not affect sensitive areas since it will not allow additional surface impacts and will only apply to public lands adjacent to existing drilling sites on either private or public land. Those familiar with drilling impacts insist otherwise, since increased drilling near additional lands still brings concerns about air quality, water quality and quantity, and disturbances from increased noise and lights.
A recent Pennlive editorial suggests that Corbett's new plan may be a "consolation prize" for the oil and gas industry after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision overturned key parts of Act 13. That idea may not be far from the truth based on comments made by Louis D'Amico, president and executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA). As reported in Puko's article, PIOGA and the Marcellus Shale Coalition both support Corbett's plan, which D'Amico referred to as "highly justified" and "way overdue."
D'Amico also said it's "unlikely that a drilling company would want to work in the most sensitive areas." Maybe he should talk about that with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and their proposed plans for the Loyalsock State Forest.
 All images in this article are of Pennsylvania General Energy Company's operations in the Tiadaghton State Forest. BY ANN PINCA
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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 Jim Slotterback - 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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Contact RDA with questions and comments using either the address below, by email at responsibledrillingalliance@gmail.com or by phone at 888-332-1244 (toll free).
Donations can be sent by mail to: Responsible Drilling Alliance, P.O. Box 502, Williamsport, PA 17703
Thank you for your support!
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