OSHA Proposed Crystalline Silica Rule to Reduce Exposures

August 23, 2013 - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated the permissible exposure limits (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica from 100 micrograms per cubic meter in air to 50 micrograms per cubic meter in air. This new standard is now consistent with the National Institute of Occupation Health and Safety (NIOSH) recommendation.   A recommended action level was set at 25  micrograms per cubic meter.

Public hearing scheduled for  March 4, 2014.
Comments published in August 23, 2013 copy of Federal Registry for comments.

Visit
www.osha.gov/silica

Training
Health and Safety Training and Mine Safety Training

OPERATION GROUNDSWELL: BACKPACKING WITH A PURPOSE Guatemala

OPERATION GROUNDSWELL: BACKPACKING WITH A PURPOSE

Operation Groundswell is looking for students who want to get out of the classroom and into the world for some hands-on learning and meaningful volunteer experience. Join us this winter in Guatemala where we will:

• Go off the grid on a journey up into the remote village of Rio Negro, site of an infamous massacre in the early 1980s
• Experience Mayan culture first-hand by living and working collaboratively on a community-requested project with indigenous families
• Visit the notorious Pavon Prison to learn about the ongoing fight for justice that continues decades after Guatemala’s civil war
• Raft on the shores of the Lanquin and Cahabon Rivers and swim in the natural turquoise and pristine waters of Semuc Champey

If you're into cultural exchange, fulfilling community service, and off-the-beaten path adventure, apply for our Guatemala Winter Break program before December 9th!

Can’t travel this winter or want to travel elsewhere? We also have a number of programs in the spring and summer all around the world! 

Check out our map of where we go. 

 www.operationgroundswell.com

Brian L. Grove DCNR’s Deputy Secretary for Administration

"Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Friday announced the appointment of Brian L. Grove as DCNR’s Deputy Secretary for Administration effective October 28.  

Grove previously served as Senior Director of Corporate Development for Chesapeake Energy. 

The Deputy for Administration is responsible for all budget, human resource and technological support for the department, including providing direction and oversight to the Bureaus of Administrative Services, Human Resources and Information Technology Services.

The position also oversees developing, updating and implementing the agency Continuity of Operations Plan; developing and managing strategic funding plans; ensuring strategic IT operations and plans are implemented; overseeing DCNR innovation ideas and plans; leading agency wide projects; preparing and presenting a variety of reports on tactical and strategic issues; and briefing and advising the Secretary on priority issues and initiatives.

His other work experiences include functioning as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne); Executive Director for Back Mountain Recreation; Deputy Director of Operations for Gov. Tom Ridge and Director of the Office of Public Liaison for Governor’s Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker.  Grove has also performed in several community leadership roles, such as service as the Director of the Wyoming County and the Wyoming Valley United Way programs.

He is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Tunkhannock, PA. "

Source - http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2013/10/brian-grove-appointed-dcnr-deputy-for.html

National Drug Take Back Day Lackawanna County Pennsylvania

National Drug Take Back Day Sites 

Several Lackawanna County law enforcement agencies are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) seventh annual “National Drug Take Back Day” set for Saturday, October 26, from 10 AM to 2 PM at locations throughout the area.   

The sites and addresses of the Police Departments and State agencies participating in the program are:  Jefferson Township Police Department, 731 Cliff Drive; 

Jermyn Borough Police, 440 Jefferson Ave; 

Jessup Police Department, 395 Lane Street;

 and Moscow Borough Police Department, 123 Van Brunt Street. 

Olyphant Police Department, 604 Park Street; 

Pennsylvania State Police - Troop R, Dunmore, 85 Keystone Industrial Park; 

and Scranton Police Department, 100 S. Washington Avenue.

This program is completely anonymous, and it is designed to protect youth from getting drugs and to stop the pollution of the environment. “Drug Take Back Day” represents a safe, convenient and responsible means of medicine disposal. 

The types of medications that will be collected are:  over the counter, controlled substance or prescription required drugs, tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids.  The public does not have to take medications out of the original package or container or separate anything.    Intravenous solutions, syringes, needles and other  medications will not be accepted.The Prevention Staff from the Lackawanna Susquehanna Office of Drug & Alcohol Programs will be at each site providing drug and alcohol education/treatment information and resources.      

Support a Clean Environment - We all Live Downstream

http://www.pacleanwater.org

New Monthly Feature - Webcasts Podcasts and Webinars Training for Professionals

Because of the importance of getting solid information and continuing education, B.F. Environmental Consultants will be providing information on webinars and webcasts that are critical to environmental professionals and professional in the areas of water treatment, design, building, engineering, alternative energy,  and environmental management.  The following is a partial listing of our available webcasts:

Commercial Solar Power Systems 
Fossil fuels won’t last forever and using them often pollutes our world. Solar energy is renewable; it’s clean; it’s free. You can lead the way to a future where solar energy power systems provide electricity in clean, efficient ways.


Design of Water Efficient Buildings This interactive webcast will discuss approaches for conserving water including water efficient building technologies, simple systems for recycling and reusing water on site, and how to drastically decrease the demands on shared supplies. This course will also discuss the many great environmental and economic benefits to water efficient buildings. We will conclude with details on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria for water efficiency, plus additional case study examples on innovations in wastewater treatment and reuse.

Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction
Post-disaster redevelopment is essential to create (or recreate) a disaster-resilient community. In this Webcast, we will provide you with disaster recovery information. You will get strategies for economic rebound, housing recovery, health and social services, infrastructure, land use, and environmental restoration.

Introduction to Wetlands
This interactive webcast will provide a basic understanding of wetland ecology, types, functions and management. We will discuss the economic, environmental, and social importance of wetlands. This course emphasizes wetland ecology, wildlife needs, enhancement of wetland functions, wetland determination, design and implementation, management, and monitoring considerations. 


Petroleum and Natural Gas: Mud Logging Sensors and Modern EDR Systems 
Technology advances with the passage of time. The existence of portable and digital processors provides proof of this advancement in technology. There is a rising demand for enhanced equipment such as geo-pressure control and administration, contributing to the need for an additional degree of drilling machinery monitoring or observing, mud circulation pressure, volume, and flow ratio sensors. This course discusses drilling data monitoring and drilling data analysis, the types of recorders used to monitor, rotary system management and circulating system management, and properties of mud.

Downcycle, Upcycle, Precycle, and Recycle: Waste Prevention and Reuse Webcast
This interactive webcast explores the concepts of downcycling, upcycling, precycling, and recycling. In an era of resource conservation, the idea of reuse is paramount to meeting sustainability goals. We will introduce green-minded professionals to the concepts of downcycling (reclaiming), upcycling (refashioning), precycling (reducing waste), and recycling (reuse). We will focus on the environmental, economic, and social benefits of these four types of waste prevention. In addition, we will look at the relationship between waste reuse and technological advancement. 

Irrigation Practices for Commercial and Residential SitesThis Webcast is a full-spectrum discussion of irrigation practices. We'll start with history, discuss fundamentals, move on to proper design, and finish with alternative approaches to traditional irrigation methods. You'll receive valuable information on effective, efficient irrigation methodology for all residential and commercial needs.

Over 30 other webcasts currently available

Webinars - Scheduled (November and December 2013)

November 7, 2013  HVAC Systems Controls - November 7, 2013 - 12 pm to 3 pm.
Webinar will cover essential information regarding the control systems utilized with HVAC systems. After an introduction to controls, the webinar will cover numerous related topics, including control strategies, types of control systems, sensors, controlled devices, and various controllers. The webinar will focus primarily on equipment involved in temperature, humidity and air flow. 

November 14, 2013- Transit-Oriented Development- November 14, 2013, 12 pm - 3 pm EST
This three-hour webinar introduces the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which is a walkable, high-density, compact, mixed-use form of development typically focused within close proximity of a transit station. Course focuses on TOD social, economic, and environmental implications in terms of transit ridership, property values, congestion relief, pollution reduction, community place making, and other aspects of transportation and urban policy. Course addresses potential negative consequences of TOD including trampling neighborhood character, gentrification, and increasing urban sprawl. Course concludes with snapshots of successful TOD case studies.  (New Webinar)

November 21, 2013 - Emergency Electric Power, November 21, 2013, 12pm-2pm EST
Webinar covers information regarding emergency electric power- primarily with respect to emergency and standby internal combustion diesel engine-generators. This webinar is an introduction to emergency and standby power systems and includes a review of practical applications.

December 19, 2013 - HVAC Design, Thursday, December 19, 2013, 1pm-4pm EST
Webinar will cover essential design information related to HVAC systems. Typical HVAC equipment and systems are covered, including key control concepts that provide reliable system operation. Webinar will be comprehensive in nature, reviewing most common types of air handling systems utilized today. 

More
Online Training Courses
LEED AP / Green AssociateTraining Courses (Credential Maintenance)

We Have Helped over 1.2 Million Private Well Owners Private-well-owner.org

The following contains background information related to common drinking water sources of contamination, acute and chronic health problems, health advisories, and aesthetic problems associated with drinking water. We have put this website together in order to inform the public on a variety of topics and assist you with your water testing needs and information related to certified baseline water testing throughout the country. The Water Research Center is an outreach programs developed by Mr. Brian Oram. This guide has been divided into a number of sections that covers general water quality problems, such as hardness, iron, manganese, bacteria, odor, and corrosion; more significant issues related to other metals, organics, and radiological is also provided. Because of Black Shale Development throughout the United States, we have provided links to some videos and presentations we have conducted on this topic and others that will help you better understand the process.  We have also help many groundwater guardian programs, the Penn State Master Well Owner Program, an advocate for private well construction standards, and an advocate for a statewide program with a public/private partnership to fix private wells in the state.

A Quick Note- I am asked if I am pro or against natural gas development - My answer is NO. I am pro-landowner rights, protecting private well owners, solid energy policies, conservation, regulations, fining individuals and companies that do the wrong thing, and maintaining PA as a great place to raise a family.

Why does this website exist? The main reason is that most private wells and small water systems are not regulated by the EPA or the DEP in a given state and in Pennsylvania about 50% of private wells produce water that does not meet a primary health standard, i.e., Could Make the Well Owner Sick. Therefore, it is up to the individual private well owner to ensure that the water is safe to consume and use. In addition, the regulation or licensing of water treatment specialists is not via a state licensing program, but typically through an industry certification program. This website, under a variety of URLS,  has been up and running for over 20 years with the primary mission of providing free information on this topic to well owners. We have had over 1,200,000 unique visitors and many private well owners from throughout the world use this portal.

Thanks

Brian Oram, PG

Other sites

http://www.pacleanwater.org
http://www.bfenvironmental.com

Other Non-Profits Websites
Biomass - http://www.pnercd.org

Opposing Senate Bill 994

PA Municipal Authorities Assn. Joins Chesapeake Bay Foundation In Opposing SB 994

"The PA Municipal Authorities Association this week wrote to members of the Senate expressing its opposition to the Senate Bill 994(Vogel-R-Beaver) nutrient reduction proposal saying it does not have a funding source to make the program work. PMAA joins the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA and other groups opposing the legislation. The text of the letter follows-- “The Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), at their recent annual conference, took a position opposing the current version of SB 994, P.N. 1209.  The biggest concern expressed by our members with SB 994 was the lack of a delineated funding source.  “In addition, they expressed concern over potential inequity if a funding source such as a “flush tax” would be implemented.  Finally, they felt a minimum 10-year provision of credits from a sewage treatment plant would be too long, instead preferring a 3-5 year term. “PMAA represents over 720 authorities in Pennsylvania providing sewage treatment, drinking water, solid waste disposal, recycling and other services to over six million citizens.  In particular, PMAA represents many sewer authorities that invested millions of dollars to comply with EPA and DEP requirement to reduce nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. “In total, authorities and municipally-owned sewer plants are estimated to spend $1.4 billion to meet their mandated nutrient reductions for the Bay." For More on this topic Original Blog Post Senate Bill 994 - Competitive Bidding - Low-Cost Watershed Nutrient Reduction -In Act providing for the creation of a major watershed improvement program, for establishment of a verified TMDL parameter credit program, for the powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and for completion of a study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee Comments 1. Again our focus should be on controlling - phosphate, solids, BOD, oxygen demand, and ammonia.  2. Manure is a asset - not a waste and it is a potential biofuel. Lets not be short cited on this issue.

Geoscience Graduates' Employment and Education Plans

Geoscience Currents #80: New Geoscience Graduates' Employment and Education Plans, Spring 2013

Alexandria, VA - Following the 2013 National Geoscience Student Exit survey, which collected over 400 responses from 71 geoscience departments nationwide, Currents #80 examines the answers of students that articulated plans following graduation. At the time of the survey the majority of doctoral candidates had found jobs within the geosciences, and 43% of master's candidates were similarly employed. The majority of bachelor's candidates were still looking for employment, or indicated plans to attend graduate school.

The survey also looked at how recently employed geoscience graduates at all levels found employment, including using personal contacts, faculty referrals, on-campus recruiting and on-campus university career centers. For the detailed analysis of survey responses on this topic go to http://bit.ly/H5AWTm to download Geoscience Currents #80. The 2013 Status of Recent Geoscience Graduates can be accessed online at: http://bit.ly/GzvfvM or a paper copy can be purchased
at: http://amzn.to/1eo1eva. For more information about the National Geoscience Student Exit Survey please contact Carolyn Wilson at cwilson@agiweb.org or 703-379-2480.

 ###

The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

Unconventional Natural Gas (Marcellus Shale, Utica, Barnett, etc) and Petrochemical Web Portal - great resources and references for the professional- Marcellus Shale, Utica, Hydraulic Fracturing, Well Construction, Drilling and Much More.

Drilling water wells foil the frackers

Drilling water wells is one way to foil the frackers
October 13, 2013 12:21 am

By Anya Litvak / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Source - Full Article - http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/drilling-water-wells-is-one-way-to-foil-the-frackers-707410/

My thoughts - Personally this is a bad approach.

" It's been called the "water well gambit" -- the 11th-hour drilling of a private water well on the very spot a company has staked for commercial gas production. Sometimes the tactic used by landowners as a way to stop, or at least delay, gas development works. Sometimes it doesn't. Pittsburgh-based EQT Corp. is hoping it's the latter case as the company battles landowners for the bounty that's found underneath their properties.

The oil and gas company is involved in two lawsuits with landowners in West Virginia who, the company insists, acted with "unclean hands" by sinking water wells in an area where EQT wanted to tap the Marcellus Shale. The blocking strategy has been used in West Virginia for years, according to David McMahon, a West Virginia attorney who co-runs a website counseling landowners on matters such as how to stop unwanted gas activity.

In a battle with oil and gas companies, "You don't have much on your side," he said.

"They've got the money, they've got the experience, they've got the lawyers, and the element of surprise. And so one of the ways you can stand up for your rights, to have some reasonable use of your surface, is to drill a water well," he said. "Some gas companies may think that's not fair. We don't think fairness has ever been the standard on what gas companies can do to surface owners."

Mr. McMahon's website, the West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Organization, offers tip sheets with titles such as, "You probably can refuse (or maybe block) a horizontal well on your land."

Frequently, the landowners who take his advice don't own the mineral rights under their property. So-called severed estates -- where land, coal, and oil and gas may each belong to different entities -- are common in Western Pennsylvania and in West Virginia. In both states, the interests of the surface owners are subservient to those of the mineral owners, which means gas companies can use land they don't own in order to extract the gas below it. But landowners who don't stand to benefit financially from gas development also don't want the land damage and nuisance that come along with it.

Some may not be entirely opposed to gas wells but they want more control over the placement of a 10-acre well pad that roars for months during construction, drilling and fracking operations.

Such is the case in EQT's most recent lawsuit, involving a 937-acre farm in West Union, W.Va., where the company wants to drill five Marcellus wells. The landowners -- three related families -- want to build a log cabin on a hill there. This summer, they drilled two water wells to serve the planned cabin.

In a lawsuit filed this month in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of West Virginia, EQT claimed the families drilled the water wells "solely for the purpose of attempting to prevent EQT from rightfully drilling gas wells" there, since West Virginia law prohibits gas wells within 250 feet of existing water wells.

EQT says the landowners acted with "malice aforethought" and asked the court to order the water wells be plugged, to direct the landowners not to build a cabin there, and to award the company punitive damages.

EQT spokeswoman Linda Robertson said the company wouldn't comment on the lawsuit but offered a general statement that said, "From time to time, natural gas producers encounter situations, such as this, where landowners do not own the oil and gas rights beneath their property.

"Regrettably, we must rely on the court to provide a decision in this particular matter." Legal result has been mixed

EQT has been through this before and may be emboldened by its experience with a similar problem last year. Another set of West Virginia landowners drilled a water well within days of the start of the company's operations on their land, and EQT sued using nearly identical language to its current complaint.

"They snuck in there and drilled a water well solely to keep us from drilling our gas well, period. That's the only reason they drilled it," EQT's attorney David Hendrickson told a federal judge during a hearing April 2012. Meanwhile, the company had already shelled out more than $280,000 in preparation to drill.

William Thurman, a West Virginia lawyer who represented the defendants at the time, was having none of it.

First, landowners don't sneak onto their own properties, he argued. And second, "The reason for the lawful well is not relevant." In other words, the motive doesn't matter.

It's an argument he made successfully in a 2010 case when landowners drilled several water wells on empty property to prevent Diversified Resources, a West Virginia-based company, from drilling a Marcellus well on their land. The state court judge in that case ruled it makes no difference that the landowners intentionally tried to block gas development. They drilled a legal water well, and it would stand.

But the federal court judge handling EQT's case last year didn't see it that way. The defendants were ordered to plug their water well so that EQT could proceed with its gas well.

Mr. Thurman said he's handled more than half a dozen such cases where landowners drilled water wells or erected structures within 200 feet of a proposed gas well to stop the drilling.

Some clients came to him having gotten the idea from Mr. Mahon's website. Some came in search of a solution and Mr. Thurman supplied the idea.

These days, though, he said drilling water wells to stop gas development "probably won't work," because of a 2011 West Virginia law that spells out exactly when existing features must be in place before drilling begins. A similar provision is included in Pennsylvania's Act 13 legislation. Only water wells and structures in place at the time that the gas company submits its permit application to the Department of Environmental Protection and the landowner count toward the setbacks.

The Pennsylvania experience

In 2011, the Baron Group, a Pittsburgh-based oil and gas company, applied for permits to drill wells on a 136-acre parcel of land in South Huntingdon, Westmoreland County.

The landowner, who doesn't own the mineral rights below the land, objected to the permit.

When the gas company revealed the location of the proposed well, the landowner moved a trailer into the area. The company adapted and got a permit for another location, outside of the required setback for the trailer.

But just before gas drilling was scheduled to begin, the landowner hired a water well driller and sunk a well in the new location. With less than 200 feet between the water well and the proposed gas well, the landowner thought the gas company would be prohibited from drilling.

"What struck me in that case is that the surface owner readily admitted that they drilled the well for the sole purpose of defeating the oil and gas well and their argument was it did not matter what their motives were, the statute said what the statute said," said Steve Silverman, an attorney with Babst Calland who represented the Baron Group before the state Environmental Hearing Board.

Perhaps more striking was that the landowner in that case was Tenaska, a Nebraska-based energy company that drills for oil and gas and had plans for a natural gas-fired power plant in South Huntingdon.

The Environmental Hearing Board judge didn't address the issue of motive. Instead, because the Baron Group drilled its oil and gas well before Tenaska had a chance to connect its water well to the trailer, the Baron Group got the legal advantage. Tenaska was ordered to plug its water well.

This was the first and only time that a case involving the water well gambit had come before the state Environmental Hearing Board, according to its chief justice. The issue isn't as developed in Pennsylvania courts as in West Virginia, but it's starting to show up in other legal documents across the Marcellus footprint.

About six months ago, Steve Townsend, a Pittsburgh-based landowners' attorney, began to notice a new clause in leases proposed to his clients. It was a promise that the landowner wouldn't build anything within 200 feet of what's already on the property.

"Anytime that something is bad for the industry, they just remedy it by putting it into the lease," Mr. Townsend said.

Anya Litvak: alitvak@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1455.
First Published October 13, 2013 12:00 am  

My take

1. Shows the need for surface owners rights.

2.  This approach is bad for all.

3. In PA - I have seen this done with water wells and septic systems.

4. This will cause a backlash that will permit giving and getting more waivers to the industry.

New Subduction Zone May Close Atlantic Ocean

EARTH: New Subduction Zone May Close Atlantic Ocean

Alexandria, VA - Throughout the history of Earth, supercontinents have formed and ocean basins have opened and closed over timescales of 300 million to 500 million years. But scientists haven't found direct evidence of the in-between phase - an ocean basin that was opening, starting instead to close - until now.
Thanks to new high-resolution surveys of the seafloor, scientists think they have evidence of that process starting in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. If they are right, this nascent subduction zone could close the Atlantic Ocean - in roughly 200 million years.

Geoscientists have hypothesized the existence of an earthquake-causing, volcano-forming subduction zone along the Portuguese coast. Now, based on new analyses of a series of faults and regional tensions, Joao Duarte, the principal investigator, suggests that his study supports that hypothesis and identifies the main tectonic mechanisms. However, this conclusion has garnered some controversy from fellow scientists, mainly because it may still be too soon to tell.

Read more about how passive margins may become active margins in this month's issue of EARTH Magazine: http://bit.ly/1bV6YLU. For other stories on Ireland's volcanic winters, how Northern Hemisphere sulfate emissions shifted tropical precipitation patterns, and the feldspar linings of clouds, visit the digital bookstand at: http://www.earthmagazine.org .

                                     ###

Keep up to date with the latest happenings in Earth, energy and environment news with EARTH magazine online at http://www.earthmagazine.org/. Published by the American Geosciences Institute, EARTH is your source for the science behind the headlines.

###

The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of 50 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

 

Fracking and Your Health Speakers Series

Fracking and Your Health  Speakers Series

Wednesday, October 9th  2013
7:00 pm
Lawrenceville Moose
120 51st. St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
724-485-9835

Presentation and Q&A with workers from the shalefields
Speakers will address the jobs in the Marcellus Shale

Free to the public!Please come and bring a friend and family members!

I think the event sponsors are  Marcellus Protest along with Clean Water Action, Marcellus Outreach Butler, PennEnvironment, and Sierra Club-Allegheny Group.

Comments
1. Tried to get more detail on the speakers - could not find.
2. I did find link to article on a past event - http://www.observer-review.com/speakers-claim-fracking-caused-health-problems-cms-3729

From this article
1. Rick Sawyer, former gas field truck driver.
"Air bad - birds fall out of the sky.
2. Joe Giovannini, a Pennsylvania resident- states he evacuated home - drilling impacts - wells 400 feet away and got stage four heart and lung cancer..   He also reported - water contamination, open sores on feet, and feet turned red and hands purple and blue.

"He said after initially going to the hospital, the doctors said nothing was wrong. He added he went to his family’s doctor in January of this year and had a seizure 60 days later. Giovannini said he was admitted to the hospital and ultimately diagnosed with cancer"
3.  Randy Moyer,- highlighted rashes and bodily reactions to chemicals. Sawyer added Moyer only worked for a gas company for three months.
Dr - present was Dr. Larysa Dyrszka - affiliate member of Physicians Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy.
"She said fracking causes air pollution, exposure to radiation, and accidents. "

"She also spoke about how industry workers are also likely to die, but not necessarily from health conditions" 

Blog Owner Comment-

"It is called Hydraulic Fracturing"

"Seems to be a lively event -  All education is critical 
My comment - I think it is critical to remember we are the consumers of energy and we waste 58% of what we generate.  We have been happy to use and consume the energy we create and then quietly bury the waste until the production is occurring in our backyards."

Another event

SAVE THE DATE!! Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Butler!

Dr. Anthony Ingraffea,
Dwight C. Baum Professor of Engineering
at Cornell University, on the science, safety and
debate over hydraulic fracturing -- or
"fracking" -- for natural gas.

Recommendation

Get baseline testing

Support fact based education

Green Living Products for Home and Office  - This store provides access to cleaning products, lighting features, water treatment systems, air purification systems, weatherization kits and much more for your home and office.

 Unconventional Natural Gas (Marcellus Shale, Utica, Barnett, etc) and Petrochemical Web Portal - great resources and references for the professional- Marcellus Shale, Utica, Hydraulic Fracturing, Well Construction, Drilling and Much More.

Bill Mountain Steam Cleaning Service in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Truck Mounted Steam Cleaning-. We can utilize other systems for cleaning carpets such as encapsulation, however, our main system that we use everyday is our state of the art $45,000 truck mounted steam extraction system. Our system has the gold rating with the Carpet and Rug Institutes Seal of Approval program. The highest rating in the industry. We won’t leave any soil attracting residue and your carpets will dry in hours, not days.

Step 1: Pre-Inspection

This is a very important first step because by inspecting the carpets spots, stains, and traffic patterns. We can determine the best course of action on restoring your carpets and a plan for keeping them both looking good and functioning properly from now on. We will be asking questions like how old the carpet is, when was the last cleaning performed as well as what method was used.

Step 2: Commercial Pre-Vacuum

Close to 80% of what is in your carpets is loose dry soil. It’s hard to see, but it’s in there and abrading the carpets fibers which causes it to wear prematurely. We do a thorough pre-vacuuming to remove as much of that dry soil as possible. This greatly enhances our overall cleaning.

Step 3: Pre-Spray

We apply an agent that breaks down the soil and suspends it away from the carpet fiber to make it easier to extract out.

Step 4: Pre-spot

Any spot and stains are treated before being thoroughly flushed out.

Step 5: Pre-groom/Agitation

This helps to work the emulsifying solution into the carpet fiber and also helps to loosen the soil.

Step 6: Soil Extraction and Rinse

Using our very powerful truck mounted cleaning system we rinse and extract the soils and residues from the carpet leaving it residue free and nearly dry.

Step 7: Neutralizer

We leave no sticky residues behind which only attracts airborne particles and re-soils your carpeting very quickly. This helps to keep your carpet cleaner longer.

Step 8: Post Spot

Any stains that remain after extraction will get special attention with our arsenal of spot and stain removal agents. While some stains maybe permanent and difficult to guarantee their complete removal we are usually pretty successful in removing many different type of stains. This would be a good time to consider reapplying carpet protector which provides a protective barrier to the fibers and will keep stains from becoming more permanent.

Step 9: Post Groom

To remove wand marks and footmarks as well as set carpet pile for drying we do a final grooming that stands the carpet fiber up.

Step 10: Speed Dry

The use of high velocity air movers are used to speed up the drying process. Turning on the air conditioning on hot days, and the heat on cold days will also aid in speeding up the drying.

They just completed the carpet cleaning for our office - Great Job ! We highly recommend!

Looking for a gift - check out the Holiday Shopping Portal

Bermese Mountain Dog Dreaming In His Sleep

Great video of a Bermese Mountain Dog puppy sleeping, talking in his sleep, and running in his sleep. He must be dreaming of something good that’s all I have to say. Adorable video with lots and lots of cuteness. I love these dogs but they get so huge.  To see the video - go to the Mountain Blog.

Green Living Products for Home and Office  - This store provides access to cleaning products, lighting features, green cleaning products, water treatment systems, air purification systems, weatherization kits and much more for your home and office.

Soils Training Course - Where is the Water Table? Pennsylvania

Advanced Soil Morphology for Engineers, PA Sewage Enforcement Officers, Geologists, and other Professionals.-

Where is the Water Table?

The course will provide an introduction into the environmental applications of soil science and soil morphology. During the presentation portion of the course, we will discuss the properties and characteristics of a soil, soil formation/ transformation, and soil hydrology. During the field portion of the course, we will be learning how to describe some of the physical properties of a soil (soil texture, structure, consistency, color), identifying soil horizons, and make interpretations related to the movement of water through the soil profile as it relates to on-site wastewater disposal and stormwater management.   The major topics that will be discussed will be “what are and the types of water tables" and "where is the seasonal high water table", role of redoximorphic features, and using soil morphological data to guide your project.

We had a great course over 9 professionals.  A mixture of engineers, geologists, and facility managers.

First part of the work was a half day discussion about soils and soil science with applications to stormwater management and land-based disposal and the second half of the day was in the field describing soils and identifying episaturation and endosaturation.  We also discussed the difference between infiltration and percolation testing and provide an introduction and professional discussion of Darcy's Law.

For more information about this course or other training programs in Soils, Geology, Engineering, or Health and Safety.

http://www.water-research.net/course/soilsciencetraining.htm

Instructor

Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist  / Soil Scientist
Professional Education Credits - Issued by Wilkes University
Continuing Education Program - Get added to the mailing list for our courses through Wilkes University - http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1703.asp