The Need to Work as a Community - a Shale Gas, Energy and Environmental Perspective

Need to Work as a Community

by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
The Water Research Center and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

I am not an insider in the natural gas development process, but I am a citizen and professional geologist from Pennsylvania.  I grew-up  in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in the middle of the largest Anthracite Coal Fields in the World and became exposed to environmental issues while playing and living on abandon coal mine lands and near acid impacted streams.  After attending Wilkes University and Pennsylvania State University, I worked as an environmental consultant and then ran a research laboratory at Wilkes University.   After 23 years of running and conducting research, I decided to concentrate on my private consulting practice and other public education programs through B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. and the Water Research Center.  For the record, I have no master service agreements with any natural gas company and the views posted here are mine. 

The phrase “Working as a Community” comes out of my talk titled “Getting the Waters Tested- The Marcellus Shale Factor”.  The development of the Marcellus and Utica Shale has brought to the surface a little known fact that up to 50 % of private well owners are drinking water that would not meet one or more drinking water standards and the existing private wells are improperly placed and poorly constructed.   These pre-existing problems include corrosive and aggressive water, iron, manganese, bacteria, arsenic, salt, saline water, barium, strontium, some organic compounds, radon, and yes Methane Gas.   This fact,   in combination, with inadequate baseline testing has resulted in a significant amount of confusion, misinformation, and un-needed delays to meet the needs of a private well owner.  We need to start working together to move forward as a community.  To start working as a community, I am recommending the following path:

1. Join the Pennsylvania Forum for Private Well Owners (It is not about shale or energy-it is about groundwater quality)- Part of the solution – must include fixing private wells.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/244338025659838/

2. If you have baseline testing data, submit the data to the Citizens Groundwater and Surfacewater Database or if you do not know what the data means you can ask for help –Assistance is Free.

http://www.water-research.net/privatewellPA.htm

3. Participate in the Private Well Owner and Watershed Survey for Pennsylvania- (Another Free Program)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMG6RQ3

4. Host a local Community Workshop and Education Session for Private Well Owners and for Royalty Owners and Watershed Groups it may be worth helping to Develop a Local Watershed Monitoring Program.

http://www.bfenvironmental.com/natural-gas-exploration.php

5. Get the facts – A well by well review of the data from Dimock, PA – A NO Spin Zone – Fact based Reviews Only.

http://www.water-research.net/dimockwellwater.htm

This is a positive step in the Right Direction.  It is time to start working together.   It is time to get educated, informed, and start working together.  Free information can be found on any of our portals and all of work is funded by us.    For a free booklet on drinking water quality for private well owners – visit our webportal and download a free copy of the 2009 booklet.  We are anticipating a new booklet will be available in a few months.

Thanks for your time,

Brian Oram, PG

Citizen of Pennsylvania

bfenviro@ptd.net

Community Information Presentations Concerning: The Water We Drink, Private Wells and Marcellus Shale Community Education

Community Information Presentations Concerning:

The Water We Drink

Open to the Public,
Reserve a seat with an email to WATER@ELROSE.ORG or call 570 663 2346

Date: Thursday September 1, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PA
Location: Silver Lake Municipal Building, Wilkes Barre Tpke

Brackney, PA 18812

Three Speakers from Wilkes University



Institute for Energy and Environmental Research of Northeastern Pennsylvania



Brian Oram- Professional Geologist - B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

Title: Getting the Water Tested- The Marcellus Shale Factor
http://www.water-research.net/
This is a review of the local geology and baseline water quality for the region. The program discusses challenges that face private well owners prior to or outside of issues related to Marcellus Shale and additional concerns related to Marcellus Shale development. The presentation will highlight the available water quality data for the region, how groundwater can be protected, actions that can be taken by citizens, resources that are available for citizens, and general information on baseline testing for your private water source and water resources.
This talk will be a preliminary presentation of our work in Susquehanna county and will demonstrate the differences in the analysis data from continuous monitoring and grab sampling. We will also discuss how a citizen’s monitoring program can supplement larger programs.



Dr. Tom Barnard – IEER Director: Water Monitoring in Susquehanna County
At Wilkes University, the IEER is building a database of historical and ongoing surface water monitoring programs in the region potentially impacted by Marcellus gas production activities. The sponsoring programs include the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, United States Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, county conservation districts, researchers and volunteer watershed associations. We are using geospatial analysis tools to analyze how watershed characteristics, land uses, and human activities impact water quality. These will be used to evaluate the ability of current monitoring programs to detect and quantify the impacts of gas production on small and medium size streams in Pennsylvania. We will conduct monitoring at locations where gaps exist.



Erich Schramm – IEER Community Outreach Coordinator
History and mission of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research of Northeastern Pennsylvania
84 W South Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
energy.wilkes.edu

570) 408-5543 (office)