Citizen Science and the Citizen Groundwater/ Surfacewater Database
The Concept- The Need- The Purpose
The Private Well Owner Outreach Program in Pennsylvania
by Mr. Brian Oram, PGFor the past 20+ years, I have been conducting water quality analysis, baseline tesint, and conducting education programs for the citizens of Pennsylvania. Even though our groundwater resources are one of our most important assets, there is limited data on the quality and quantity of regional groundwater. While working at Wilkes University, I held establish the formation of a "Citizen" Groundwater and Surfacewater Database. Even though I no longer work full-time at Wilkes University, I am working with Dr. Brian Redmond and Dr. Sid Halsor on the development, formation, and creation of this community tool. This regional water quality database is an unbiased warehouse of water quality data that is supported by fellow "Citizens" of this Commonwealth. After reviewing this information, I would hope you will take action and support the Citizens Groundwater and Surfacewater Database.
The database will provide information about the current state of groundwater and surface water quality and serve as a basis for monitoring impacts related to Marcellus gas drilling and other activity in our region. The database initiative is the first of its kind in northeast Pennsylvania and the initial database targeted private wells in Luzerne and Columbia Counties, but we are reaching out to build partnerships throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania so the database can include other counties in the area, i.e., Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Wayne, and Wyoming (Resource: Initial Press Release dated –August 17, 2010).
The purpose of our database is twofold. We will use it to help us better understand the current and future groundwater and surface water quality for the region. The database will also be used to generate educational materials relating to regional water quality. The database is for research and education purposes, and will not be sold or used for any commercial purpose. The database is managed by representatives of the Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Department at Wilkes University, i.e., Dr. Brian Redmond and Dr. Sid Halsor.
To protect your privacy, the research database file will only include the testing results, zip code, general information on well or water source, and the latitude and longitude of the sampling site. Your name, address, or other contact information will NOT be included within the database.
This is what citizens are saying about this service and community resource:
"WOW! I can’t thank you enough. My only regret is that you are not here to do the rest of the tests for my community. If all this drilling wasn’t coming here, I would be begging you to bring the family here." (Darlington, Pa)
"KUDOs to Brian and others for putting the concept together" (Wayne County, PA)
"Thank you for a most informative discussion last night. I think it may have opened many eyes and minds to well contamination issues already in the community" (Regional Task Force, PA).
II. More Information or Host a Community Event
If you have not conducted baseline analysis and have questions about the testing process and suggested parameters please go to Submit Your Questions or Request for Assistance. Send a copy of your water quality data or host a community meeting where the water quality data could be compiled. To request a community meeting - email brian.oram@wilkes.edu or bfenviro@ptd.net. Please put Citizen Database in Subject.
III. Guidelines for Data Submission (Data Qualifications)
For your data to be included in the database, it will need to meet the following criteria.
1. For inclusion in the water quality database, the water sample must have been collected using an independent third party for the sample collection and following the chain-of-custody process.
2. The testing must have been conducted by a certified laboratory which provided you with a copy of the certified results including a listing of methods, method detection limits, and reporting limits.
3. The field survey must include the GPS position of the well or you must grant permission for us to visit your property to document the GPS position of your well.
4. The field survey should include the static water level in the well prior to purging the system or you must grant permission for us to visit your property to determine if the static water level can be documented.
5. The water sample must be collected ahead of any water treatment system.
6. If the sample was collected after natural gas drilling within 1000 feet of the well – this should be stated on the information request sheet.
Terms:
Chain-of-Custody – Is typically a document that tracks the sample from the time of collection to delivery to the certified laboratory and any subsequent releases of the sample to other laboratories for analysis.
Certified Laboratory – a laboratory that has been approved and certified by the Pennsylvania Laboratory Accreditation Program for the specific testing parameters and methods of analysis.
III. My Data Qualifies – What Do I Need To Do? - ACT NOW - Get the Forms you NEED!
In order to participate in this process, please do the following:
1. Information Document about the Program (Please Keep for Your Reference).
2. Download a copy of the Consent Form and Return/Signed.
3. Send a copy of your certified laboratory testing results with Chain-of-Custody Documents. (Download Data Qualification Requirements)
4. Mail this information to:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Citizen Outreach Program
15 Hillcrest Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
Questions - call (570) 335-1947
or send a pdf version by email to brian.oram@wilkes.edu or bfenviro@ptd.net.
5. Schedule a Community Event - This includes a presentation on the database, suggestions for baseline testing, discuss on Methane Gas Migration, initial review of the data, and then submitting individual summaries of the results to the citizens.
6. Participate in the PA Private Well Owner and Watershed Survey
To Learn More - Go Here NOW.
Thanks
Brian Oram, PG
Citizen of Pennsylvania
Web Portals
Looking for Free Information on Water Quality- Try the Water-Research.net
Our Facebook Sites - B.F. Environmental Consultants - Water Research Center
Showing posts with label attorney general Pennsylvania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attorney general Pennsylvania. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
SUSTAINABILITY: MAKING GREENER CHOICES IN ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT
On Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 6:30PM, Green Field Energy Solutions will kick off a series of workshops as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Environmental Education Grants Program at Lackawanna College Environmental Institute in Covington Township, PA. The program will provide information on energy efficiency, energy savings, and solar and wind renewable energy solutions. The program includes education on 350 Kick the Watt, a program to reduce individual energy consumption to meet the goal of reducing the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Additional presentations are scheduled at Waverly Wellness House, Waverly on October 12th at 7:00PM, and Johnson College, Scranton on November 16th at 12:00PM. Others will be scheduled throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. This program will also offer onsite tours in partnership with Sustainable Energy Education Development Support (SEEDS), a community-based organization in Northeastern Pennsylvania committed to developing a local renewable energy infrastructure and promoting more sustainable living in our area. The first Green Building tour is scheduled for October 1st at 8:00AM.
For more information on upcoming events please call Deana at (570) 876-0537 or email deana@gfeswind.com.
For other Green Design - Alternative Energy- Sustainability training programs
Additional presentations are scheduled at Waverly Wellness House, Waverly on October 12th at 7:00PM, and Johnson College, Scranton on November 16th at 12:00PM. Others will be scheduled throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. This program will also offer onsite tours in partnership with Sustainable Energy Education Development Support (SEEDS), a community-based organization in Northeastern Pennsylvania committed to developing a local renewable energy infrastructure and promoting more sustainable living in our area. The first Green Building tour is scheduled for October 1st at 8:00AM.
For more information on upcoming events please call Deana at (570) 876-0537 or email deana@gfeswind.com.
For other Green Design - Alternative Energy- Sustainability training programs
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Produced Water Management in Pennsylvania PA Oil and Gas
This is not my work - but I pasted this information here because it was a very good resource. The source - NETL.
State Regulations: Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Bureau of Oil and Gas Management (Office of Mineral Resource Management) is responsible for the statewide oil and gas conservation and environmental programs to facilitate the safe exploration, development, and recovery of Pennsylvania's oil and gas reservoirs in a manner that will protect the Commonwealth's natural resources and the environment. General environmental protection regulations governing waste management and wastewater in the context of oil and gas operations are also administered by PADEP's Bureau of Oil and Gas Management. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, through its Safe Drinking Water Branch, administers underground injection control (UIC) programs in Pennsylvania in direct implementation.
Contact
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Oil and Gas Management
Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8765
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8765
(717) 772-2199 (phone)
(717) 772-2291 (fax)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Regional Office
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215) 814-5700 (phone)
Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations
The disposal regulations in connection with oil and gas operations are found in the Pennsylvania Code (PA Code), Title 25 (Environmental Protection), Part 1 (Department of Environmental Protection), Subpart C (Protection of Natural Resources), Article I (Land Resources), Chapter 78 (Oil and Gas Wells). PA Code, Title 25 (Environmental Protection), Part 1 (Department of Environmental Protection), Subpart C (Protection of Natural Resources), Article II (Water Resources), Chapters 91 through 93, 95, and 102 contains the regulations governing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting, water quality standards, wastewater treatment requirements, and erosion and sediment control. The Mid-Atlantic States Regional Office of the EPA (Region 3), through its Safe Drinking Water Branch, manages and implements the Region's underground injection control (UIC) programs. This includes the direct implementation of the UIC program in Pennsylvania.
General Requirements (§ 78.54)
The well operator shall control and dispose of brines in a manner that prevents pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth and in accordance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Control and Disposal Plan (§ 78.55)
Prior to generation of waste, the operator shall prepare and implement a plan for control and disposal of brines.
The operator shall revise the plan prior to implementing a change to the practices identified in the plan.
Pits and Tanks for Temporary Containment (§ 78.56)
Except as provided in the regulations governing discharge requirements, the operator shall contain polluting substances and wastes from the drilling, altering, completing, recompleting, servicing, and plugging the well — including brines — in a pit, tank, or series of pits and tanks. The operator shall install or construct and maintain the pit, tank, or series of pits and tanks in accordance all applicable regulatory requirements governing design, maintenance, construction.
The operator may request to use other practices that provide equivalent or superior protection by submitting a request to the Department for approval. The request shall be made on forms provided by the Department.
Unless a permit under The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1–691.1001) or approval under the regulations governing control, storage, and disposal of production fluids has been obtained for the pit, the owner or operator shall remove or fill the pit within nine months after completion of drilling, or in accordance with the extension granted by the Department. Pits used during servicing, plugging, and recompleting the well shall be removed or filled within 90 days of construction.
Control, Storage, and Disposal of Production Fluids (§ 78.57)
Unless a permit has been obtained under the regulations governing discharge requirements, the operator shall collect the brine and other fluids produced during operation, service, and plugging of the well in a tank, pit, or a series of pits or tanks, or other device approved by the Department for subsequent disposal or reuse. Except as allowed in this subchapter or otherwise approved by the Department, the operator may not discharge the brine and other fluids on or into the ground or into the waters of this Commonwealth.
Except as provided in the regulations governing pits and tanks for temporary containment, the operator may not use a pit for the control, handling, or storage of brine and other fluids produced during operation, service, or plugging of a well unless the pit is authorized by a permit under The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1 through 691.1001) or approval to operate the pit as an impoundment under The Clean Streams Law is obtained from the Department.
The operator may apply for approval from the Department to operate a pit as an impoundment under The Clean Streams Law, as indicated by the Department's issuance of a pit approval number in accordance with this section. No pit will be eligible for approval under this subsection unless the capacity of any one pit or of any two or more interconnected pits is less than 250,000 gallons, or the total capacity contained in pits on one tract or related tracts of land is less than 500,000 gallons. Compliance with this subsection does not relieve the operator from the obligation to comply with Section 308 of The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. § 691.308) and the requirements for obtaining a permit for the erection, construction, and operation of treatment works.
The pit must be approved, designed, constructed, operated, maintain, restored, backfilled, and revegetated in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Discharge Requirements (§ 78.60)
The owner and operator may not cause or allow a discharge of a substance to the waters of this Commonwealth unless the discharge complies with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including:
The Water Resource Regulations (Chapters 91 through 93, 95 and 102 of the PA Code);
The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1 through 691.1001); and
The Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S. §§ 601.101 through 601.607).
The owner and operator may not discharge tophole water or water in a pit as a result of precipitation by land application unless the discharge is in accordance with the following requirements:
No additives, drilling muds, polluting materials, or drilling fluids other than gases or fresh water have been added to or are contained in the water, unless otherwise approved by the Department.
The pH is not less than 6 nor greater than 9 standard units, or is characteristic of the natural background quality of the groundwater.
The specific conductance of the discharge is less than 1,000 µmhos/cm.
There is no sheen from oil and grease.
The discharge water shall be spread over an undisturbed, vegetated area capable of absorbing the tophole water and filtering solids in the discharge, and spread in a manner that prevents a direct discharge to surface waters and complies with erosion and sedimentation control requirements.
The area of land application is not within 200 feet of a water supply or within 100 feet of a stream, body of water, or a wetland unless approved as part of a waiver granted by the Department.
If the water does not meet the applicable requirements, the Department may approve treatment prior to discharge to the land surface.
Reporting Releases (§ 78.66)
A release of a substance causing or threatening pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth, shall comply with the reporting and corrective action requirements governing incidents causing or threatening pollution.
If a reportable release of brine on or into the ground occurs at the well site, the owner or operator shall notify the appropriate regional office of the Department, and provide the description required by the regulations, as soon as practicable, but no later than two hours after detecting or discovering the release.
If, because of an accident, an amount of brine less than the reportable amount spills, leaks, or escapes, that incident does not have to be reported.
Upon the occurrence of any release, the owner or operator shall take necessary corrective actions to: prevent the substance from reaching the waters of this Commonwealth; recover or remove the substance which was released; and dispose of the substance in accordance with this subchapter or as approved by the Department.
Frequency of Inspections (§ 78.903)
The Department, its employees, and agents intend to conduct inspections at least once a year, if there is onsite brine disposal."
This is not my work - but I pasted this information here because it was a very good resource. The source - NETL.
State Regulations: Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Bureau of Oil and Gas Management (Office of Mineral Resource Management) is responsible for the statewide oil and gas conservation and environmental programs to facilitate the safe exploration, development, and recovery of Pennsylvania's oil and gas reservoirs in a manner that will protect the Commonwealth's natural resources and the environment. General environmental protection regulations governing waste management and wastewater in the context of oil and gas operations are also administered by PADEP's Bureau of Oil and Gas Management. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, through its Safe Drinking Water Branch, administers underground injection control (UIC) programs in Pennsylvania in direct implementation.
Contact
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Oil and Gas Management
Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8765
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8765
(717) 772-2199 (phone)
(717) 772-2291 (fax)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Regional Office
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215) 814-5700 (phone)
Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations
The disposal regulations in connection with oil and gas operations are found in the Pennsylvania Code (PA Code), Title 25 (Environmental Protection), Part 1 (Department of Environmental Protection), Subpart C (Protection of Natural Resources), Article I (Land Resources), Chapter 78 (Oil and Gas Wells). PA Code, Title 25 (Environmental Protection), Part 1 (Department of Environmental Protection), Subpart C (Protection of Natural Resources), Article II (Water Resources), Chapters 91 through 93, 95, and 102 contains the regulations governing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting, water quality standards, wastewater treatment requirements, and erosion and sediment control. The Mid-Atlantic States Regional Office of the EPA (Region 3), through its Safe Drinking Water Branch, manages and implements the Region's underground injection control (UIC) programs. This includes the direct implementation of the UIC program in Pennsylvania.
General Requirements (§ 78.54)
The well operator shall control and dispose of brines in a manner that prevents pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth and in accordance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Control and Disposal Plan (§ 78.55)
Prior to generation of waste, the operator shall prepare and implement a plan for control and disposal of brines.
The operator shall revise the plan prior to implementing a change to the practices identified in the plan.
Pits and Tanks for Temporary Containment (§ 78.56)
Except as provided in the regulations governing discharge requirements, the operator shall contain polluting substances and wastes from the drilling, altering, completing, recompleting, servicing, and plugging the well — including brines — in a pit, tank, or series of pits and tanks. The operator shall install or construct and maintain the pit, tank, or series of pits and tanks in accordance all applicable regulatory requirements governing design, maintenance, construction.
The operator may request to use other practices that provide equivalent or superior protection by submitting a request to the Department for approval. The request shall be made on forms provided by the Department.
Unless a permit under The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1–691.1001) or approval under the regulations governing control, storage, and disposal of production fluids has been obtained for the pit, the owner or operator shall remove or fill the pit within nine months after completion of drilling, or in accordance with the extension granted by the Department. Pits used during servicing, plugging, and recompleting the well shall be removed or filled within 90 days of construction.
Control, Storage, and Disposal of Production Fluids (§ 78.57)
Unless a permit has been obtained under the regulations governing discharge requirements, the operator shall collect the brine and other fluids produced during operation, service, and plugging of the well in a tank, pit, or a series of pits or tanks, or other device approved by the Department for subsequent disposal or reuse. Except as allowed in this subchapter or otherwise approved by the Department, the operator may not discharge the brine and other fluids on or into the ground or into the waters of this Commonwealth.
Except as provided in the regulations governing pits and tanks for temporary containment, the operator may not use a pit for the control, handling, or storage of brine and other fluids produced during operation, service, or plugging of a well unless the pit is authorized by a permit under The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1 through 691.1001) or approval to operate the pit as an impoundment under The Clean Streams Law is obtained from the Department.
The operator may apply for approval from the Department to operate a pit as an impoundment under The Clean Streams Law, as indicated by the Department's issuance of a pit approval number in accordance with this section. No pit will be eligible for approval under this subsection unless the capacity of any one pit or of any two or more interconnected pits is less than 250,000 gallons, or the total capacity contained in pits on one tract or related tracts of land is less than 500,000 gallons. Compliance with this subsection does not relieve the operator from the obligation to comply with Section 308 of The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. § 691.308) and the requirements for obtaining a permit for the erection, construction, and operation of treatment works.
The pit must be approved, designed, constructed, operated, maintain, restored, backfilled, and revegetated in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Discharge Requirements (§ 78.60)
The owner and operator may not cause or allow a discharge of a substance to the waters of this Commonwealth unless the discharge complies with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including:
The Water Resource Regulations (Chapters 91 through 93, 95 and 102 of the PA Code);
The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1 through 691.1001); and
The Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S. §§ 601.101 through 601.607).
The owner and operator may not discharge tophole water or water in a pit as a result of precipitation by land application unless the discharge is in accordance with the following requirements:
No additives, drilling muds, polluting materials, or drilling fluids other than gases or fresh water have been added to or are contained in the water, unless otherwise approved by the Department.
The pH is not less than 6 nor greater than 9 standard units, or is characteristic of the natural background quality of the groundwater.
The specific conductance of the discharge is less than 1,000 µmhos/cm.
There is no sheen from oil and grease.
The discharge water shall be spread over an undisturbed, vegetated area capable of absorbing the tophole water and filtering solids in the discharge, and spread in a manner that prevents a direct discharge to surface waters and complies with erosion and sedimentation control requirements.
The area of land application is not within 200 feet of a water supply or within 100 feet of a stream, body of water, or a wetland unless approved as part of a waiver granted by the Department.
If the water does not meet the applicable requirements, the Department may approve treatment prior to discharge to the land surface.
Reporting Releases (§ 78.66)
A release of a substance causing or threatening pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth, shall comply with the reporting and corrective action requirements governing incidents causing or threatening pollution.
If a reportable release of brine on or into the ground occurs at the well site, the owner or operator shall notify the appropriate regional office of the Department, and provide the description required by the regulations, as soon as practicable, but no later than two hours after detecting or discovering the release.
If, because of an accident, an amount of brine less than the reportable amount spills, leaks, or escapes, that incident does not have to be reported.
Upon the occurrence of any release, the owner or operator shall take necessary corrective actions to: prevent the substance from reaching the waters of this Commonwealth; recover or remove the substance which was released; and dispose of the substance in accordance with this subchapter or as approved by the Department.
Frequency of Inspections (§ 78.903)
The Department, its employees, and agents intend to conduct inspections at least once a year, if there is onsite brine disposal."
This is not my work - but I pasted this information here because it was a very good resource. The source - NETL.
Friday, September 16, 2011
DALLAS TWP. - Residents erupted in protest Wednesday after the supervisors unanimously
Author - eskrapits@citizensvoice.com
DALLAS TWP. - Residents erupted in protest Wednesday after the supervisors unanimously voted to approve an agreement with Chief Gathering LLC to run a natural gas pipeline within a third of a mile of the Dallas district schools.
The agreement, similar to one the supervisors approved on Aug. 16 with Williams Field Services, sets provisions Chief must follow in the construction of a pipeline from natural gas wells in Susquehanna County to connect with the Transco interstate pipeline in Dallas Township. "We resent the fact that you're force-feeding us something we haven't even seen in writing," resident and supervisor candidate Liz Martin said.
The township's planning commission gave Chief conditional approval Tuesday night for the pipeline; the company has to show proof it has obtained the required state permits.
Township solicitor Thomas Brennan said the agreement with Chief, like that with Williams, calls for:
Development residents Jeffrey Dickson, his wife Jo Ann, their neighbors William and Patricia Watkins and Scott and Kelley Watkins filed a legal action April 26 against neighbor, Tuula D'Anca, for leasing Chief a right-of-way through her property; they say she violated the development's covenants.
Dickson's attorney, Robert D. Schaub, asked the supervisors to postpone the vote until they had a chance to look at the deeds and covenants. But Brennan said it is a private matter, so the township cannot get involved. The residents can go to court and get an injunction, "and this agreement does not stop you from doing that," he said.
"The agreement was fair for both parties and Chief is glad we were able to come to an understanding with the township," Chief's attorney Jeffrey Malak said. Residents let loose with calls of "traitor" and "turncoat" to Malak when he told them he was a Back Mountain resident as well. There was also a lot of anger at the supervisors, who, as resident Calvin Tinsley noted, were not listening to the residents who elected them.
Resident Wayne Dottor said the agreement should be modified to put the pipeline somewhere without residences and not near schools, like the Luzerne County Fairgrounds.
The gas companies' arrogance also came up, including being referenced by Brennan and blasted by Tinsley, who said, "You people don't seem to understand. They don't give a damn." He said he has a pipeline on his own property and the company invaded what were supposed to be protected wetlands. "That's why we're outraged. They come in here with their monster arrogance," resident Jim DeMichele said. In other business, Brennan unveiled an amendment that would update the township's zoning ordinance to address issues related to natural gas drilling, including metering stations and pipelines. Other than existing pipelines, township officials "never really dreamed" there would be the kind of Marcellus Shale development that occurred over the past three years, Brennan said.
The amendment can be read online at www.dallastownship.com and copies will be available in the township building. The supervisors will accept residents' comments on it until Oct. 13.
eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072
DALLAS TWP. - Residents erupted in protest Wednesday after the supervisors unanimously voted to approve an agreement with Chief Gathering LLC to run a natural gas pipeline within a third of a mile of the Dallas district schools.
The agreement, similar to one the supervisors approved on Aug. 16 with Williams Field Services, sets provisions Chief must follow in the construction of a pipeline from natural gas wells in Susquehanna County to connect with the Transco interstate pipeline in Dallas Township. "We resent the fact that you're force-feeding us something we haven't even seen in writing," resident and supervisor candidate Liz Martin said.
The township's planning commission gave Chief conditional approval Tuesday night for the pipeline; the company has to show proof it has obtained the required state permits.
Township solicitor Thomas Brennan said the agreement with Chief, like that with Williams, calls for:
- A 25-foot setback away from neighboring properties.
- Chief still has to go through a land development and zoning process for the metering station to measure gas going into the Transco.
- All laws and federal regulations will apply to the pipeline construction.
- The metering station has to be "as benign" as it can be.
- Chief won't put anything else natural gas-related within 1.75 miles of the Dallas district schools.
Development residents Jeffrey Dickson, his wife Jo Ann, their neighbors William and Patricia Watkins and Scott and Kelley Watkins filed a legal action April 26 against neighbor, Tuula D'Anca, for leasing Chief a right-of-way through her property; they say she violated the development's covenants.
Dickson's attorney, Robert D. Schaub, asked the supervisors to postpone the vote until they had a chance to look at the deeds and covenants. But Brennan said it is a private matter, so the township cannot get involved. The residents can go to court and get an injunction, "and this agreement does not stop you from doing that," he said.
"The agreement was fair for both parties and Chief is glad we were able to come to an understanding with the township," Chief's attorney Jeffrey Malak said. Residents let loose with calls of "traitor" and "turncoat" to Malak when he told them he was a Back Mountain resident as well. There was also a lot of anger at the supervisors, who, as resident Calvin Tinsley noted, were not listening to the residents who elected them.
Resident Wayne Dottor said the agreement should be modified to put the pipeline somewhere without residences and not near schools, like the Luzerne County Fairgrounds.
The gas companies' arrogance also came up, including being referenced by Brennan and blasted by Tinsley, who said, "You people don't seem to understand. They don't give a damn." He said he has a pipeline on his own property and the company invaded what were supposed to be protected wetlands. "That's why we're outraged. They come in here with their monster arrogance," resident Jim DeMichele said. In other business, Brennan unveiled an amendment that would update the township's zoning ordinance to address issues related to natural gas drilling, including metering stations and pipelines. Other than existing pipelines, township officials "never really dreamed" there would be the kind of Marcellus Shale development that occurred over the past three years, Brennan said.
The amendment can be read online at www.dallastownship.com and copies will be available in the township building. The supervisors will accept residents' comments on it until Oct. 13.
eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072
Friday, August 19, 2011
Marcellus Shale Commission Issues Final Report- Released by PADEP
Marcellus Shale Commission Issues Final Report
PRESS RELEASE – PA DEP 07/22/2011
Marcellus Shale Commission Issues Final Report
HARRISBURG — Lt. Governor Jim Cawley today released the final report of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, taking the first step toward developing a comprehensive and strategic plan for responsible natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.
The unanimously-adopted report contains 96 policy recommendations that include tougher regulations for drilling, doubling fines for violations, creating jobs in related industries and promoting the use of natural gas vehicles.
“Today, Pennsylvania is taking an important, first step toward creating tens of thousands of jobs and leading the nation toward energy independence and doing so in an environmentally responsible way,” said Cawley.
Some of the key recommendations the panel made to Governor Corbett include:
• Increasing the distance between gas well sites and streams, private wells and public water systems.
• Posting more information online for the public.
• Tougher civil and criminal penalties for violators.
• Assisting PA companies to do business with natural gas industry.
• Training Pennsylvanians to work in the industry.
• Developing “Green Corridors” for vehicles powered by natural gas.
“This commission brought the industry, environmental groups and local government leaders together to the same table where we methodically and publicly worked out these comprehensive recommendations,” said Cawley.
Governor Corbett formed the 30-member commission in March, giving them 120 days to develop recommendations on all aspects of natural gas drilling. The commission held 21 public meetings, heard 60 expert presentations and reviewed more than 650 emails and letters from the public.
To see a copy of the report summary go to: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/MarcellusShaleAdvisoryCommission/MarcellusShaleAdvisoryPortalFiles/MSAC_Summary_of_Report.pdf
What about?
1. Supporting alternative energy and conservation?
2. Fixing private wells - state or a local government program?
3. Updating sourcewater protection plans?
4. Reviewing and Compiling all this water quality data?
5. Educating the Community ?
6. Developing Public / Private Partnerships to conduct comprehensive baseline testing?
PRESS RELEASE – PA DEP 07/22/2011
Marcellus Shale Commission Issues Final Report
HARRISBURG — Lt. Governor Jim Cawley today released the final report of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, taking the first step toward developing a comprehensive and strategic plan for responsible natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.
The unanimously-adopted report contains 96 policy recommendations that include tougher regulations for drilling, doubling fines for violations, creating jobs in related industries and promoting the use of natural gas vehicles.
“Today, Pennsylvania is taking an important, first step toward creating tens of thousands of jobs and leading the nation toward energy independence and doing so in an environmentally responsible way,” said Cawley.
Some of the key recommendations the panel made to Governor Corbett include:
• Increasing the distance between gas well sites and streams, private wells and public water systems.
• Posting more information online for the public.
• Tougher civil and criminal penalties for violators.
• Assisting PA companies to do business with natural gas industry.
• Training Pennsylvanians to work in the industry.
• Developing “Green Corridors” for vehicles powered by natural gas.
“This commission brought the industry, environmental groups and local government leaders together to the same table where we methodically and publicly worked out these comprehensive recommendations,” said Cawley.
Governor Corbett formed the 30-member commission in March, giving them 120 days to develop recommendations on all aspects of natural gas drilling. The commission held 21 public meetings, heard 60 expert presentations and reviewed more than 650 emails and letters from the public.
To see a copy of the report summary go to: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/MarcellusShaleAdvisoryCommission/MarcellusShaleAdvisoryPortalFiles/MSAC_Summary_of_Report.pdf
What about?
1. Supporting alternative energy and conservation?
2. Fixing private wells - state or a local government program?
3. Updating sourcewater protection plans?
4. Reviewing and Compiling all this water quality data?
5. Educating the Community ?
6. Developing Public / Private Partnerships to conduct comprehensive baseline testing?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Pennsylvania Township to sell sewage wastewater for fracking - Water Reuse Using degraded water for hydrofracking
Not My Work - My comments below
January 7, 2011 - By DAVID THOMPSON dthompson@sungazette.com
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/558530/Township-to-sell-sewage-wastewater-for-fracking.html
"HUGHESVILLE - On Dec. 16, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission did something it has never done before
It approved an application to sell treated municipal wastewater for drilling operations by the natural gas industry.
The commission's approval was given to the Hughesville Wolf Authority, which operates a sewage treatment facility that serves the Borough of Hughesville, Wolf Township and part of Muncy Creek Township.
The approval allows the authority to sell to gas drilling companies up to 249,000 gallons of treated municipal wastewater per day, according to authority engineer Charles W. Amer III, of Montoursville-based engineering firm McTish, Kunkel and Associates.
That accounts for slightly more than 60 percent of the treated effluent the authority's treatment plant discharges into Muncy Creek on a daily basis, Amer said.
Preparing a withdrawal site on the treatment plant property will cost between $400,000 and $500,000, Amer said. A 3/4-acre pad, segregated from the rest of the facility by a fence and connected by a separate access road, will be built, and two 21,000 gallon storage tanks, meters and other technology installed.
Treated wastewater contained in a chlorine contact tank - typically the final stop before entering a pipe that leads to the creek - will be pumped into the storage tanks. Tanker trucks will enter the facility by the access road, pull up to one of two fill stations and fill their tanks, Amer said.
Even with the set-up costs, selling treated wastewater has the potential to be lucrative for the authority, Amer said.
At $10 per 1,000 gallons - the mid-range point of what is being paid by gas companies for water used for hydrofracturing - the authority could bring in more than $900,000 a year if it sells all of the water it is permitted to sell, he said.
If the authority only sells two-thirds of the permitted amount at $8 per 1,000 gallons, it still will bring in about $485,000 a year, he said.
Amer said gas companies are interested in buying the treated water.
"We have non-binding commitments that well exceed the 249,000 gallons per day," he said. "We have six or eight companies that submitted letters showing interest in (buying) wastewater. Some submitted actual per gallon needs."Authority member William Senseman said customers will reap the benefits of the sale.
"We saw this as a win-win. It allows us to raise revenue to keep our rates down while maintaining the plant and keeping it compliant (with state and federal regulations)," Senseman said.Authority Chairman Daniel Thomas agreed.
"The community is going to benefit from this," Thomas said. According to Thomas, the treatment plant is relatively new and still has outstanding debt incurred from when it was built. Revenue from selling water will allow the debt to be paid off and keep user rates down.
That is on top of the fact that the authority already is efficiently run, he said.
"We're probably the only sewer authority that has actually dropped its rates in the last five years," he said.
Thomas said plans to sell the wastewater included a lot of thought into how local residents will be impacted by the potential truck traffic the facility could attract.
"Our number one concern is the disruption caused by excessive truck traffic," Thomas said. "We want to keep it at a minimum."
"We figured if we spread it out over a 24-hour period, it will only equal two trucks per hour on a maximum withdrawal day of 249,000 gallons," he said.
Senseman said that unlike some surface withdrawal points where water hauling trucks have unlimited access, the authority has total control over access to the facility and can make changes to reduce local impacts caused by the operation. Amer said the water gas companies will be buying from the authority will be very high quality.
"This plant has a very high level of treatment compared to a lot of other treatment plants," Amer said, adding treatment plant effluent is far below pollution limits set by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
"We'll be providing the industry with pretty clean water," he said. "Compared to other treatment plants' effluent, it's a higher quality of water.
Wastewater sold to the gas industry is less wastewater discharged into Muncy Creek, Thomas said.
Thomas credited the authority board, which also includes Richard Marsh, Richard Mausteller, Stephen Ryder, Jerry Kilgus and Robert Kolbrich, with putting their full support behind the initiative.
Still, there were challenges to receiving SRBC approval, primarily because the authority was pioneering new territory as far as supplying water for the gas industry. It was unclear what type of approval was needed to sell treated wastewater, Amer said."It was the first time they ever dealt with it," Thomas said.The commission is the agency that regulates water quantity issues in the river basin. It must give its approval for the consumptive use of water - defined as any use in which the water is not returned to its source - once the amount withdrawn from a source exceeds a certain threshold.
The threshold typically is 100,000 gallons of water per day. However, for the gas industry, no such threshold exists. SRBC approval is required for the withdrawal of a single drop of water for industry use."
Great Article - the source of the article is
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/558530/Township-to-sell-sewage-wastewater-for-fracking.html
Comments
1. Water Reuse has been done - This was proposed many years ago for other facilities to handle the need for a partially degraded water.
2. One item that should be checked is the water budget - if possible the approach should include funding for other water conservation measures and enhanced recharge of treated water in other areas.
3. The removal of the water from the plant should not result in a change in the NPDES permit or an increase in the Capacity.
4. Truck traffic will be high - maybe they could consider funding a pumping station to a site - this would be a traffic study.
5. Good work - thinking out of the box.
6. Funds should help to improve operations of the facility, decrease citizen cost, fund water quality and water conservation and promote other water reuse applications (industry, irrigation, etc).
7. How about looking at installing stormwater retention basins and using this as a resource for fracking?
Just my thoughts
Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
January 7, 2011 - By DAVID THOMPSON dthompson@sungazette.com
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/558530/Township-to-sell-sewage-wastewater-for-fracking.html
"HUGHESVILLE - On Dec. 16, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission did something it has never done before
It approved an application to sell treated municipal wastewater for drilling operations by the natural gas industry.
The commission's approval was given to the Hughesville Wolf Authority, which operates a sewage treatment facility that serves the Borough of Hughesville, Wolf Township and part of Muncy Creek Township.
The approval allows the authority to sell to gas drilling companies up to 249,000 gallons of treated municipal wastewater per day, according to authority engineer Charles W. Amer III, of Montoursville-based engineering firm McTish, Kunkel and Associates.
That accounts for slightly more than 60 percent of the treated effluent the authority's treatment plant discharges into Muncy Creek on a daily basis, Amer said.
Preparing a withdrawal site on the treatment plant property will cost between $400,000 and $500,000, Amer said. A 3/4-acre pad, segregated from the rest of the facility by a fence and connected by a separate access road, will be built, and two 21,000 gallon storage tanks, meters and other technology installed.
Treated wastewater contained in a chlorine contact tank - typically the final stop before entering a pipe that leads to the creek - will be pumped into the storage tanks. Tanker trucks will enter the facility by the access road, pull up to one of two fill stations and fill their tanks, Amer said.
Even with the set-up costs, selling treated wastewater has the potential to be lucrative for the authority, Amer said.
At $10 per 1,000 gallons - the mid-range point of what is being paid by gas companies for water used for hydrofracturing - the authority could bring in more than $900,000 a year if it sells all of the water it is permitted to sell, he said.
If the authority only sells two-thirds of the permitted amount at $8 per 1,000 gallons, it still will bring in about $485,000 a year, he said.
Amer said gas companies are interested in buying the treated water.
"We have non-binding commitments that well exceed the 249,000 gallons per day," he said. "We have six or eight companies that submitted letters showing interest in (buying) wastewater. Some submitted actual per gallon needs."Authority member William Senseman said customers will reap the benefits of the sale.
"We saw this as a win-win. It allows us to raise revenue to keep our rates down while maintaining the plant and keeping it compliant (with state and federal regulations)," Senseman said.Authority Chairman Daniel Thomas agreed.
"The community is going to benefit from this," Thomas said. According to Thomas, the treatment plant is relatively new and still has outstanding debt incurred from when it was built. Revenue from selling water will allow the debt to be paid off and keep user rates down.
That is on top of the fact that the authority already is efficiently run, he said.
"We're probably the only sewer authority that has actually dropped its rates in the last five years," he said.
Thomas said plans to sell the wastewater included a lot of thought into how local residents will be impacted by the potential truck traffic the facility could attract.
"Our number one concern is the disruption caused by excessive truck traffic," Thomas said. "We want to keep it at a minimum."
"We figured if we spread it out over a 24-hour period, it will only equal two trucks per hour on a maximum withdrawal day of 249,000 gallons," he said.
Senseman said that unlike some surface withdrawal points where water hauling trucks have unlimited access, the authority has total control over access to the facility and can make changes to reduce local impacts caused by the operation. Amer said the water gas companies will be buying from the authority will be very high quality.
"This plant has a very high level of treatment compared to a lot of other treatment plants," Amer said, adding treatment plant effluent is far below pollution limits set by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
"We'll be providing the industry with pretty clean water," he said. "Compared to other treatment plants' effluent, it's a higher quality of water.
Wastewater sold to the gas industry is less wastewater discharged into Muncy Creek, Thomas said.
Thomas credited the authority board, which also includes Richard Marsh, Richard Mausteller, Stephen Ryder, Jerry Kilgus and Robert Kolbrich, with putting their full support behind the initiative.
Still, there were challenges to receiving SRBC approval, primarily because the authority was pioneering new territory as far as supplying water for the gas industry. It was unclear what type of approval was needed to sell treated wastewater, Amer said."It was the first time they ever dealt with it," Thomas said.The commission is the agency that regulates water quantity issues in the river basin. It must give its approval for the consumptive use of water - defined as any use in which the water is not returned to its source - once the amount withdrawn from a source exceeds a certain threshold.
The threshold typically is 100,000 gallons of water per day. However, for the gas industry, no such threshold exists. SRBC approval is required for the withdrawal of a single drop of water for industry use."
Great Article - the source of the article is
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/558530/Township-to-sell-sewage-wastewater-for-fracking.html
Comments
1. Water Reuse has been done - This was proposed many years ago for other facilities to handle the need for a partially degraded water.
2. One item that should be checked is the water budget - if possible the approach should include funding for other water conservation measures and enhanced recharge of treated water in other areas.
3. The removal of the water from the plant should not result in a change in the NPDES permit or an increase in the Capacity.
4. Truck traffic will be high - maybe they could consider funding a pumping station to a site - this would be a traffic study.
5. Good work - thinking out of the box.
6. Funds should help to improve operations of the facility, decrease citizen cost, fund water quality and water conservation and promote other water reuse applications (industry, irrigation, etc).
7. How about looking at installing stormwater retention basins and using this as a resource for fracking?
Just my thoughts
Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
DEP Oil & Gas Operation Information on Well Production, Waste Products, and Violations Marcellus Shale PADEP
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/1/2010
CONTACT:
Jamie Legenos, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323
DEP Makes Oil and Gas Operations More Transparent with New Online Resources
Information on Well Production, Waste Products, and Violations Now Online
HARRISBURG -- For the first time, Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry production and compliance information is available online as part of the commonwealth’s ongoing effort to make the industry’s operations more transparent.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said the oil and gas public reporting website, which debuted today, allows access to production statistics for oil and gas wells in the state, including historical data. A new, separate webpage also lets users view violation data, by operator, as well as the department’s enforcement measures.
“The public reporting website will create much needed transparency that allows for citizens and policymakers to be aware of the increasing amount of natural gas being generated in Pennsylvania,” said Hanger. “This is an industrial activity that is taking place widely throughout the state. It’s important that families know what is happening in their backyards and whether or not the company drilling there has a good track record of safe and environmentally sound operations.”
The public reporting website, www.marcellusreporting.state.pa.us/ogrereports/, enables users to search all oil and natural gas production data by operator, county or a specific well number. Information on industry-generated waste can be viewed by operator, county or processing facility.
Act 15 of 2010 required Marcellus operators to report to DEP their well production totals from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 by Aug. 15. Subsequent reports on Marcellus production are due every six months. All other oil and gas production besides Marcellus wells must be reported annually.
“It is absolutely essential for the oil and gas industry to be excellent in their operations to protect public health and our environment,” Hanger said. “This information will allow the public to see which operators are leading the way in a safe and environmentally conscious manner and which ones need to address their operating procedures.”
The violation, inspection, and enforcement information is available for 2008 through 2010 to date, including resolved violations for the three-year span. Information for 2010 is available year-to-date or monthly. To view the violation reports, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ and click on the button that says “Gas Well Violations.”
For more information about oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on “Oil and Gas.”
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/1/2010
CONTACT:
Jamie Legenos, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323
DEP Makes Oil and Gas Operations More Transparent with New Online Resources
Information on Well Production, Waste Products, and Violations Now Online
HARRISBURG -- For the first time, Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry production and compliance information is available online as part of the commonwealth’s ongoing effort to make the industry’s operations more transparent.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said the oil and gas public reporting website, which debuted today, allows access to production statistics for oil and gas wells in the state, including historical data. A new, separate webpage also lets users view violation data, by operator, as well as the department’s enforcement measures.
“The public reporting website will create much needed transparency that allows for citizens and policymakers to be aware of the increasing amount of natural gas being generated in Pennsylvania,” said Hanger. “This is an industrial activity that is taking place widely throughout the state. It’s important that families know what is happening in their backyards and whether or not the company drilling there has a good track record of safe and environmentally sound operations.”
The public reporting website, www.marcellusreporting.state.pa.us/ogrereports/, enables users to search all oil and natural gas production data by operator, county or a specific well number. Information on industry-generated waste can be viewed by operator, county or processing facility.
Act 15 of 2010 required Marcellus operators to report to DEP their well production totals from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 by Aug. 15. Subsequent reports on Marcellus production are due every six months. All other oil and gas production besides Marcellus wells must be reported annually.
“It is absolutely essential for the oil and gas industry to be excellent in their operations to protect public health and our environment,” Hanger said. “This information will allow the public to see which operators are leading the way in a safe and environmentally conscious manner and which ones need to address their operating procedures.”
The violation, inspection, and enforcement information is available for 2008 through 2010 to date, including resolved violations for the three-year span. Information for 2010 is available year-to-date or monthly. To view the violation reports, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ and click on the button that says “Gas Well Violations.”
For more information about oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on “Oil and Gas.”
Sunday, October 24, 2010
EPA Underground Injection Control Program- Few Points
What is the UIC program?
The Underground Injection Control (UIC) program was established established under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974. The program is either managed by individual states or by regional EPA offices. The program protects and is designed to prevent contamination of the Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW) caused by the operations of an injection well. A USDW is defined as an "aquifer or its portion which supplies any public water system, or contains less that 10,000 milligrams per liter total dissolved solids and is not an exempt aquifer."
Note:
The PADEP and EPA drinking water standard has drinking water should be < 500 mg/L- 99.95 % pure water. 1% contamination is 10,000 mg/L or 99% pure water.
Underground Injection Wells
Basically, injection wells are man-made or improved "holes" in the ground, which are deeper than their widest surface dimension and are used to discharge or dispose of fluids underground. When properly sited, constructed, and operated, injection wells can be an effective and environmentally safe means of fluid waste disposal. There are many different types of injection wells, but they are all similar in their basic function. The Federal UIC program has grouped injection wells into five types or Classes.
Class I wells are technologically sophisticated wells that inject large volumes of hazardous or non-hazardous wastes into deep, isolated rock formations that are seperated from the lower most USDW by layers of impermeable clay and rock. Although most hazardous waste fluids are treated and released to surface waters, Class I wells account for 89 percent of the hazardous waste fluids disposed of on land. Still, Class I wells inject mostly non-hazardous waste. For example, while all of U.S. industry together injects approximately nine billion gallons of hazardous waster each year, one state alone
Class II wells inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production. Most of the injected fluid is brine that is produced when oil and gas are extracted from the earth (about 10 barrels of brine for every barrel of oil). The brine is reinjected to increase production, or for disposal. Some Class II wells are used to store hydrocarbon products. Class II wells inject 300 billion gallons of fluid each year. They comprise 41 percent of U.S injection wells.
Class III wells inject super-hot steam or water into mineral formations, which dissolves or loosens minerals, which are then pumped to the surface and extracted. Generally, the fluid is treated and reinjected into the same formation. More than 50 percent of the salt and 80 percent of the uranium extracted in the U.S. are produced this way. Class III wells comprise eight percent of injection wells in the U.S.
Class IV wells are defined in OAC 3745-34-04(D). Class IV wells are shallow wells used to inject hazardous or radioactive wastes into or above a geologic formation that contains an underground source of drinking water (USDW). In 1984, EPA banned the use of Class IV injection wells for disposal of hazardous or radioactive waste. Now, these wells may only be operated as part of an EPA- or state-authorized ground water clean-up action. There are about 32 waste clean-up sites with Class IV wells in the United States.
Most Class V wells are "low tech" holes in the ground, although a few are technologically advanced wastewater disposal systems used by industry. Generally, Class V wells are shallow and rely on gravity to drain or "inject" liquid waste into the ground. Examples of Class V wells include dry wells that collect surface water runoff and industrial, commercial, and utility disposal wells. A Class V well's potential to endanger a nearby ground water resource depends largely on the type and / or quantity of waste fluid it injects.
What is the difference between Class IV and Class V injection wells?
In general, both shallow Class IV and Class V wells inject fluids into or above the uppermost USDW and may be of similar construction, such as a septic system or dry well. The difference between Class IV and Class V wells is the quality of the fluid being injected. Class V wells may only inject non-hazardous fluids that will not endanger USDWs. However, if a Class V well is misused and receives hazardous waste (as defined by RCRA), the well would be considered a Class IV well and therefore be banned.
Class IV wells are prohibited unless the injection wells are used to inject contaminated ground water that has been treated and is being injected into the same formation from which it was drawn.
Comments- Taken from EPAs Website
The Underground Injection Control (UIC) program was established established under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974. The program is either managed by individual states or by regional EPA offices. The program protects and is designed to prevent contamination of the Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW) caused by the operations of an injection well. A USDW is defined as an "aquifer or its portion which supplies any public water system, or contains less that 10,000 milligrams per liter total dissolved solids and is not an exempt aquifer."
Note:
The PADEP and EPA drinking water standard has drinking water should be < 500 mg/L- 99.95 % pure water. 1% contamination is 10,000 mg/L or 99% pure water.
Underground Injection Wells
Basically, injection wells are man-made or improved "holes" in the ground, which are deeper than their widest surface dimension and are used to discharge or dispose of fluids underground. When properly sited, constructed, and operated, injection wells can be an effective and environmentally safe means of fluid waste disposal. There are many different types of injection wells, but they are all similar in their basic function. The Federal UIC program has grouped injection wells into five types or Classes.
Class I wells are technologically sophisticated wells that inject large volumes of hazardous or non-hazardous wastes into deep, isolated rock formations that are seperated from the lower most USDW by layers of impermeable clay and rock. Although most hazardous waste fluids are treated and released to surface waters, Class I wells account for 89 percent of the hazardous waste fluids disposed of on land. Still, Class I wells inject mostly non-hazardous waste. For example, while all of U.S. industry together injects approximately nine billion gallons of hazardous waster each year, one state alone
Class II wells inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production. Most of the injected fluid is brine that is produced when oil and gas are extracted from the earth (about 10 barrels of brine for every barrel of oil). The brine is reinjected to increase production, or for disposal. Some Class II wells are used to store hydrocarbon products. Class II wells inject 300 billion gallons of fluid each year. They comprise 41 percent of U.S injection wells.
Class III wells inject super-hot steam or water into mineral formations, which dissolves or loosens minerals, which are then pumped to the surface and extracted. Generally, the fluid is treated and reinjected into the same formation. More than 50 percent of the salt and 80 percent of the uranium extracted in the U.S. are produced this way. Class III wells comprise eight percent of injection wells in the U.S.
Class IV wells are defined in OAC 3745-34-04(D). Class IV wells are shallow wells used to inject hazardous or radioactive wastes into or above a geologic formation that contains an underground source of drinking water (USDW). In 1984, EPA banned the use of Class IV injection wells for disposal of hazardous or radioactive waste. Now, these wells may only be operated as part of an EPA- or state-authorized ground water clean-up action. There are about 32 waste clean-up sites with Class IV wells in the United States.
Most Class V wells are "low tech" holes in the ground, although a few are technologically advanced wastewater disposal systems used by industry. Generally, Class V wells are shallow and rely on gravity to drain or "inject" liquid waste into the ground. Examples of Class V wells include dry wells that collect surface water runoff and industrial, commercial, and utility disposal wells. A Class V well's potential to endanger a nearby ground water resource depends largely on the type and / or quantity of waste fluid it injects.
What is the difference between Class IV and Class V injection wells?
In general, both shallow Class IV and Class V wells inject fluids into or above the uppermost USDW and may be of similar construction, such as a septic system or dry well. The difference between Class IV and Class V wells is the quality of the fluid being injected. Class V wells may only inject non-hazardous fluids that will not endanger USDWs. However, if a Class V well is misused and receives hazardous waste (as defined by RCRA), the well would be considered a Class IV well and therefore be banned.
Class IV wells are prohibited unless the injection wells are used to inject contaminated ground water that has been treated and is being injected into the same formation from which it was drawn.
Comments- Taken from EPAs Website
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Chapter 78 Oil & Gas Regs Pennsylvania aim to increase drinking water protection attend a meeting
4 DEP Public Comment Meetings about Proposed Chapter 78 changes to provide stronger regulations for Oil and Gas Wells (including Marcellus wells): please review the proposed regs (see link below) and offer comments, as the intention of these regs according to the first paragraph, is to offer increased protection for public and private drinking water supplies in Pennsylvania.
LEGAL NOTICE The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold four meetings during the month of July 2010 to receive comments on the proposed changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78. The new and amended sections are §§78.1, .51, .71 - 73, .81 - .85, .88, .89, .91 - .96, .121 and .122.
The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at each location.
They will be held July 19 at the Tunkhannock Area High School Auditorium in Tunkhannock, PA;
July 21 at Lycoming College Heim Science Center Building, Room G-11 at Williamsport, PA;
July 22 at DEPs Northwest Regional Office, 1st Floor Conference Room in Meadville, PA; and
July 22 at DEPs Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room A and B, in Pittsburgh, PA.
If you need an accommodation due to a disability and want to attend the meeting, please contact Millie Raudabaugh directly at 717-772-2199, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 at least 24 hours in advance so arrangements can be made.
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING dealing with Oil and Gas Wells:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
From DEP Website:
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Oil and Gas Wells
Published PA Bulletin Notice http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-5/183.html
Proposal
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
Things you can do
1. Review Proposal.
2. Comment
3. Attend Public Meeting
LEGAL NOTICE The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold four meetings during the month of July 2010 to receive comments on the proposed changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78. The new and amended sections are §§78.1, .51, .71 - 73, .81 - .85, .88, .89, .91 - .96, .121 and .122.
The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at each location.
They will be held July 19 at the Tunkhannock Area High School Auditorium in Tunkhannock, PA;
July 21 at Lycoming College Heim Science Center Building, Room G-11 at Williamsport, PA;
July 22 at DEPs Northwest Regional Office, 1st Floor Conference Room in Meadville, PA; and
July 22 at DEPs Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room A and B, in Pittsburgh, PA.
If you need an accommodation due to a disability and want to attend the meeting, please contact Millie Raudabaugh directly at 717-772-2199, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 at least 24 hours in advance so arrangements can be made.
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING dealing with Oil and Gas Wells:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
From DEP Website:
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Oil and Gas Wells
Published PA Bulletin Notice http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-5/183.html
Proposal
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
Things you can do
1. Review Proposal.
2. Comment
3. Attend Public Meeting
Friday, June 18, 2010
Marcellus Shale drillers, developers given clear roadmap for keeping drinking water and streams safe
Marcellus Shale drillers, developers given clear roadmap for keeping drinking water and streams safe
Posting a copy of a release I got from Penn Future
(Harrisburg, PA - June 17, 2010) -- Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) today praised the members of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for passage of two key new regulations that will protect drinking water and streams and rivers from pollution from Marcellus Shale drilling and new development projects. The new rules on drilling will require that drillers treat their toxic and salt-laden wastewater to drinking water standards if they want to dispose of it in Pennsylvania?s waterways. The other rules will require some developers to maintain or create a 150 foot natural vegetative buffer beside Pennsylvania?s best rivers and streams.
The bipartisan IRRC vote on both sets of regulations was 4 - 1, with Chair Arthur Coccodrilli (appointed by the Senate Democratic leader), Vice Chair George D. Bedwick (appointed by the Democratic Speaker of the House), John Mizner (appointed by the Republican President Pro Tem of the Senate), and S. David Fineman (appointed by the Democratic Governor) all voting in the majority.
"The IRRC deserves praise for taking two giant steps in protecting safe drinking water and our rivers and streams," said Jan Jarrett, PennFuture’s president and CEO. "These updated rules give both the Marcellus Shale drillers and developers across the state a clear roadmap for water protection. Now it’s time to stop any excuses, and follow the rules.
"Frankly, I'm tired of the 'Yes, buts' from the drillers, and to a lesser extent from the development community," continued Jarrett. "They always claim they want to protect our environment and economy, but then they fight against commonsense regulations requiring them to do so. And the recent drilling accidents make it clear to every Pennsylvanian that we need strong regulations in place to protect the public, workers, and natural resources.
"That's why the Pennsylvania Senate must join the House in passing the freeze on new drilling in our State Forests," continued Jarrett. "We have leased as much of the forests as we can. Leasing any more would permanently damage our public forest land.
"I'm also tired of the refusal of the drillers to pay their fair share," continued Jarrett. "They pay a drilling impact fee in every other state with major natural gas deposits without a complaint – there’s no reason they shouldn’t pay it here. The legislature needs to enact a severance tax on the drillers, with dedicated portions of the revenue to go to Growing Greener, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, other environmental agencies, and local communities 'hosting the drillers. Paying Pennsylvanians back for the enormous profits the drillers will make on our natural gas is not too much to ask, and it's time for the drillers to stop their intransigent behavior and agree."
The State Senate Environment Committee passed a resolution to delay implementation of the drilling regulations by two weeks and the House Committee passed a motion to delay the buffer, which will delay implementation. If the committees don’t disapprove of the regulations within 14 days, both will be reviewed by the Attorney General, then will be published and become law.
At the IRRC Meeting this morning, Reg 2783 and Reg 2806 passed by 4-1:
Independent Regulatory Review Commission
10:00 a.m., 333 Market St., 14th Floor Conference Room, Harrisburg
Public meeting to consider the following Regulations:
• Reg. No. 2673 PA Public Utility Commission #57-260: Abbreviated Procedure for Review of Transfer of Control & Affiliate Filings for Telecommunications Carriers
• Reg. No. 2783 Environmental Quality Board #7-440: Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management
• Reg. No. 2806 Environmental Quality Board #7-446: Wastewater Treatment Requirements
Senate Communications and Technology
10:00 a.m., Room 8E-B, East Wing
******
Personal Notes
1. I do not like the idea of a standard buffer, because it really depends on site conditions and nature of the system and type of engineering controls.
2. Bring the water to drinking water quality - this sounds good - but how will this be done _ I would assume to be cost efficient this would require central treatment facilities. It would not make much sense to go to a stream discharge, it would be a lot easier to establish central treatment facilities that treat and blend water - full recirculation system.
3. What are we going to do with the brine concentrate?
Posting a copy of a release I got from Penn Future
(Harrisburg, PA - June 17, 2010) -- Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) today praised the members of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for passage of two key new regulations that will protect drinking water and streams and rivers from pollution from Marcellus Shale drilling and new development projects. The new rules on drilling will require that drillers treat their toxic and salt-laden wastewater to drinking water standards if they want to dispose of it in Pennsylvania?s waterways. The other rules will require some developers to maintain or create a 150 foot natural vegetative buffer beside Pennsylvania?s best rivers and streams.
The bipartisan IRRC vote on both sets of regulations was 4 - 1, with Chair Arthur Coccodrilli (appointed by the Senate Democratic leader), Vice Chair George D. Bedwick (appointed by the Democratic Speaker of the House), John Mizner (appointed by the Republican President Pro Tem of the Senate), and S. David Fineman (appointed by the Democratic Governor) all voting in the majority.
"The IRRC deserves praise for taking two giant steps in protecting safe drinking water and our rivers and streams," said Jan Jarrett, PennFuture’s president and CEO. "These updated rules give both the Marcellus Shale drillers and developers across the state a clear roadmap for water protection. Now it’s time to stop any excuses, and follow the rules.
"Frankly, I'm tired of the 'Yes, buts' from the drillers, and to a lesser extent from the development community," continued Jarrett. "They always claim they want to protect our environment and economy, but then they fight against commonsense regulations requiring them to do so. And the recent drilling accidents make it clear to every Pennsylvanian that we need strong regulations in place to protect the public, workers, and natural resources.
"That's why the Pennsylvania Senate must join the House in passing the freeze on new drilling in our State Forests," continued Jarrett. "We have leased as much of the forests as we can. Leasing any more would permanently damage our public forest land.
"I'm also tired of the refusal of the drillers to pay their fair share," continued Jarrett. "They pay a drilling impact fee in every other state with major natural gas deposits without a complaint – there’s no reason they shouldn’t pay it here. The legislature needs to enact a severance tax on the drillers, with dedicated portions of the revenue to go to Growing Greener, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, other environmental agencies, and local communities 'hosting the drillers. Paying Pennsylvanians back for the enormous profits the drillers will make on our natural gas is not too much to ask, and it's time for the drillers to stop their intransigent behavior and agree."
The State Senate Environment Committee passed a resolution to delay implementation of the drilling regulations by two weeks and the House Committee passed a motion to delay the buffer, which will delay implementation. If the committees don’t disapprove of the regulations within 14 days, both will be reviewed by the Attorney General, then will be published and become law.
At the IRRC Meeting this morning, Reg 2783 and Reg 2806 passed by 4-1:
Independent Regulatory Review Commission
10:00 a.m., 333 Market St., 14th Floor Conference Room, Harrisburg
Public meeting to consider the following Regulations:
• Reg. No. 2673 PA Public Utility Commission #57-260: Abbreviated Procedure for Review of Transfer of Control & Affiliate Filings for Telecommunications Carriers
• Reg. No. 2783 Environmental Quality Board #7-440: Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management
• Reg. No. 2806 Environmental Quality Board #7-446: Wastewater Treatment Requirements
Senate Communications and Technology
10:00 a.m., Room 8E-B, East Wing
******
Personal Notes
1. I do not like the idea of a standard buffer, because it really depends on site conditions and nature of the system and type of engineering controls.
2. Bring the water to drinking water quality - this sounds good - but how will this be done _ I would assume to be cost efficient this would require central treatment facilities. It would not make much sense to go to a stream discharge, it would be a lot easier to establish central treatment facilities that treat and blend water - full recirculation system.
3. What are we going to do with the brine concentrate?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Pending Natural Gas Legislation in Pennysylvania House and Senate Bills
"Natural Gas Legislation Update
The speed of development of natural gas within the Marcellus Shale has resulted in a flurry of legislative activity during the 2009/2010 session. Individuals wishing to advocate for or comment on any of the bills under consideration should contact his/her state representative and/or senator.
Revenue-Related Legislation
House Bill 10 – To amend the General County Assessment Law to enable counties to assess value to coal, minerals, natural gas, methane gas, and oil.
House Bill 208 - To standardize rules regarding properties in Clean and Green. The bill would limit drilling and extraction to one acre and impose roll-back taxes on only that one acre. The remaining eligible land will be assessed at the preferential value.
House Bill 623 – Creates a special fund for royalty payments from leasing of state forestry lands. Eighty percent of the royalties would be dedicated to property tax reduction and 20% would be put in the Oil and Gas Lease Fund for conservation purposes.
House Bill 834 – Requires the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to hold regular auctions for drilling rights on state forest lands.
Senate Bill 490 – Allocates money from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund according to this breakdown:
$174 million to the General Fund (person opinion - BAD Choice !)
$5 million to DEP for review and processing of oil and gas permit applications and to conduct inspections on oil and gas sites (Should be higher )
$3 million to DEP for implementation of nutrient credit trading program as provided by law
$1 million to DCNR for administration of the PA Natural Heritage Program and for processing online environmental review applications submitted under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory (This should be covered by fees - not this method)$500,000 to the PA Fish and Boat Commission for the administration of environmental reviews received under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory (This should be covered by fees - not this method- monies should be used for other uses)$500,000 to the PA Game Commission for the administration of environmental reviews received under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory(This should be covered by fees - not this method- monies should be used for other uses)
How about - funding alternative energy projects !
House Bill 977 – Legislation to:
Extend the Oil and Gas Conservation law to development of Marcellus Shale formation
Exclude production costs from being deducted from royalty payments
Ensure that horizontal drilling is not conducted under any lands where a lease between a landowner and a well operator does not exist
Provide a definition for a lease
House Bill 1050 – Amends state statutes to lease 390,000 acres of state forest land, 130,000 acres/year over 3 years. Leases would be required to have a minimum bid of $2,000 per acre and 16% royalty payment. It is expected that the leases would generate $260 million in first year. The revenue would be distributed as follows:
80% general fund (Bad Choice - Money should not go to general fund - a portion should offset local realestate taxes for citizens and should be reinvested in alternative energy).
12.5% to communities with active wells(To do what?- this should be specificied)2.5% communities with Marcellus wells (To do what?)
5% to Conservation Districts (What about supporting Growing Greener??- Non-point source pollution control- installing stormwater infrastructure, improving water and wastewater facilities, buying watershed land)
House Bill 2015 – Permits an independent agency to retain all rents and royalty payments from oil and gas leases on lands owned by that agency, but does not apply to the PA Game Commission and the PA Fish and Boat Commission.
Governor’s Severance Tax Proposal – a 5% tax on the value of the gas and $0.047 tax on each million cubic feet extracted.
Regulatory Legislation
House Bill 297 – Requires PennDOT to update road bonding amounts based on increased maintenance costs by 2011 and every 3 years thereafter.
House Bill 473 – Creates a “Surface Owners’ Bill of Rights” which would require surface owners and well operators to more actively reach agreement on surface damages. In the absence of an agreement, the land owner may appeal to the PA Department of Environmental Protection for assistance.
House Bill 808 – Provides for doubling the amount of the bond required on oil and gas wells and used to fund the plugging of abandoned wells.
House Bill 934 – Permits landowners access to gas well production information at regular intervals in lieu of the 5-year moratorium on this information.
House Bill 1139 – Amends the Oil and Gas Resource Coordination Act by removing the minimum well separation distance requirement and requires the granting of a request when the well distance is less than 1,000 feet and there is a written agreement.
House Bill 1155 – Establishes a presumption that a well operator is responsible for water well pollution that is within 2,500 feet of an oil or gas well. Will require well operators to:
Provide a landowner 15-day notice, prior to entry on their land, to conduct activities that will not disturb the surface, such as surveys and inspections
Provide surface owners and those within a ½ -mile radius of any drilling activity, a 45-day notice of all planned activity
House Bill 1205 – Legislation to protect water well supplies by:
Extending the presumption of liability on the part of a well operator for damage to a water supply within 2,000 feet of a well in lieu of the current 1,000 feet
Extends the timeframe for when the damage was to have occurred to 24 months from the current 6 months
Requires that well operators conduct a test of water supplies within 2,000 feet of a well operation prior to drilling, and to conduct, upon a landowner or water purveyor’s request, up to two follow-up tests within a 24-month period after production has commenced.
House Bill 2183 – Legislation to amend the Oil and Gas Act by requiring a public notice of every oil or gas well permit application submitted to DEP be published once a week for 4 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
House Bill 2184 – Similar to House Bill 2183, but amends the Oil and Gas Conservation Law.
House Bill 2213 – Requires:
DEP to inspect a well during all phases of development
Extends the presumption of liability on the part of a well operator for damages to water supply within 2,500 feet of a well in lieu of the current 1,000 feet
Requires disclosure of the hydraulic fracking chemicals by well operators to DEP
Increases the bonding requirements on Marcellus shale wells to $150,000 per well
Attempts to clarify the authority of state and local governments over oil and gas well drilling operations
House Bill 2214 – Requires that royalty payments exclude post-production costs and be exempt from any severance taxes.
House Bill 2266 – Establishes criteria for when interest in oil and gas can be deemed abandoned. If the interest in oil or gas owned by another party (other than surface owner) has not been sold, leased, mortgaged or transferred for a 20 year period, it shall be deemed abandoned. Establishes provisions for preserving the interest as well.
House Bill 2276 – Similar to HB 977 but removes all references to the unitization provisions and their
extension to the Marcellus shale formation contained in HB 977.
Senate Bill 297 – Requires the well operator to semi-annually submit production reports to the PA DEP. After a 5-year confidentially period, DEP will post the production reports on the website.
Senate Bill 298 – Establishes that for land in Clean and Green, roll-back taxes will only imposed on acreage used for drilling and extraction.
Senate Bill 1092 – Requires each well operator to provide a cement quality log or other approved method to DEP, to allow them to evaluate the adequacy of the cement being used in drilling operations.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/.
Individual bills can be found by entering the bill number in the box on the upper-right hand corner of the page."
Not my work - but posted so I can put in my comments the source,
The speed of development of natural gas within the Marcellus Shale has resulted in a flurry of legislative activity during the 2009/2010 session. Individuals wishing to advocate for or comment on any of the bills under consideration should contact his/her state representative and/or senator.
Revenue-Related Legislation
House Bill 10 – To amend the General County Assessment Law to enable counties to assess value to coal, minerals, natural gas, methane gas, and oil.
House Bill 208 - To standardize rules regarding properties in Clean and Green. The bill would limit drilling and extraction to one acre and impose roll-back taxes on only that one acre. The remaining eligible land will be assessed at the preferential value.
House Bill 623 – Creates a special fund for royalty payments from leasing of state forestry lands. Eighty percent of the royalties would be dedicated to property tax reduction and 20% would be put in the Oil and Gas Lease Fund for conservation purposes.
House Bill 834 – Requires the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to hold regular auctions for drilling rights on state forest lands.
Senate Bill 490 – Allocates money from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund according to this breakdown:
$174 million to the General Fund (person opinion - BAD Choice !)
$5 million to DEP for review and processing of oil and gas permit applications and to conduct inspections on oil and gas sites (Should be higher )
$3 million to DEP for implementation of nutrient credit trading program as provided by law
$1 million to DCNR for administration of the PA Natural Heritage Program and for processing online environmental review applications submitted under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory (This should be covered by fees - not this method)$500,000 to the PA Fish and Boat Commission for the administration of environmental reviews received under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory (This should be covered by fees - not this method- monies should be used for other uses)$500,000 to the PA Game Commission for the administration of environmental reviews received under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory(This should be covered by fees - not this method- monies should be used for other uses)
How about - funding alternative energy projects !
House Bill 977 – Legislation to:
Extend the Oil and Gas Conservation law to development of Marcellus Shale formation
Exclude production costs from being deducted from royalty payments
Ensure that horizontal drilling is not conducted under any lands where a lease between a landowner and a well operator does not exist
Provide a definition for a lease
House Bill 1050 – Amends state statutes to lease 390,000 acres of state forest land, 130,000 acres/year over 3 years. Leases would be required to have a minimum bid of $2,000 per acre and 16% royalty payment. It is expected that the leases would generate $260 million in first year. The revenue would be distributed as follows:
80% general fund (Bad Choice - Money should not go to general fund - a portion should offset local realestate taxes for citizens and should be reinvested in alternative energy).
12.5% to communities with active wells(To do what?- this should be specificied)2.5% communities with Marcellus wells (To do what?)
5% to Conservation Districts (What about supporting Growing Greener??- Non-point source pollution control- installing stormwater infrastructure, improving water and wastewater facilities, buying watershed land)
House Bill 2015 – Permits an independent agency to retain all rents and royalty payments from oil and gas leases on lands owned by that agency, but does not apply to the PA Game Commission and the PA Fish and Boat Commission.
Governor’s Severance Tax Proposal – a 5% tax on the value of the gas and $0.047 tax on each million cubic feet extracted.
Regulatory Legislation
House Bill 297 – Requires PennDOT to update road bonding amounts based on increased maintenance costs by 2011 and every 3 years thereafter.
House Bill 473 – Creates a “Surface Owners’ Bill of Rights” which would require surface owners and well operators to more actively reach agreement on surface damages. In the absence of an agreement, the land owner may appeal to the PA Department of Environmental Protection for assistance.
House Bill 808 – Provides for doubling the amount of the bond required on oil and gas wells and used to fund the plugging of abandoned wells.
House Bill 934 – Permits landowners access to gas well production information at regular intervals in lieu of the 5-year moratorium on this information.
House Bill 1139 – Amends the Oil and Gas Resource Coordination Act by removing the minimum well separation distance requirement and requires the granting of a request when the well distance is less than 1,000 feet and there is a written agreement.
House Bill 1155 – Establishes a presumption that a well operator is responsible for water well pollution that is within 2,500 feet of an oil or gas well. Will require well operators to:
Provide a landowner 15-day notice, prior to entry on their land, to conduct activities that will not disturb the surface, such as surveys and inspections
Provide surface owners and those within a ½ -mile radius of any drilling activity, a 45-day notice of all planned activity
House Bill 1205 – Legislation to protect water well supplies by:
Extending the presumption of liability on the part of a well operator for damage to a water supply within 2,000 feet of a well in lieu of the current 1,000 feet
Extends the timeframe for when the damage was to have occurred to 24 months from the current 6 months
Requires that well operators conduct a test of water supplies within 2,000 feet of a well operation prior to drilling, and to conduct, upon a landowner or water purveyor’s request, up to two follow-up tests within a 24-month period after production has commenced.
House Bill 2183 – Legislation to amend the Oil and Gas Act by requiring a public notice of every oil or gas well permit application submitted to DEP be published once a week for 4 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
House Bill 2184 – Similar to House Bill 2183, but amends the Oil and Gas Conservation Law.
House Bill 2213 – Requires:
DEP to inspect a well during all phases of development
Extends the presumption of liability on the part of a well operator for damages to water supply within 2,500 feet of a well in lieu of the current 1,000 feet
Requires disclosure of the hydraulic fracking chemicals by well operators to DEP
Increases the bonding requirements on Marcellus shale wells to $150,000 per well
Attempts to clarify the authority of state and local governments over oil and gas well drilling operations
House Bill 2214 – Requires that royalty payments exclude post-production costs and be exempt from any severance taxes.
House Bill 2266 – Establishes criteria for when interest in oil and gas can be deemed abandoned. If the interest in oil or gas owned by another party (other than surface owner) has not been sold, leased, mortgaged or transferred for a 20 year period, it shall be deemed abandoned. Establishes provisions for preserving the interest as well.
House Bill 2276 – Similar to HB 977 but removes all references to the unitization provisions and their
extension to the Marcellus shale formation contained in HB 977.
Senate Bill 297 – Requires the well operator to semi-annually submit production reports to the PA DEP. After a 5-year confidentially period, DEP will post the production reports on the website.
Senate Bill 298 – Establishes that for land in Clean and Green, roll-back taxes will only imposed on acreage used for drilling and extraction.
Senate Bill 1092 – Requires each well operator to provide a cement quality log or other approved method to DEP, to allow them to evaluate the adequacy of the cement being used in drilling operations.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/.
Individual bills can be found by entering the bill number in the box on the upper-right hand corner of the page."
Not my work - but posted so I can put in my comments the source,
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
How to file a Consumer Complaint Related to Natural Gas
PA State Attorney General Consumer Complaint Office
Action items
The State Attorney General of PA can help with complaints and problems about gas drilling.
They can Do:
* You CAN file a complaint about the practices of landmen, or gas company and pipeline representatives. If you feel you have been subject to unfair tactics, fraud, bullying, pressuring etc you may make a formal complaint.
What They Can NOt Do, this is what the Attorney General's Office cannot do:
The Office does not handle,
* environmental issues; complaints must be made to the EPA or The PA DEP, if they appear to be criminal in nature they MAY be turned over to the investigative department of the State Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Unit. They work by referral from other agencies only.
* They do not assist with leasing complaints, that is an attorney/client issue. You must get your own legal assistance to resolve lease issues.
There website
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id=451
Action items
The State Attorney General of PA can help with complaints and problems about gas drilling.
They can Do:
* You CAN file a complaint about the practices of landmen, or gas company and pipeline representatives. If you feel you have been subject to unfair tactics, fraud, bullying, pressuring etc you may make a formal complaint.
What They Can NOt Do, this is what the Attorney General's Office cannot do:
The Office does not handle,
* environmental issues; complaints must be made to the EPA or The PA DEP, if they appear to be criminal in nature they MAY be turned over to the investigative department of the State Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Unit. They work by referral from other agencies only.
* They do not assist with leasing complaints, that is an attorney/client issue. You must get your own legal assistance to resolve lease issues.
There website
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id=451
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