Marcellus Shale Newswire 05/13/2011
Vol. 2, Issue 9
A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond
PennEnvironment
The Philadelphia Inquirer
History lost to gas drilling
By David Templeton
May 09, 2011
http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-09/news/29525345_1_gas-drilling-marcellus-shale-construction-site
In Westmoreland County, an old Monongahela Indian campsite was excavated a few years ago, however, there is now a drill rig on that exact campsite. The site has been completely destroyed by the rigs, bulldozers, and other equipment needed for gas drilling.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Marcellus Shale drillers balk at EPA pressure on state to tighten wastewater disposal rules
By Andrew Maykuth
May 13, 2011
http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-13/business/29540301_1_wastewater-dis…
The EPA forced the six biggest Marcellus Shale gas companies to disclose their disposal information on wastewater. The EPA has felt that the Department of Environmental Protection has not been competent in stopping the pollution from gas drilling wastewater and so they have taken over in controlling the disposal of the wastewater.
Hazelton’s Standard Speaker
Report: Gas wells drilled near school, hospitals
By Laura Legere
May 8, 2011
http://standardspeaker.com/news/report-gas-wells-drilled-near-schools-hospitals-1.1143479
The study by PennEnvironment found that there are multiple drills within two miles of daycare centers, schools, and hospitals. Pennsylvania law restricts drilling within 200 feet of any occupied building and the study found that the closest daycare center is 400 feet away from a gas drill. State officials have proposed bills to expand the buffer.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Strong evidence that shale drilling is risky
By Rob Jackson and Avner Vengosh
May 10, 2011
http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-10/news/29528421_1_water-wells-safe-drinking-natural-gas
There is recent evidence that Marcellus shale drilling has polluted numerous wells with methane. The advantages of natural gas production in the U.S. right now outweigh the detrimental effects. More studies are being conducted on natural gas drilling’s affect on drinking water and the local environment.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
EQT stands firm on shale-drilling tax
By Timothy Puko
May 11, 2011
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_736391.html
EQT Corporation is one of the only gas drilling companies in support of the gas drilling tax but protesters demanded that they support the tax that helps pay for education. The money from the extraction tax would go to paying costs created by the drillers. The CEO of the company, David L. Porges said they are not opposed to the money going towards education but does not want to get into the “politics and semantics”.
Williamsport Sun-Gazette
Lieutenant governor visits gas well on ‘fact-finding’ trip
By Cheryl R. Clarke
May 12, 2011
Lieutenant governor Jim Cawley visited the site of the Chesapeake Energy’s fracking fluid spill from last month. He questioned them about the effects of the spill on the nearby streams and discussed the new initiatives taken to protect the waterways from fracking fluids.