CLEAR November 2012

clear@lists.cheatlakeclear.org

2 participants
5 discussions

Stop the noise and air pollution at MFIP!
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

Remember Northeastern Natural Energy at the Morgantown Industrial Park and the public outcry? Same County (Cheat Lake Area) Same type of location: Industrial Park Same type of Industry Health, Safety and Welfare of citizens threatened Visit http://stopthenoise.lwvwv.org for a better reading experience and to view the videos documenting the noise pollution. Stop the Noise! <http://www.lwvwv.org/2012/11/20/stop-the-noise/> <http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/P1010334.jpg><http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/P1010336.jpg> Stop the noise! <http://stopthenoise.lwvwv.org/> Sounds simple, doesn't it? But it is not. At the Natural Resources committee meeting ofLWV of Morgantown-Monongalia <http://www.lwvwv.org/category/league-of-women-votes-of-wv/morgantown/>on November 19th, 2012, the brutal reality of what happens when citizens have no recourse when their welfare is threatened became painfully apparent to us all in a loud way. In the videos below Cassandra Harvey records the almost constant 24/7 noise her family had to experience in the vicinity of the Mon Fayette Industrial Park (MFIP). "Had to" because after several month of grating, constant, maddening, unrelenting, drive a person insane noise, she and her family had to move. Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Manager Edward Limas ofInspection Oilfield Services (IOS) <http://www.iospci.com/> states in a noise survey conducted on 8/27/2012 that the noise level ranged from 86.3-105.8 dB. According to the OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards concerning Occupational noise exposure <http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_i…> ("Paragraphs (c) through (n) <http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/oilgaswelldrilling/index.html#standards>of this section shall not apply to employers engaged in oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations."), sound protection is required for workers spending over 2 hours at the 100 dB range. Table G-16 below provides a detailed dB/hr explanation. TABLE G-16 - PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURES (1) ______________________________________________________________ | Duration per day, hours | Sound level dBA slow response ____________________________|_________________________________ | 8...........................| 90 6...........................| 92 4...........................| 95 3...........................| 97 2...........................| 100 1 1/2 ......................| 102 1...........................| 105 1/2 ........................| 110 1/4 or less................| 115 ____________________________|________________________________ This video speaks for itself. IOS workers are not protected from potential injury from loud sound! If they were working for short periods of time, perhaps, but the residents beside the Industrial Park have been observing the same workers over an extended time period. The residents have been experiencing air pollution from the rust and chemicals being removed from the pipes. Sometimes there is a chemical odor in the air, and they have observed a film from the particulates depositing on surfaces. Ruth Stone explained how the chemistry of her swimming pool water has been altered. Photos were shown of a bird bath filled with a rust color substance. Observe in the video above how workers are not wearing any respiratory protection either! Another known violation. I asked Bill Myers, one of over 10 residents who attended the meeting, whether the pipes are cleaned on location at the drilling site, or whether they come in dirty with drilling mud. Although he was not completely sure whether they are being delivered with toxic mud, he said, they are cleaned at the Industrial Park, and the dirty water, drains into a tributary that empties into Cheat Lake. It would be interesting to find out the results from a chemistry test of the effluents being dumped from the site. IOS is only 1 of several companies with a lease at the Park. According to MFIP leasing specs, there are nowmore than 20 tenants <http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16835952/1100-Heavy-Haul-Road-Morgantown-WV/>mainly focused on the oil and gas industry. <http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Mon-Fayette-Industrial-Park…> Resident's home in relation to the Industrial Park site. View Larger Map <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Clark+Road,+M…> When the Industrial Park was being constructed beside the residents homes, a 15 foot high vertical drop was built right along their property lines. No attempt was made by the operators to put a protective fence along this wall to protect residents, in particular, their children. Both of Cassandra's children were adversely affected by the noise in the nighttime and suffered from the inability to sleep. Cassandra observed behavioral changes in both children resulting from the extreme fatigue. There were specific instances when her 6 year old was screaming and crying due to an incredibly high-pitched squeal. Both she and her husband, Wade, a physician, have developed tinnitus. The video below provides good insight into why they had to move. But, many of the residents cannot move from the location. Some have been there for 40+ years. This is the place they have loved and enjoyed, but now their faces bare deep frowns. I could sense the heaviness and despair in the air. These folk do not oppose good jobs, and IOS promised them they would be a good neighbor. But that has not happened, instead it has become a waking nightmare that they cannot fall asleep from. <http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2012-0829-15.33-4.jpg> Burning behind the IOS facility. There are many other violations the residents have been observing at the Industrial Park. One repeated violation involves burning without a permit on an industrial site which is illegal in West Virginia. <http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blasting11.jpg><http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blasting111.jpg><http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blasting1111.jpg> Blasting is being performed by Mountaineer Drilling & Blasting from Clarksburg. Some resident's homes have sustained structural damage. The response from the Industrial Park's insurer, Chartis (Mountaineer Drilling sent Smith Adjusting) is that the blasting has not been strong enough to cause damage. The residents were made aware that seismographs were used after they complained; however, they have never been granted access to the data collected. What is worst is that no offer for pre-appraisals were initially offered, and there was never a notice about the blasting being performed. Sirens were occasionally used, but not according to blasting regulations or with any regularity. Complete violations. Paul Panson, incorporator and President (owner) of LPG Land & Development Corp., the corporation operating the Mon Fayette Industrial Park, allowed more blasting to occur on November 8 and 12 despite complaints from the residents. Bonnie Hughes (the resident who originally contacted me on this website) says that an unknown company was performing blasting on those two dates, and speculates that LPG Land & Development may have been performing the work themselves without an outside contractors help. Why hasn't anything been done? Apparently, the regulations that pertain to permanent sites do not apply to the transient Oil & Gas industry's temporary sites. But temporary is a relative term, it could be an indefinite amount of years, as long as drilling continues up the road in Pennsylvania, the Industrial Park is conveniently located right near the end of the Mon-Fayette expressway. As for the noise, the worst complaint of all, Bonnie explains it in this way, "The buck keeps getting passed around from EPA to DEP to County Commission back to EPA". While deeply concerned, the Monongalia County Health Department <http://www.monchd.org/>andHUD <http://hud.gov/>have not been able to help. <http://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/mckinley-noise.jpg> WV Congressman David McKinley's response On October 19, 2012, WV Congressman David McKinley responded to Bonnie's complaint regarding the excessive noise level at the MFIP. He explains, "TheNoise Control Act of 1972 <http://www.epa.gov/air/noise/noise_control_act_of_1972.pdf>andQuiet Communities Act of 1978 <http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html>were not rescinded, and remain in effect today." However, McKinley says, "In 1981, the Administration concluded that noise issues were best handled at the state or local governmental level." McKinley copied this information in his letter verbatim from EPA's website <http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/history/topics/noise/index.html>. Neither does he believe that current Federal regulations enforced by the EPA or a designated agency would apply to her complaint. Then he offers to forward a very detailed written statement of her concerns to the EPA to determine if help is available, and ask the County Commission, and WV DEP to contact her personally. Bonnie sent this statement to McKinley on October 22, 2012, and has not heard back. But, the residents have already been through this circuit with the EPA, DEP and County Commission over and over again. He says, "I am hopeful these officials will be successful in convincing the drilling company to commit to being a "good neighbor" and offer a suitable resolution which will be aimed at reducing the noise levels associated with their drilling activities." What the residents desperately want now is relief. They cannot wait for County Planning to implement a sound ordinance, or the state legislature to implement a law that the County Commission would have to obey. They hope that theNoise Control Act of 1972 <http://www.epa.gov/air/noise/noise_control_act_of_1972.pdf>will come to their rescue and will preempt, or perhaps their new neighbor will pay close attention to the part in the Constitution that promotes the general Welfare of all her people. One more video to whet your whistle. In this video, a fire whistle competes with the background sound. Yes, sirens are still used in our region in this modern age of pagers, radios and telephones!

1 0

: "How's My Waterway" Webcast
by Duane 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

> From: "Thompson, Jami" <JThompson(a)wvca.us> > Date: November 26, 2012 12:25:48 PM EST > Subject: "How's My Waterway" Webcast > > > Many of you have probably already seen the new EPA "How's my Waterway" tool, where you can search local water bodies and learn about their water quality. This Wednesday there is a free webcast to learn more about this app, and others related to water quality. I thought y'all may be interested! Here is the link to register http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm You can also search and download past webcasts, and subscribe to the podcast! > > I found out about this webcast because I'm subscribe to the EPA's Watershed News. It's a monthly electronic newsletter with all kinds of great watershed-related news! I would highly suggest subscribing. Here's a link to the November newsletter, and instructions on how to subscribe can be found at the very bottom http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/1112.cfm > > > dgn

1 0

National Water Quality Monitoring Council online newsletter
by Duane 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

To our Water Monitoring Colleagues around the Nation: As Co-Chairs of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (or "Council"), we are pleased to release the sixth edition of our online newsletter National Water Monitoring News :http://acwi.gov/monitoring/newsletter/national-monitoring-news_fall2012.pdf This newsletter provides a forum of communication among water practitioners across the Nation. In support of the national Council’s mission, this newsletter is geared to foster partnerships and collaboration; advance water science; improve monitoring strategies; and enhance data integration, comparability, and reporting. This edition highlights many events, activities, and new products and we hope the information is useful for your water needs. Among the topics included: Highlights from the Council’s 8th National Monitoring Conference (April 30 – May 4, 2012, Portland, OR) New Council Resource – Water Quality Data Portal Tools and Technology Electronic field forms for the 2012 National Lakes Assessment New How's My Waterway? mobile website Updates on monitoring including: U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Water Program U.S. EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys U.S. Forest Service’s Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Program Chesapeake Bay Program monitoring of 2011 storm effects Wildfire effects on source water quality Spotlight on the State monitoring programs from California, Vermont and Florida Volunteers monitoring and the coastal Phytoplankton Monitoring Network Updates on National Monitoring Networks including: National Ground Water Monitoring Network Albemarle Sound’s study as part of the National Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and Their Tributaries Lake Michigan water quality near Chicago Many thanks to the editorial board: Cathy Tate, Dan Sullivan, Wendy Norton, Alice Mayio, and John Hummer; Kim Martz for the layout, and to all contributors nationwide. On behalf of the entire Council, we hope you enjoy this newsletter and we encourage your feedback and input in future editions! Respectfully yours, Mike Yurewicz, USGS Co-Chair and Susan Holdsworth, EPA Co-Chair To learn more about the National Water Quality Monitoring Council please visit:http://acwi.gov/monitoring/

1 0

New Cheat Lake Bridge Schedule
by Duane 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

Jason Nelson of the WV division of highways said today on WAJR radio that the work on the new bridge is behind schedule. He said two to three more weeks of work remains, depending upon the weather. The main bridge deck is now finished, in concrete. But, more work remains with the asphalt on the approach ramps. Other finishing work also remains to be done. So, we cannot expect the new bridge to open until at least December 7th. He also said that there is some subsidence on one of the ramps, over Bowers Lane, in the interchange of the Mon Valley Expressway. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

1 0

Cheat Lake drawdown
by Duane 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

> From: Andy Datsko > Date: November 15, 2012 12:48:55 PM EST > To: Duane <duane330(a)aol.com > Subject: Cheat Lake 10 foot drawdown > > Duane- > > Just wanted to let you know that due to construction at the dam we will be pulling the lake down gradually over the next week or so to about 860' for the week of November 27th and will hold it at that level for about 7-10 days weather permitting. > > We are in process of installing a 2nd debris boom at the dam and will need the reservoir down to construct the attachment hardware to the face of the dam for the new debris boom that will stretch from the dam to the west shore line. Once the work is down we will return to our normal winter operating schedule. > > Since we are within our FERC permitted limits for the winter and seasonal docks have been removed from the reservoir we will not be putting a public notice out on this but we just wanted to give you advanced information if CLEAR receives any questions on why the lake is down. > > Andy

1 0

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

CLEAR November 2012