From: Frack Check WV frackcheckwv@gmail.com Date: May 6, 2011 1:09:09 PM EDT Subject: Monitoring Marcellus Shale Gas Activities in the Cheat River Watershed
Monitoring Marcellus Shale Gas Activities in the Cheat River Watershed
Monitoring Marcellus Shale Gas Activities in the Cheat River Watershed Posted: 06 May 2011 07:16 AM PDT The lower Cheat River watershed is now challenged by an influx of Marcellus shale natural gas development. An article and map have been prepared by the Friends of the Cheat (FOC) to illustrate how these sites are concentrated, many on quality streams. As of early April, there have been over 50 Marcellus related gas permits issued in Preston County.
Also, construction has commenced on a natural gas gathering pipeline running south from the WV/PA line northeast of Bruceton Mills. Superior Appalachian Pipeline Company of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, broke ground for a 16-mile natural gas project on March 1st. Superior said the area has had limited ability to transport natural gas, and the new pipeline will make that easier.
Further, rumors of a commercial solid waste facility to accept the dried byproduct of produced water swirled last summer. An article in the Morgantown Dominion Post on July 28, 2010 said that the rumors of a new landfill for Marcellus drilling wastes near Bruceton Mills had raised concerns among local citizens. And, on April 29, 2011 this same newspaper reported that a meeting was underway with the WV-DEP in Charleston to discuss such a landfill with an unidentified company. It was reported that the WV Public Service Commission would not approve a landfill without the approval of the Preston County Solid Waste Authority.
This region’s oil and gas inspector has over 5,000 wells on his roster and the development of many new wells is just getting started. FOC works each day to remediate the impacts of pre-regulatory coal mine pollution. Over $50 million has been spent cleaning up these impacts in the Cheat River watershed and some 14 treatment systems have been installed. The progress that has been made to clean up the Cheat River and Cheat Lake is now at stake. “Let’s take our time and do it right this time,” said Amanda Pitzer, Executive Director of the Friends of the Cheat. She said that “We can all wait. The gas will still be 8,000 feet under our beautiful mountain homes in the mean time.”
Two Marcellus Permits Issued for Morgantown Industrial Park, Upstream of Drinking Water Intake Posted: 05 May 2011 10:44 PM PDT View Larger Map The WV DEP, in March, issued permits for Northeast Natural Energy of Charleston, WV to drill two Marcellus gas wells on a well pad in the Morgantown Industrial Park. The company has the option to apply to drill four more wells on the pad. The fact that the site is located upstream of the Morgantown drinking water intake, could be a large source of air pollution almost inside the city, and had no public comment period before the permit was issued, has caused concern among officials and watershed groups.
Read the full article in the Charleston Daily Mail…
The map above is an approximate location. For exact coordinates of the well pad, search for API#061-01622 on the WV DEP Oil and Gas Interactive Map
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