EC September 2011

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

9 participants
16 discussions

Fwd: Ad Campaign for Marcellus Gas
by James Kotcon 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Please excuse cross postings, I am not sure who is on the Energy Committee list, and I will be using gmail for this action. I have been working with Darla Gage of Growth Media Services on the ad campaign for Marcellus. They are the folks that did the PATH campaign, and Frank is correct, they are a pleasure to work with, and have done a lot on a very short timeframe. (The Marcellus-WV webpage has been a major resource). Below is a discussion of some advertising options. To summarize, newspaper advertising is a blackhole, don't waste your money. TV is good for visuals, but it is hard to motivate action from people once they sit down. A combination of billboards, radio, and internet advertising makes a cost-effective package that can be on-line is a short timeframe. In particular, an internet ad on a newspaper site would allow viewers to click on our link, which could take them to our web page that might direct them to more action. I propose a conference call Monday evening at 7 PM to brainstorm options and get consensus on what to do next. Darla is talking about having a film crew out as early as Tuesday so that material can be up by Sept. 5. Whaddya Tink? Jim Kotcon ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <darla(a)growthmediaservices.com> Date: Fri, Aug 26, 2011 at 6:52 PM Subject: Ad Campaign for Marcellus Gas To: jkotcon(a)gmail.com Hi there, Ok, I've checked out the website to familiarize myself more with the issues, and I have a few questions/thoughts for you. 1. You mention that you want the campaign to run Sept 5-12. Are you wanting it to run just that week, or are you looking for a more long term campaign? 2. Per our conversation, I understand that this is a public awareness campaign, similar to what we did for StopPATHWV. No politicizing, just making the public aware of the health, ecological and cost issues. The success of the StopPATH campaign relied on the fact that we conveyed the issues without appearing alarmist or radical, just calmly spreading the facts and making the communities aware of the issues. While the power company tried to stop the campaign, they couldn't because the basis of the information was 100% factual. They could not complain that we were crying "Fire" in a crowded theatre. We need to do the same thing here. We need to bring the reality of the situation home, explain the real world impact on their lives...this isn't something taking place halfway around the world, but something that could have an impact on the streams they fish, the water they drink, etc. Lots of different ways this can be done. One thing we would definitely want to show is the impact to the land. If there are any experts we could speak with regarding it, that would be a good option as well. I'll work this weekend on script ideas and avenues to pursue to have the most impact. 3. Given the quick turnaround time, your best bet to reach the most people is probably going to be online. Running a campaign on the Charleston Gazette site is probably a very good idea. (StopPATH got more responses from their video on the local paper's site than from the substantially more expensive local television networks.) The turnaround time for online advertising is also much more in line with the timeline we are looking at. 4. Google is a great fit for this. Placing the ads so that when someone does a search for Marcellus Gas, for fracking, and other critical keywords, they find your ad is a powerful tool. (Irritated Allegheny Power to no end that every time someone searched for Electric Company or Allegheny Power,they got an ad running against them!) Also, these are cost effective. Instead of paying for impression, you pay per response. With traditional media outlets (print, radio, television) you pay every time the ad runs. Through Google, you only pay when people click through to your website for more information. Definitely helps stretch the budget, and can reach ad locations that you couldn't reach on your own. (Google's network partners with major media outlets and thousands of websites to target the ads to the exact market...for example, a client who ran ads for a home show found their ads on HGTV's website. Perfect fit for their market.) 5. Direct mail is ridiculously expensive. Not really an option on this kind of thing. Billboards might be a good option. Affordable and broad reaching. And when done in a way to get their attention and make them think about it, can work well. 6. Radio may also be a good fit. If you do internet ads on the Gazette website, Google video ads and display ads, billboards and a radio campaign, you will have a great coverage area demographically. I need to double check some rates, but we should be able to do anywhere from a 30 day to 90 day campaign on all of these outlets for the budget you allocated. Let me know your thoughts. I know this is a lot of info and may seem like gibberish, so feel free to ask questions. If all of this looks good, I'll put together the official proposal and send it over...and with your go-ahead we'll start on some scripting this weekend. That way we'll be able to present you with an ad campaign on Monday. If it looks good, we'll need to get started first thing next week, in order to have the ads filmed, graphics designed, audio recorded, and everything edited approved and sent to the media outlets by the 5th. Best regards, Darla PS: One more question...need the verbage for the ad disclosure (This ad was paid for by a grant from....etc). To make sure we have all the legal avenues covered. Confidentiality Notice: The information in this e-mail and any attachments may be legally privileged and confidential. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the e-mail and any attachments immediately. You should not retain, copy or use this e-mail or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of the contents to any other person.

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Fwd: Scientists: Drilling threat to water
by Paul Wilson 27 Sep '11

27 Sep '11

Please fwd or post to the Fracking Activists. thx, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fran Hunt <Fran.Hunt(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 7:21 PM Subject: Scientists: Drilling threat to water To: CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Scientists: Drilling threat to water Municipal systems can't filter chemicals used in hydrofracking process By BRIAN NEARING Staff writer Published 12:00 a.m., Friday, September 16, 2011 ALBANY -- Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned Gov. Andrew Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking. Their letter to the governor, released Thursday, was signed by 59 experts from 18 states and seven foreign countries, included scientists from Cornell University, the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and the State University at Stony Brook. "We urge the state to reconsider its position that existing water filtration systems provide adequate protection against the risk of hydraulic fracturing, should materials from flow-back fluids migrate to lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater used for municipal water supplies," the letter states. Hydrofracking relies on a high-pressure blend of chemicals, sand and water, injected deep underground to break up gas-bearing shale rock formations. Trucks bring in million of gallons of water as well as heavy equipment to each well. Used drilling water, which can contain benzene and other volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, surfactants and organic biocides, barium and other toxic metals, and radioactive compounds, is later trucked to a disposal site. The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which is considering rules to permit hydrofracking, has vowed that treated wastewater from drilling could be discharged into rivers only after hazardous substances have been removed, spokeswoman Emily Desantis said. The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment. "The state plan will not allow anything to happen in this state that will damage the drinking water supply," said John Holko, secretary and board member of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, an industry lobbying group. One of the letter's signers, Cornell ecology professor Robert Howarth, said the letter was prompted by the state's decision to ban hydrofracking in watersheds that supply drinking water for New York City and Syracuse. Neither system is filtered. "Municipal filtration systems were not designed with such hazards in mind, and the ability of the filtration systems to remove such hazardous substances has received little, if any, study. ... The best available science suggests that some of these substances would pass through the typical municipal filtration system," the letter warned. "If the risk from shale gas is too high for the watersheds of New York City, then it is too high for any of the watersheds in the state," Howarth said. It would be "extremely expensive" to add additional filters that capture hydrofracking chemicals, and Howarth could not point to a single municipal drinking water system in other states where hydrofracking is used that has done so. Reach Nearing at 454-5094 or bnearing(a)timesunion.com. Letter to governor A copy of the letter can be found at the Green Blog: http://blog.timesunion.com/green/ Frances A. Hunt Director, Resilient Habitats Campaign Sierra Club 50 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 fran.hunt(a)sierraclub.org 202-675-2386- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS list, send any message to: CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: An Invitation to Join the Tar Sands Action in DC
by Jim Sconyers 27 Sep '11

27 Sep '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bill McKibben <info(a)tarsandsaction.org> Date: Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 2:10 PM Subject: An Invitation to Join the Tar Sands Action in DC To: jimscon(a)gmail.com [image: Tar Sands Action]<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BLJjRzhjTtBBtbmtr6MmCBwgZ…> Dear friends— Once again, we’re sending you another long letter to ask for your help. It’s been several weeks since the last people got out of jail in Washington DC, at the end of two weeks of civil disobedience that led to 1253 brave people ending up in handcuffs to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It was the largest such action in decades, and because of their leadership lots has begun to happen. *# *The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu along with seven other Nobel Peace Prize winners wrote a letter to the president asking that he block the pipeline. They acknowledged the actions of those of us in DC, saying: “These brave individuals have spoken movingly about experiencing the power of nonviolence in that time. They represent millions of people whose lives and livelihoods will be affected by construction and operation of the pipeline.” *#* At President Obama’s first public speech since the sit-ins ended, a hardy bunch of University of Richmond students unfurled a huge banner demanding that the president veto the pipeline – followed by similar actions in Columbus, Ohio, Raleigh North Carolina, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wilmington, Delaware and many many others. *# *Meeting on the Rosebud Sioux reservation last week, Native tribal leaders from both sides of the border and private land owners from South Dakota and Nebraska signed a ‘Mother Earth Accord’ opposing Keystone XL and the tar sands. These are the people who started this fight; and they’re being joined by everyone right down to Nebraska Cornhusker football fans who booed lustily when a Keystone ad showed up on the Jumbotron at a recent game. The next day the university ended their sponsorship deal with Trans-Canada Pipeline *#* Even as we issue this letter, Canadian activists by the hundreds are risking arrest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and brave protesters are trying to block shipments of heavy equipment to Alberta from Idaho and Montana–these are remarkable signs of continent-wide protest. *#* And on the not-so-good-side: huge wildfires driven by the worst drought in Texas history have destroyed towns and killed good people; the biggest rainfalls ever recorded have done similar damage in New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. So—there’s real momentum for action, and real need. We have less than 90 days to convince the President not to approve the pipeline. So here’s the thing: we need your help again. We need you to keep using your creativity and bodies as a part of this struggle—to fight this fight even though there’s no guarantee of victory. Here’s the plan, in three stages 1) Most important of all: *On Sunday November 6 we will return to Washington. Exactly one year before the election, we want to encircle the whole White House in an act of solemn protest*. We need to remind President Obama of the power of the movement that he rode to the White House in 2008. This issue is much bigger than any individual person, President or not, and that we will carry on, with or without him. We’re not certain this is the right plan. We don’t know if there are the thousands of people that it will take to encircle the White House—we’ve never tried something this ambitious before. And we worry that it’s too earnest and idealistic—that maybe we should be going back to jail. But unlike last time, this time we’re working from a position of strength, and we can firmly but peacefully remind the president that we were the real power behind his campaign. We’re not expecting any arrests at this action, but we are expecting to send an unmistakable, unavoidable message. *To join the action on the 6th, click here to sign up: ** http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up*<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Uctj6LyJlICjqVT0jBc6NhwgZCX…> 2) But we have to start building momentum now with action in our communities. Between now and October 7, the State Department is holding a series of hearings on its flimsy report on Keystone XL. Our colleagues in the environmental movement are doing a good job of organizing for those meetings, including the final one in DC—and we’ll be supporting a rally at the final hearing. *But starting on October 8, we’ll begin a rolling series of actions at key Obama campaign offices around the country.* We want these to be a bit bigger and more serious than what’s come before, so we’ll be doing training and providing materials to folks in those communities. We need to make sure that the message gets through to headquarters that people remember the promises from the 2008 campaign and want them kept. 3) *We need to keep showing up at the president’s public appearances* – just like what’s already been happening on campus after campus, town after town. (We especially like the chant that goes: “Yes We Can…Stop the Pipeline.”). Our organizing team is tracking the president’s every appearance to look for opportunities to act. If the President is coming to your neighborhood, we need you to get his attention. (We’ll help you do that). We’ve already shown we have the courage and the fortitude for civil disobedience.Now we need to mix it up and show a different side of the campaign. Many of us were sincerely moved by Barack Obama’s campaign for president. We’re not yet ready to concede that his promises were simply the empty talk of politicians. We’re not going to be cynics until we absolutely have no choice. It will be a beautiful and brave sight, the White House enclosed by the kind of people that put President Obama there. Since he’s said he’ll make up his mind by the end of the year, now’s the time. We know it’s hard to get to Washington, but if you can: this is the moment. Thank you. A lot. Tim DeChristopher, inmate, Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong California Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network Courtney Hight and Maura Cowley, Energy Action Coalition Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska Bill McKibben, tarsandsaction.org Gus Speth, former chair, president’s Council on Environmental Quality Becky Tarbotton, Rainforest Action Network Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus Click here to unsubscribe<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=gC40HvjoKTfWgARMnNJVLBwgZCX…> [image: empowered by Salsa] <http://www.salsalabs.com/?email> ** -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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3rd Circuit approves Allegheny Forest drilling
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 26 Sep '11

26 Sep '11

The U.S. Forest Service overstepped its authority when it imposed a ban on oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny National Forest, according to a federal appeals court ruling issued last week. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11269/1177018-499-0.stm?cmpid=newspanel4 -Jonathan

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Fwd: Re: Fw: DEP Public Notice - Informal conference scheduled for Article 3 Permit No. O200709 and
by James Kotcon 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

FYI. We need to do some planning on this one. JBK >>> "Petra&John Wood" <pbjmwood(a)gmail.com> 9/23/2011 2:59 PM >>> The new "mining permit (actually for coal ash disposal) is for 337.62 acres for a Coal Refuse Disposal Area under Permit O200709 and is the one we mentioned often in the DC fly in. They are planning to use it as a flyash dump for 35 yrs and permitting it under smcra even though they explicitly stated in their application that no mining will occur (go figure!). We're going to need to get the word out for a lot of people to attend and give comments at the meeting. I'm sure the "other side" will be out in full force. - petra > ----- Original Message ----- From: <dep.online(a)wv.gov> > To: <curt1968(a)comcast.net> > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:03 PM > Subject: DEP Public Notice - Informal conference scheduled for Article 3 > Permit No. O200709 and Article 3 Permit No. O101593. > >> >> The following was sent to you because you are a >> Member of the DEP Public Notice mailing list. >> ==============================**============================= >> Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 12:03 PM >> ==============================**============================= >> >> The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of >> Mining >> and Reclamation, 105 S. Railroad Street, Suite 301, Philippi, WV 26416, >> will >> hold an informal conference at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2011, in >> the >> Granville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, located on Route 100, in >> Granville, WV. The purpose of the hearing is to allow comments from those >> people having an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the >> Surface >> Mine Application by Coresco, LLC to permit 337.62 acres for a Coal Refuse >> Disposal Area under Permit O200709, located 2.0 miles northwest of >> Maidsville, >> WV in Cass District of Monongalia County and for the Renewal of Article 3 >> Permit Number O101593 to conduct surface mining, coal preparation, coal >> ash and >> coal refuse disposal, located 1.2 miles Northeast of Maidsville, WV in >> Cass >> District of Monongalia County. This meeting is being held in accordance >> with >> Chapter 22, Article 3, Section 20 of the Code of West Virginia. For >> further >> information, contact Permit Supervisor, WVDEP, at (304) 457-3219. >> Reference >> Article 3 Permit No. O200709 and Article 3 Permit No. O101593. >> >> ==============================**============================= >> To view past notices of open public comment periods or to unsubscribe >> from this Mailing List, login at: >> http://apps.dep.wv.gov//**MLists2/ <http://apps.dep.wv.gov//MLists2/> >> >> >> >> >

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FW: Seminar Oct 4th - The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction
by Grubb, Karen 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

Seminar at Fairmont State Biology Program. From: Flood, Mark Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:48 AM To: Huggins, Pamela; Roof, Steven; Gilberti, Anthony; Yeager, Phillip; Morris, Tony; Grubb, Karen; Trisel, Donald; Magro, Albert Cc: Hemler, Debra; McKeen, Angela; Harvey, Erica; Scanlon, Matthew; Baur, Andreas; Weekley, James; Baxter, Harry Subject: Seminar Oct 4th - The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction Everyone, Below is the information on the seminar (and the speaker) coming up on Tuesday October 4th at 12:30pm in 305ET. Please pass this along to any interested students. Thanks, Mark The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction The Marcellus Shale represents one of the largest reservoirs of unconventional natural gas in the world. It holds the potential to provide a source of energy and jobs. It's extraction, however, requires significant land area, millions of gallons of water, toxic chemicals, pipelines, compressor stations and processing plants. The full development of an unconventional gas play can result in habitat fragmentation, ecological damage, and the degradation of water and air quality. The produced water especially, presents a major challenge as it may contain upwards of 350,000 mg/l of total dissolved solids and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). The use of open impoundments for recycling has provided a unique incubator for the enrichment of salt tolerant microbial species. The talk will provide an overview of the processes involved in shale gas extract and their environmental impacts. John Stolz is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director for the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University. He studies the microbial metabolism of metals including arsenic, selenium, and chromium. He is currently investigating the environmental impacts of shale gas extraction with emphasis on water issues. He has published 63 journal articles, 30 book chapters, and edited two books. Dr. Stolz has a BS in Biology from Fordham University and a PhD in Microbial Ecology and Evolution from Boston University and was an NRC Fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cal Tech, and an NSF Plant Biology Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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Fwd: Fracking Webinar for Landowners 9/27: Register Today
by James Kotcon 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

FYI. From my certifier. Jim Kotcon >>> "Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association" <oeffa(a)oeffa.org> 9/23/2011 9:58 AM >>> FRACKING AND FARMLAND: WHAT FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISKS TO AIR, WATER, AND LAND High-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), also known as fracking, and the impact to farmers and landowners will be the subject of a webinar on Tuesday, September 27 at 6 p.m. This educational session, organized by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and featuring analysis by the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC), will provide information to Ohio farmers and landowners about the fracking process and potential environmental impacts. "It's important that farmers understand the risks to their farming livelihood when approached to sign a lease with an energy company," said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. "It is our goal to give farmers the information they need to make informed decisions." "Shale Gas formations underlying farmland are being rapidly explored, as we attempt to satisfy our appetite for energy. Extracting this resource is an energy and resource- intensive process. We will discuss the process and potential risks to the air, land, and water, upon which we all rely," said OEC Agricultural Programs Director Joe Logan. For organic farmers, contaminated soil or water can jeopardize a farm's organic certification status. "OEFFA certifies farms across Ohio and the Midwest," said Hunt. "Before farmers sign on the dotted line, they need to understand the potential risks to their land and their livelihood." This free, web-based seminar will deliver the session through the internet directly to participants' computers. They will be able to view the presentation through their internet browser and listen to the audio portion through a call in phone number or through their computer's speakers. The session will be interactive and allow participants to ask questions and communicate with the presenter. The webinar will be recorded and available online in October. To register for the webinar, go to <https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/608082446> https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/608082446 For more information, contact Renee Hunt at (614) 421-2022 Ext. 205 or renee(a)oeffa.org. ### The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 by farmers, gardeners, and conscientious eaters who committed to work together to create and promote a sustainable and healthful food and farming system. For more information, go to <http://www.oeffa.org/> www.oeffa.org. The mission of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home. The OEC has a widely respected 40-year history of innovation, pragmatism, and success. For more information, go to <http://www.theoec.org> www.theoec.org.

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Fw: WV News Service- Next Week
by Frank Young 21 Sep '11

21 Sep '11

----- Original Message ----- From: "West Virginia News Service" <wvns(a)newsservice.org> To: "West Virginia News Service" <wvns(a)newsservice.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:46 PM Subject: Next Week Hi folks, At the moment next week is all open. Anyone got a story they want to tell? drh

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wind / gas industry alliance?
by Frank Young 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

BlankThis could be an interesting potential alliance, politically. Maybe the wind industry could push the gas industry to accept some environmental toilet training, including reasonable regulations. The wind industry is realizing that to be credible in the marketplace of "green energy" it will need to address some of the most deleterious problems identified with wind energy- i.e. bat mortality, intermittency of wind, etc. . http://journalrecord.com/2011/09/16/roth-bode-reaching-out-to-industry-opin… "Last week in a speech to the Natural Gas Roundtable, Bode said opportunities abound for wind and gas to partner. While both are central parts of most utility generation planning, Bode said, they should rely on each other to continue their success."

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Fwd: report on the Facemire protest
by James Kotcon 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

See attached report from Denise Binion. Perhaps we need another action, the Marcellus Committee still is not done, and they now think it iwll be November before a special session is called. How about we shift the focus to Tomblin. He is running for Governor this month, and, notwithstanding his Executive Order, he doesn't seem to think this is an "Emergency". JBK

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Fwd: What, Me Worry?
by James Kotcon 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

This sentence is starting to hit home with me. JBK "Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned NY Gov. Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing,...." >>> Betty Wiley <betty.w304(a)gmail.com> 9/18/2011 12:34 AM >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Robert Donnan <redchief7(a)verizon.net> Date: Sat, Sep 17, 2011 at 6:21 AM Subject: What, Me Worry? To: Robert Donnan <redchief7(a)verizon.net> ** *SCIENTISTS: DRILLING THREAT TO WATER* September 16, 2011 - Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned NY Gov. Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking.**** Their letter to the governor, released Thursday, was signed by 59 experts from 18 states and seven foreign countries, included scientists from **** Cornell** **University**, the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and the ****State** **University**** at Stony Brook.** ** http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Scientists-Drilling-threat-to-water… **** ** ** ** ** *SCIENCE LAGS AS HEALTH PROBLEMS EMERGE NEAR GAS FIELDS* ** September 16, 2011 – Hydraulic fracturing, along with other processes used to drill wells, generates emissions and millions of gallons of hazardous waste that are dumped into open-air pits. The pits have been shown to leak into groundwater and also give off chemical emissions as the fluids evaporate. Residents' most common complaints are respiratory infections, headaches, neurological impairment, nausea and skin rashes. More rarely, they have reported more serious effects, from miscarriages and tumors to benzene poisoning and cancer. **** ProPublica examined government environmental reports and private lawsuits, and interviewed scores of residents, physicians and toxicologists in four states -- **Colorado**, **Texas**, **Wyoming** and ****Pennsylvania**** -- that are drilling hot spots. Our review showed that cases like Wallace-Babb's go back a decade in parts of **Colorado** and ****Wyoming****, where drilling has taken place for years. They are just beginning to emerge in ****Pennsylvania****, where the Marcellus Shale drilling boom began in earnest in 2008. **** http://www.propublica.org/article/science-lags-as-health-problems-emerge-ne… ****

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Will more turbine blades, but at lower RPMs kill fewer bats & other wildlife?
by Frank Young 16 Sep '11

16 Sep '11

BlankCurrent available information suggests that bats, for example, are more subject to deleterious or deadly interactions with wind turbines on evenings when wind speeds are lowest. On the other hand, a rotor speed of only 3.3 RPMs instead of current rotor speeds of 17-23 RPMs might (or might not) result in a lessening of deadly effects on bats and other wildlife.- Frank ------------------------------------- "A novel turbine design uses two rotors of equal diameter, one each at opposite ends of a nacelle, to capture wind at greater capacity factors than conventional designs can do, say developer Airgenesis LLC (airgenesiswind.com). The developer says the rotors, offset from each other by 60°, will be turning at low speeds of 2.5 to 3.3 rpm, and are capable of producing 51 kW in wind speeds of about 5 mph. With a maximum of 3.3 rpm, it minimizes the possibility of harming wildlife. The low speeds also minimize the danger of ice throws. “All the high rpm speeds are inside the turbine,” explains company spokesman Clayton Troxell. At a wind speed of 15 mph, the design will be producing over 1 MW with a maximum possible output of 10.7 MW at 32 mph." More here: http://www.windpowerengineering.com/design/mechanical/new-thinking-in-turbi…

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Fwd: Coal association says image campaign working in W.Va
by James Kotcon 16 Sep '11

16 Sep '11

I don't have direct data to compare with the polling discussed below, but my gut feeling is that it is probably a pretty accurate description of the 10-year trend here in WV. Jim Kotcon http://www.register-herald.com/todaysfrontpage/x803555653/Coal-association-… The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia September 15, 2011 Coal association says image campaign working in W.Va. By Bill Archer For The Register-Herald BRUSHFORK — The coal industry in West Virginia is doing a better job of telling its story to the public, and Gary White, chairman of the board of the West Virginia Coal Association, has the data to back it up. White, 61, of Logan, who served as the Media Appreciation Breakfast speaker at the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce’s biennial Bluefield Coal Show, was appointed president of International Resources LLC in April. He said that in 2000, the coal industry was “faced with a negative image” and “after much conversation” the coal association decided to move forward to change that image. According to White, the association assessed a “per ton fee” to its membership and hired the Charleston-based public relations firm of Charles Ryan & Associates. After that, White said the association had serious discussions on the topic of making a concentrated effort “to move the needle” on the gauge of public opinion. In 2001, White said Ryan & Associates conducted a baseline poll to determine the public’s perception of the coal industry and found that only 45 percent of the 600 residents polled had a favorable opinion of the coal industry. >From 2001 until 2008, the coal industry’s “level of support” had climbed to 61 percent, with an additional question concerning level of trust that also received a 61 percent favorable response. White said the coal association decided to undertake another study this year to determine its 10-year position. R.L. Repass & Associates Inc. recently conducted the study and determined that the state’s favorable opinion of the coal industry has grown to 74 percent. In addition to the favorable ranking, White told the audience that the coal industry received an 82 percent favorable level of trust response. He added that 82 percent of the residents surveyed believe the coal industry is doing a better job in terms of its commitment to the environment and said that 92 percent of the people surveyed believe there can be a balance between coal mining and environmental regulations. When the coal association started examining its strengths, White said that Warren Hylton said the association had an army to help us. “Warren came up with the idea for the Friends of Coal,” White said. He noted that the Friends of Coal Bowl between West Virginia and Marshall universities continues to serve as a centerpiece of that organization. White added that the Kentucky Coal Association is doing something similar with their University of Kentucky versus Louisville in-state rivalry game. In addition to the Friends of Coal Bowl, White said the highly successful Friends of Coal Auto Show in Beckley that draws 30,000 people annually is also an outgrowth of Hylton’s idea, and added that West Virginia now has 1,000 Friends of Coal license plates. “We got a later start than our friends in Kentucky on the license plates,” White said. “They already have 43,000 Friends of Coal license plates in Kentucky. When people see that, it makes a difference.” Along with Friends of Coal, White said that Arch Coal’s CEDAR (Coal Education Development And Resource) program, as well as FACES (Federation for American Coal Energy and Security) of Coal, makes its presence known at public hearings. He also said organizations like Coal Mining Our Future in Kentucky, and other initiatives including meeting with local clergy, are making a difference. He characterized the Environmental Protection Agency as “the most egregious agency in the (Obama) administration” and urged the people attending the coal show to keep working to promote better understanding of the coal industry. “We can’t just rest on the successes we’ve had in West Virginia,” White said as he toured the 237 exhibitors participating in the coal show. “I think we’ve helped the average person connect the dots. We’ve helped people understand where their energy comes from.” He said that all of the initiatives are making a difference. “We are moving the needle of public opinion in favor of the coal industry,” he said. Following the breakfast, the scene shifted to the National Guard Armory/Civic Center for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the coal show. “We’re doing some positive things in the coal industry,” Bill Reid said as White cut the ribbon to open the three-day event.

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Gubernatorial Candidate Involved in Car Accident with Semi-truck
by Frank Young 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Some of you may have already read or heard that Bob Henry Baber was involved in a traffic accident earlier today. I just spoke with Bob Henry's daughter via cell phone. She says that they are mostly OK, but that the hospital wants to keep Bob overnight for observation. She said that he got a "pretty good" bump on the head, but that the word so far is that the biggest concern appears to be about some possible whiplash. So Bob may be running a little slower in the 3 weeks remaining of this election campaign. Frank Young ---------- Original Message ----- Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 12:38 PM Subject: re: Gubernatorial Candidate Involved in Car Accident with Semi-truck IMPORTANT UPDATE: While driving on I-79 to Pittsburgh, PA to catch a flight, Dr. Robert “Bob Henry” Baber and his two youngest children, Cody and Jackie, were involved in a traffic accident. A PAVCO semi-trailer truck illegally entered their lane and struck their vehicle with enough force to pin them to the guard rail. The driver of the truck did not stop. He was later apprehended by law enforcement on I-68. Candidate Baber and his children received some injuries (to my knowledge, none are life-threatening) and have been transported to Reuben Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV.

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coal euphemism
by Jim Sconyers 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

I notice in the NMA blast against the Sierra Club that they have softened "coal-fired" power plants to "coal based." See how much nicer that sounds? -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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OAG Expo in Morgantown
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 03 Sep '11

03 Sep '11

http://www.wvoilandgasexpo.com/why_morgantown.php As the statewide debate on Marcellus Shale drilling and fracing unfolds, the city of Morgantown has become a central topic of discussion. On June 21, the Morgantown City Council enacted an ordinance banning hydraulic fracturing of natural gas wells drilled horizontally within a mile outside city limits, starting a chain reaction that has spurred discussion statewide, from small towns to the state capital. The West Virginia Oil and Gas Expo will be held at Mylan Park in Morgantown on October 5. While hosting the Expo in the very city that seeks to ban oil and gas operations within city limits may seem counter-productive, there are several reasons why the area is perfectly suited for this event. This could be a great opportunity. Mon General is one of the sponsors. I can fill people in with details if they are interested.

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EC September 2011