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EPA Water Administrator resigns post-Spruce
by Jim Sconyers 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

Interesting coincidence? EPA head of water programs resigns the day after announcing denial of the Spruce MTR permit. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "dfvet(a)aol.com" <dfvet(a)aol.com> To: jkotcon(a)wvu.edu; wyro(a)appalight.com; fmoose39(a)hotmail.com; karen.grubb(a)fairmontstate.edu; jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; blittle(a)citynet.net; heatherheilman(a)yahoo.com; nicolegood.wv(a)gmail.com; sallywilts(a)yahoo.com; bhaddaka(a)gmail.com; paynestake(a)frontier.com; freesource(a)cheat.org Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 10:44:54 PM Subject: News of interest- EPA Water Administrator resigns post-Spruce EPA: Water administrator resigns (01/14/2011) * EMAIL THIS STORY * PRINT THIS STORY * READ FULL EDITION * CUSTOMIZE EDITION Advertisement Paul Quinlan, E&E reporter U.S. EPA's top water official, Pete Silva, announced his resignation today. Silva, whom President Obama appointed the assistant administrator for water in July 2009, plans to return to his home and family in California, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a memo to staff. The announcement of Silva's departure comes a day after his office made a controversial decision to revoke the permit of one of the largest mountaintop mines ever proposed in Appalachia (Greenwire, Jan. 13). The decision on the West Virginia mine came as EPA's water office worked on regulations of ash from coal-burning plants and pollution limits for stormwater discharges. The office is also working on clarifying which waterways and wetlands it regulates under the Clean Water Act. "During his tenure, Pete has led a wide range of important actions to help protect the water we drink and safeguard the health of millions of Americans," Jackson wrote. "We have greatly valued his service, and we offer him our deepest thanks as he prepares to embrace new opportunities. We are beginning the search for his successor." Nancy Stoner, who came from the Natural Resources Defense Council to become the deputy assistant administrator for the water office, will serve as acting assistant administrator in Silva's absence. Silva leaves Feb. 12. "Nancy is exceptionally talented and knowledgeable, and I am confident that she will continue to contribute significantly to the office's excellent work in this role," Jackson wrote. Jackson also announced the appointment of Bicky Corman as deputy associate administrator for the Office of Policy and Joel Beauvais as senior adviser in the Office of General Counsel.

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emails/letters to Rahall & Rocke
by Jim Sconyers 14 Jan '11

14 Jan '11

Hi folks - We need to get emails and or letters to Rahall and Rockefeller supporting EPA's recent denial of the Spruce MTR permit. We can use our Convio system to enable members to send email or fax. Would need the introductory email to members telling briefly what happened, why it is good, and how they can help (by clicking to go to next screen). Then would need a sample email or talking points suggesting what they could say. Way it works is then they can click and the msg goes directly to designated recipients - Rahall and Rockefeller in this case. We need someone to take charge of this small project. Can you please? Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

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Barbara F. - Legislators are seeking stricter drilling rules
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 14 Jan '11

14 Jan '11

Legislators are seeking stricter drilling rules (http://www.weirtondailytimes.com/page/content.detail/id/557436.html) Barbara F. has introduced HB 2403.

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Fw: Breaking news: EPA vetoes Spruce Mine permit !!
by Jim Sconyers 13 Jan '11

13 Jan '11

Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Chuck Wyrostok <wyro(a)appalight.com> To: Jim Sconyers <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Thu, January 13, 2011 10:59:14 AM Subject: Breaking news: EPA vetoes Spruce Mine permit !! Wow !! Chuck Wyrostok Sierra Club Outreach Organizer Toll free 877 252 0257 E : wyro(a)appalight.com www.frackcheckwv.net www.marcellus-wv.com ________________________________ From:wvec-board@yahoogroups.com [mailto:wvec-board@yahoogroups.com] On B ehalf Of Daniel Chiotos Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 10:39 AM To: build-it-up-wv-participants; wv-yalcoordinators; wvec-board Subject: [wvec-board] B reaking news: E PA vetoes Spruce Mine permit Breaking news: EPA vetoes Spruce Mine permit January 13, 2011 by Ken Ward Jr. Word is just coming down that the U.S. E nvironmental Protection Agency has vetoed the largest single mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history. The move is part of an Obama administration crackdown aimed at reducing the effects of mountaintop removal coal-mining on the environment and on coalfield communities in Appalachian — impacts that scientists are increasingly finding to be pervasive and irreversible. The final E PA decision document is available here. E PA officials this morning were alerting West Virginia ’s congressional delegation to their action, and undoubtedly preparing for a huge backlash from the mining industry and its friends among coalfield political leaders. In making its decision to veto the U.S. Army Corps of E ngineers’ approval of the 2,300-acre mine proposed for the B lair area of L ogan County , E PA noted that it reviewed more than 50,000 public comments and held a major public hearing in West Virginia . E PA officials said their agency is “acting under the law and using the best science available to protect water quality, wildlife and Appalachian communities who rely on clean waters for drinking, fishing and swimming.” Peter S. Silva, E PA’s assistant administrator for water, said: The proposed Spruce No. 1 Mine would use destructive and unsustainable mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and clean water on which they depend. Coal and coal mining are part of our nation’s energy future, and E PA has worked with companies to design mining operations that adequately protect our nation’s water. We have responsibility under the law to protect water quality and safeguard the people who rely on clean water. The agency also said: EPA’s final determination on the Spruce Mine comes after discussions with the company spanning more than a year failed to produce an agreement that would lead to a significant decrease in impacts to the environment and Appalachian communities. The action prevents the mine from disposing the waste into streams unless the company identifies an alternative mining design that would avoid irreversible damage to water quality and meets the requirements of the law. Despite E PA’s willingness to consider alternatives, Mingo L ogan did not offer any new proposed mining configurations in response to E PA’s Recommended Determination. In addition, E PA argued: EPA believes that companies can design their operations to make them more sustainable and compliant with the law. L ast year, E PA worked closely with a mining company in West Virginia to eliminate nearly 50 percent of their water impacts and reduce contamination while at the same time increasing their coal production. These are the kinds of success stories that can be achieved through collaboration and willingness to reduce the impact on mining pollution on our waters. Those changes helped permanently protect local waters, maximize coal recovery and reduce costs for the operators. Readers will recall that the Obama EPA began looking more closely at the Spruce Mine in September 2009. B ut debate over the proposed operation dates back to the late 1990s, when then-U.S. District Judge Charles H. Haden II issued an injunction that blocked the mine, which then was proposed for more than 3,000 acres. After the Haden ruling, the company reduced the size of its proposal and the operation underwent much more intense scrutiny, in the form of a full-blown E nvironmental Impact Statement by the Corps of E ngineers, which approved the new mining configuration in January 2007. Cheers, Daniel Chiotos 2206 Washington St E . Charleston , WV , 25311 (304)886-3389 {www.seac.org} {http://bit.ly/builditupwvfacebook suggest the B uild It Up, WV Page to your Facebook folks today and help publicize an effort to build healthy economies in the WV Coalfields} __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) R e c e nt Activity: Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___

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Fwd: EPA vetoes Spruce Permit!
by Paul Wilson 13 Jan '11

13 Jan '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Verena Owen <verena_owen(a)prodigy.net> Date: Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM Subject: EPA vetoes Spruce Permit! To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org EPA vetoes water permit for W.Va. mountaintop mine By VICKI SMITH - Associated Press [image: Bookmark and Share]<http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=mianalytics> [image: email this story to a friend] E-MAIL<http://www.bnd.com/2011/01/13/1549733/epa-vetoes-water-permit-for-wva.html?…>[image: print story] PRINT<http://www.bnd.com/2011/01/13/v-print/1549733/epa-vetoes-water-permit-for-w…> TEXT SIZE: MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it is revoking a crucial water permit for West Virginia's largest mountaintop removal mine, formalizing an action it first threatened nine months ago. Assistant Administrator for Water Peter S. Silva said Arch Coal's Spruce No. 1 mine in Logan County would use "destructive and unsustainable" mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and cause irreparable damage to the environment. Arch did not immediately comment. The nearly 2,300- acre operation would bury 7 miles of stream, and EPA ruled it would likely harm downstream water quality. EAP said it was acting within its legal authority revoking a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2007 and "using the best science" to protect water quality, wildlife and people. "Coal and coal mining are part of our nation's energy future, and EPA has worked with companies to design mining operations that adequately protect our nation's waters," Silva said. "We have a responsibility under the law to protect water quality and safeguard the people who rely on clean water." Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, praised the ruling as "a strong commitment to the law, the science and the principles of environmental justice." National Mining Association President Hal Quinn said EPA's action threatens the certainty of all similar permits that have been issued, "weakening the trust U.S. businesses and workers need to make investments and secure jobs." Spruce No. 1 went through a "robust 10-year review" process, he said, and the project has complied with every permit requirement. St. Louis-based Arch has long argued that killing the project would hurt West Virginia's economy and tax base, and have a chilling effect on the industry. The EPA said this is only the 13th time it has intervened after the corps issued a permit and that it reserves that power "for only unacceptable cases." Online: EPA's final decision on permit: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/cwa/dredgdis/404c-index.cfm COMMENTS Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/01/13/1549733/epa-vetoes-water-permit-for-wva.html?… - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.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: CATF Diesel campaign
by James Kotcon 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

I received a call from Jonathon Doster (below) with the Clean Air Task Force asking for our support/endorsement for a Diesel Clean-Up Campaign. After reading over these materials, it is not clear to me what would be involved other than support in principle for the Campaign. However, they are specifically targeting people in Rahall's District because Rahall will be the minority leader for the House Transportation Committee. I noticed that the Sierra club is not listed, nor are other Chapters. Does anyone know why the Club is not on board with this? Is there interest in endorsing this? Jim Kotcon >>> Jonathan Doster <jdoster(a)catf.us> 1/4/2011 5:18 PM >>> Hi Jim, Thanks SO much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with me this afternoon. The insight is invaluable and the Task Force really appreciates it. A few things I wanted to follow-up with you about: 1. Attached is the organizational endorsement packet for our CATF diesel campaign. We'd LOVE to have both the Environmental Council and the Sierra Club sign on officially. We've heard from many a West Virginian that Rep. Rahall really does listen to constituents, and - as you know all too well - the more organizations we have on board, the better. Please take a look and let me know if there is a better person at the Environmental Council I should be speaking with (before the holidays, I'd emailed and called Don Garvin and haven't heard back from him yet). Hopefully we can sign you all up sooner rather than later. 2. I was also hoping you could provide contact information (email and/or phone number would be great) for: - Beth Little - Allen Traddle Again, I can't thank you enough. I'll be in touch in a week or two to figure out these two endorsement questions. -- Jonathan Doster Clean Air Task Force 27 E. Monroe, Suite 1100 Chicago, IL, 60603 312.427.2114 x 206 www.catf.us <http://www.citizenaction-il.org/>

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FW: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] New Worldwatch Report on Synergies Between Renewable Energy and Natural Gas
by Grubb, Karen 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

From: National Hydrofracking Team [mailto:ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG] On Behalf Of Bruce Hamilton Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:45 PM To: ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Subject: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] New Worldwatch Report on Synergies Between Renewable Energy and Natural Gas Not endorsing this, just passing along the fact that it is out there and worth a read. From: Saya Kitasei [mailto:Skitasei@worldwatch.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 7:37 AM To: Saya Kitasei Subject: New Worldwatch Report on Synergies Between Renewable Energy and Natural Gas Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am very pleased to announce that Worldwatch Report 184, Powering the Low-Carbon Economy: The Once and Future Roles of Renewable Energy and Natural Gas, was released last month. This report represents the culmination of the Natural Gas and Sustainable Energy Initiative’s work during 2010. In it, we examine important synergies between renewable energy and natural gas that will allow for reduced dependence on coal, speeding the transition to a low-carbon economy. A link to the report is available on our new Natural Gas and Sustainable Energy Initiative page: http://www.worldwatch.org/natural-gas-sustainable-energy/. Please feel free to email me if you are interested in an electronic copy. In 2011, we look forward to continuing our research on the synergies between renewable energy and natural gas, with an increased focus on international and state-level analysis. Best wishes for the new year, Saya Snow Kitasei Sustainable Energy Fellow Worldwatch Institute 1776 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 phone: (202) 452-1999 x. 513 fax: (202) 296-7365 www.worldwatch.org/natural-gas-sustainable-energy/<http://www.worldwatch.org/natural-gas-sustainable-energy/> _______________________________________________ You received this message because you are subscribed to the COG mailing list: COG(a)lists.earthworksaction.org To manage your subscription, including viewing the list archive, changing your subscription to or from "daily digest", or removing yourself from the list, visit: http://coglist.earthworksaction.org<http://coglist.earthworksaction.org/> NOTE: Please do NOT address messages to this list using the BCC field. If a message to this list is addressed in the BCC field, it will be trapped, and indefinitely delayed, by the list spam filter until the administrator has time to review it.

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Fw: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] Pennsylvania Governor Bans New Gas Wells on State Land - NYTimes.com
by Jim Sconyers 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Now this is an eye-opener! Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "Grubb, Karen" <Karen.Grubb(a)fairmontstate.edu> To: Jim Sconyers <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 6:47:39 PM Subject: FW: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] Pennsylvania Governor Bans New Gas Wells on State Land - NYTimes.com From:National Hydrofracking Team [mailto:ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG] On Behalf Of Jeff Schmidt Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:12 AM To: ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Subject: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] Pennsylvania Governor Bans New Gas Wells on State Land - NYTimes.com http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/pennsylvania-governor-bans-fracki… - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS list, send any message to: ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp

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Fwd: Hydrofracking Team Call Wed, Jan 12th
by Paul Wilson 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

how many WV sierrans are on the Hydrofracking Team? Anybody else going to attend this conf. call tonight?? thx, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sierra Club Activist Network <community.manager(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 8:57 PM Subject: Hydrofracking Team Call Wed, Jan 12th To: pjgrunt(a)gmail.com Paul, you have a group bulletin from *Hydrofracking Team<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> *. *Visit Hydrofracking Team.<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> * Message: Hi Fracktivists! Our news list has continued to grow over the holidays. We now have 3 Arkansans, 4 Colorodons ?, 6 ! Marylandians, 5 Michiganites, 4 North Carolinians, 4 Oklahomans, 6 Virginians, 2 each from Tennesee and NJ, as well as individuals from OH, MN, NM, and KY... and a TON of New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians. As we approach critical mass, I'd like define some goals for the next few months. 8pm ET Wednesday, Jan 12th Hydrofracking Team call Call number: 1 (866) 501-6174 Access Code: 900 367 87 337 # Agenda 1. 5 minutes - Gasland House Parties are here! -Jess and Sophie provide an update. 2. 20 minutes- Local actions for house parties and beyond. Is there text available for PA (Tom Au) and CO (Gopa Ross)? Any other areas wanting to see some activity on their issue please draft text for an action alert ASAP. For an example see the Frac Act alert: http://action.sierraclub.org/frac/. Based on the email from Alison Vicks today Arkansas, Tennessee, NY/PA/NJ/MD (DRBC), West Virginia, Idaho, and Ohio all have potential alerts. Who will try their hand at writing one? 3. 20 minutes- The Frac Act needs to be proposed this year- any updates from the sponsors? The members of the Natural Gas Caucus seem to me like an obvious place to focus our educational efforts. I'd like to hear from activists in the caucus members districts. Info follows. There was a letter from the Natural Gas Caucus *** http://naturalgascaucus.murphy.house.gov/ * to Ken Salazar, Dept of Interior asking the dept to "refrain from placing any new regulatory burdens on natural gas exploration and production today." The primary goals of the Caucus are: 1. The promotion of responsible exploration and development of natural gas; 2. Pushing legislation and a regulatory environment that encourages the production, transmission, distribution, and use of natural gas; 3. Exploring responsible ways to expand the use of natural gas - Chemical, manufacturing, transportation, and energy as it fits in a portfolio of energy resources; 4. And matching supply and demand to create a secure and stable environment for producers and users. ** *Members of the Caucus:* * * *Rep. Tim Murphy (PA)* - Co-Chair Rep. Dan Boren (OK) - Co-Chair Jason Altmire *- PA* *Spencer Bachus **- AL* *Rob Bishop - UT* *Marsha Blackburn - TN* *John Boozman - AR* *Kevin Brady - TX* *Henry Brown - SC* *Dan Burton - IN* *Dave Camp - MI* *Shelley Moore Capito - WV* Chris Carney - PA Bill Cassidy - LA *Jason Chaffetz - UT* Ben Chandler *- *KY *Howard Coble **- NC* *Mike Coffman **- CO* *Tom Cole **- OK* *Michael Conaway **- TX* Jim Costa *- *CA Mark Critz *-* PA Henry Cuellar *-* TX Lincoln Davis *-* TN Diana DeGette *- *CO Kathleen Dahlkemper *-* PA William Delahunt *- * MA Mike Doyle *- *PA *Jo Ann Emerson **- MO* *Mary Fallin **- OK* *John Fleming **- LA * *Virginia Foxx **- NC* Charles Gonzalez *-* TX *Jim Gerlach **- PA* *Bob Goodlatte **- VA* Bart Gordon *- *TN Gene Green *- * TX *Ralph Hall **- TX* *Greg Harper **- MS* *Wally Herger **- CA* Steve Kagen *- *WI *Steve King **- IA* *Doug Lamborn **- CO* John Larson *- *CT *Robert Latta **- OH* *Christopher Lee **- NY * *Frank Lucas **- OK* Ben Ray Lujan *-* NM *Cynthia Lummis **- WY* *Thaddeus McCotter **- MI* Betsy Markey *-* CO Jim Matheson *-* UT *Patrick McHenry **- NC* Charlie Melancon *-* LA Alan Mollohan *- *WV Jim Moran *- *VA Patrick Murphy *-* PA *Sue Myrick **- NC* Ed Perlmutter *- *CO *Joe Pitts **- PA* *Denny Rehberg **- MT* *Harold Rogers **- KY* *Mike Rogers **- MI* Ciro Rodriguez *-* TX *Peter Roskam **- IL* Mike Ross *-* AR Tim Ryan *- *OH John Salazar *- *CO Joe Sestak *-* PA *Aaron Schock **- IL* *John Shadegg **- AZ* Heath Shuler *-*NC *Bill Shuster **- PA* *Vic Snyder **- AR* *John Sullivan **- OK* John Tanner *- *TN Harry Teague *-* NM *Lee Terry **- NE* Bennie Thompson *-*MS *Glenn Thompson **- PA* *Todd Tiahrt** **- KS* *Fred Upton **- MI* *Joe Wilson **- SC* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To ------------------------------ *Visit Hydrofracking Team.<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> * ------------------------------ Reply? Or other thoughts? If you have questions about the bulletin CONTENT, please visit the group's page and leave a comment<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team>, or contact the group owner. *Technical Issues?* Please reply to this message (or email community.manager(a)sierraclub.org) if you have questions or problems with the bulletin itself. If you want to stop getting email, you can either leave (unjoin) or set your email preferences<http://connect.sierraclub.org/editor/app/group/managegroupmembership.aspx?O…> . -- 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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Fw: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] "EPA: Chesapeake Energy illegally buried W.Va.streams" -- WVGazette, SustainedOutrageBlog (Nov. 23, 2010)
by Jim Sconyers 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

This is the same Chesapeake that is touted by Mike Ross and others as such a good responsible gas developer. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "Grubb, Karen" <Karen.Grubb(a)fairmontstate.edu> To: James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>; Jim Sconyers <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com>; Kevin Fooce <fmoose39(a)hotmail.com>; BethLittle <blittle(a)citynet.net>; Heather Heilman <heatherheilman(a)yahoo.com>; Nicole Good <nnncole(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 6:23:34 PM Subject: FW: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] "EPA: Chesapeake Energy illegally buried W.Va.streams" -- WVGazette, SustainedOutrageBlog (Nov. 23, 2010) I’ve got some old emails to go through. Again, if you already get these, let me know. From:National Hydrofracking Team [mailto:ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG] On Behalf Of Jeff Schmidt Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:01 AM To: ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Subject: [ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS] "EPA: Chesapeake Energy illegally buried W.Va.streams" -- WVGazette, SustainedOutrageBlog (Nov. 23, 2010) EPA: Chesapeake illegally buried W.Va. streams November 23, 2010 by Ken Ward Jr. http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2010/11/23/epa-chesapeake-illegally-bur… Here’s a new gas drilling story from Vicki Smith over at The Associated Press: The Environmental Protection Agency says a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy has promised to restore four northern West Virginia streams it filled illegally while building roads and laying pipeline for Marcellus shale gas drilling projects. EPA spokeswoman Donna Heron confirmed Monday that federal inspectors cited Chesapeake Appalachia LLC after four site visits this fall in Wetzel and Marshall counties. In one case, inspectors found that Blake Fork stream and a picturesque waterfall near New Martinsville had been completely filled with gravel for a road. Ed Wade, who took before and after photographs of the 20-foot wide stream, said many people used to visit the waterfall because of its beauty. “I don’t know if there was a miscommunication about where the road should go or what,” he said, “but they just took their dozers and ripped it out.” Blake Fork and three other streams affected by Chesapeake’s drilling activities are tributaries of Fish Creek, which flows into the Ohio River. Chesapeake spokesman Matt Sheppard said the company is working with EPA on what he called “isolated issues concerning earth-moving activity.” “As this matter is currently undergoing federal regulatory review, it would be inappropriate to offer public comment at this time,” he wrote in an e-mail, adding that Chesapeake is committed to responsible natural gas development. Heron said Chesapeake has indicated it will abide by the EPA’s administrative compliance orders, which were issued in October and earlier this month. Chesapeake is among dozens of companies rushing to tap the Marcellus shale field, a vast, mile-deep natural gas reserve underlying most of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and portions of Ohio. It is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of gas, but breaking it free from the rock requires horizontal drilling and water-intensive hydraulic fracturing technologies. How to better monitor the industry is a growing concern among environmentalists and property owners, who are looking to lawmakers for help preventing problems with water pollution, erosion and road destruction, among other things. The compliance orders say some of Chesapeake’s violations in Wetzel and Marshall counties date to 2007. Chesapeake was cited for illegally filling in Laurel Run near Cameron between January 2007 and December 2009. The filling of Blake Fork began in January 2008, the administrative orders show. Violations on Lynn Camp Run and Middle Fork Lynn Camp Run, both near New Martinsville, began in January 2010, the EPA said. The Middle Fork project involved not only construction of a well pad but also the installation of buried pipeline. The EPA says all four projects were done without a legally required permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The compliance orders require Chesapeake to remove the fill and restore the streams and wetlands “to pre-disturbance conditions.” Wade, a 40-year-old boilermaker, said it took several years to get state and federal regulators to adequately respond to his complaint about Blake Fork. “How are they going to put the waterfall back?” he wonders now. Wade is also skeptical Chesapeake will change its ways. “If someone’s watching them, they do right. It’s like a little kid: If they can get away with it, they’re going to,” he said. ” … They don’t care. It’s all about their bottom line.” Vicki’s story comes after a blog item from the Natural Resources Defense Council, following up on a report by the CBS show 60 Minutes: Last Sunday night, CBS’s 60 Minutes aired a report on natural gas production in America, including concerns about the environmental impacts. Interviewed on the program was Aubrey McClendon, the CEO of Chesapeake Energy, one of the country’s largest producers of natural gas and widely considered a leader in the field. Yet recent – and as of yet unreported – findings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveal that Chesapeake is also a company that violated the Clean Water Act four times in one county in West Virginia. In October and November 2010, EPA initiated four Clean Water Act enforcement actions against Chesapeake Energy. Through field investigations, EPA documented illegal discharges of dredge and fill material at several Chesapeake drilling sites in Wetzel County. It appears that the company built access roads for giant trucks directly through a stream without the permits required under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. We thank EPA for investigating activities in this remote corner of Appalachia. Here’s the 60 Minutes piece: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7054210n --------- EPA cites Chesapeake for illegally filling streams By wire reports Wednesday, November 24, 2010 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_710746.html The Environmental Protection Agency said a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corp. has promised to restore four northern West Virginia streams it filled illegally while building roads and laying pipeline for Marcellus shale gas drilling projects. EPA spokeswoman Donna Heron said federal inspectors cited Chesapeake after four site visits this fall in Wetzel and Marshall counties. In one case, inspectors found that Blake Fork stream and a picturesque waterfall near New Martinsville had been completely filled with gravel for a road. Chesapeake spokesman Matt Sheppard said the company is working with EPA on what he called "isolated issues concerning earth-moving activity." ________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS list, send any message to: ACTNET-FRAC-NEWS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/

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