MVCAC August 2011

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Comment on WV Emergency Rules for Marcellus Wells
by Duane330＠aol.com 27 Aug '11

27 Aug '11

============================================================ Thursday, August 25, 2011 @ 5:23 PM ============================================================ The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public input on its Well Site Safety Plan Standards and Casing and Cementing Standards that are referenced in the DEP’s Emergency Rule for horizontal drilling, filed Aug. 22 with the Secretary of State’s Office. As part of the rule, all applications for well work permits involving well sites that will disturb three acres or more of surface must include a well site safety plan to spell out what steps will be taken to protect persons on site, as well as the general public and the environment. The plan is to be developed in accordance with standards developed by the DEP’s Office of Oil and Gas (OOG). The Emergency Rule also includes operational rules intended to protect water quantity and quality and instructs operators to construct wells and conduct casing and cementing activities of all horizontal wells in accordance with OOG standards. Public input on the OOG standards will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2011, and can be mailed to the Office of Oil and Gas, 601 57th St., S.E., Charleston, WV., 25304 or emailed to DEP.comments(a)wv.gov. Copies of the OOG standards can be viewed by clicking on the Office of Oil and Gas section on the DEP homepage at: www.dep.wv.gov. As directed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on July 12 in Executive Order No. 4-11, the DEP filed its Emergency Rule to increase regulatory oversight of horizontal well development in the state. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _Time to Submit Public Comments to the WV DEP on Casing and Safety_ (http://www.frackcheckwv.net/2011/08/27/time-to-submit-public-comments-to-th… p-on-casing-and-safety/) by Nicole Good on August 27, 2011 (http://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/well-casing.gif) The West Virginia DEP’s emergency rule issued on August 22nd references i well site safety standards and casing and cementing standards. To develop these plans, the DEP is seeking input from the public through September 30th. These may be mailed to the Office of Oil and Gas, 601 57th St., S.E., Charleston, W. Va., 25304 or e-mailed to DEP.comments(a)wv.gov. You can download the _casing and cementing standards here_ (http://www.dep.wv.gov/oil-and-gas/Documents/Casing%20and%20Cementing%20Stan…) , and the _well site safety plan standards here._ (http://www.dep.wv.gov/oil-and-gas/Documents/Well%20Site%20Safety%20Plan%20S…) Source: _www.frackcheckwv.net_ (http://www.frackcheckwv.net)

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Petition
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

https://www.change.org/petitions/encourage-mayor-manilla-and-the-city-counc… -Jonathan

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Press Conference Monday at Morgantown Waterfront Park:Can You Attend?
by Duane330＠aol.com 20 Aug '11

20 Aug '11

Charleston Gazette Saturday 20 August 20111: W.Va. citizens continue to push for drilling reforms August 19, 2011 by Ken Ward Jr. More than a month after Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, acting as governor, _ordered “emergency” rules_ (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/07/11/tomblin-plans-drilling-annou…) to toughen regulation of natural gas drilling in West Virginia, and the state Department of Environmental Protection has yet to issue those rules. We still don’t know _what role the oil and gas industry’s lobbyists played_ (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/07/27/drilling-lobbyists-consultan…) in crafting Tomblin’s executive order, or what role they may be playing behind the scenes in developing the WVDEP’s rules. Are any _significant changes being made_ (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/07/28/what-else-did-tomblin-change…) at industry’s behest? In the Daily Mail, Ry Rivard _reports_ (http://www.dailymail.com/News/statehouse/201108171389) that a new law on drilling practices is unlikely to happen before the end of this year — and some lawmakers seem in no hurry to work on such legislation. Meanwhile, a coalition of citizen groups are planning dual events in Morgantown and Charleston on Monday to call attention to what they say are weaknesses in the Tomblin executive order. According to a press advisory from the West Virginia Surface Owners Rights Organization: West Virginia citizens need strong protection from a range of effects of Marcellus shale and other natural gas drilling and production. Representatives from participating organizations will address such issues as air, land, and water pollution from drilling operations; water usage and waste disposal; light and noise pollution; lack of surface owners’ rights; and lack of sufficient DEP inspectors to enforce the law and ensure safety. Participants are critical of the measures proposed in Governor Tomblin’s Executive Order as being insufficient to provide the protections citizens are demanding and are calling on the legislature to act swiftly. The advisory added: The Charleston event will also include testimony from the Hagy family. The Hagy’s water well became contaminated and family members became sick after a natural gas company drilled and hydraulically fractured three natural gas wells on their property in Jackson County. Readers may recall that the Hagy’s experience _was outlined in great detail in a recent report by the Environmental Working Group_ (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/08/03/report-ties-fracking-to-w-va… ) . In _a commentary today_ (http://www.wvmetronews.com/hoppy.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=47136) , Hoppy Kercheval of West Virginia MetroNews talked up his belief that a draft report from an Obama administration advisory panel on shale-gas drilling “provides balance” and dismisses concerns about water pollution from increased gas drilling activity. Hoppy must have missed this part of the _draft Department of Energy report_ (http://wvgazette.com/News/marcellus/201108111037) : Intensive shale gas development can potentially have serious impacts on public health, the environment and quality of life – even when individual operators conduct their activities in ways that meet and exceed regulatory requirements. The combination of impacts from multiple drilling and production operations, support infrastructure (pipelines, road networks, etc.) and related activities can overwhelm ecosystems and communities. The Subcommittee believes that federal, regional, state and local jurisdictions need to place greater effort on examining these cumulative impacts in a more holistic manner; discrete permitting activity that focuses narrowly on individual activities does not reach to these issues. This entry was posted on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 4:01 pm

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Hot Topics & Opinions: Ban, Regulate, Drill / Frack, Crack, or Pipeline
by Duane 18 Aug '11

18 Aug '11

> Subject: Hot Topics & Opinions: Ban, Regulate, Drill / Frack, Crack, or Pipeline > > Hot Topics & Opinions: Ban, Regulate, Drill / Frack, Crack, or Pipeline > > Hot Topics & Opinions: Ban, Regulate, Drill / Frack, Crack, or Pipeline > Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:58 AM PDT > > > The City of Morgantown is still under pressure to ban fracking within the City limits and out one mile, given the voices of the residents at the last City Council meeting and the Morgantown Dominion-Post editorial “We respectfully object, your honor.” The local newspaper says that the City should appeal the decision of the Monongalia Circuit Court of August 12th that overturned the City ordinance. Surely municipalities can regulate activities within their own borders, one would think. > > Next, Sen. Doug Facemire, D-Braxton, said Wednesday that emergency rules ordered last month by acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin – which are not yet in effect – will be enough to tide the state over until lawmakers meet early next year. He is co-chair of the Joint Legislative Select Marcellus Gas Committee. The other co-chair, Delegate Tim Manchin, D-Marion, says that the Committee should meet and ask for a Special Session to put permanent Marcellus regulations into force yet this year. > > Drilling and fracking are continuing here in West Virginia and in many of the counties of Pennsylvania that border West Virgina, mainly Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties. Most of the Marcellus gas is “wet” containing ethane and higher hydrocarbons. Gov. Tomblin, the Legislature, and County Commissioners are promoting a petrochemical plant in West Virginia that would crack the ethane into ethylene, then react the ethylene to make many different products. Many gas companies are planning pipelines to send the ethane to the Gulf Coast (and perhaps on to foreign countries) or to Canada for cracking and petrochemical production. > > So what is the rush to drill for gas? Haven’t we learned anything from our past mistakes? These questions are asked by Dr. Bernard Goldstein, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. The health effects of drilling, fracking, pipelining, cracking, etc., are still a serious consideration. It is not reasonable to turn off wells that are already extracting natural gas. “But, recognizing that the risk to our health and natural resources (water, land, air) increases with every new well, that information and technology is on the way to lower the risk and that the natural gas will not go anywhere, Pennsylvania should join other states, including New York and Maryland, in not drilling new wells for now.” > > Bernard D. Goldstein, M.D., is a professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and the school’s former dean. He is the former assistant administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and he is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. > > > You are subscribed to email updates from Frack Check WV > To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Email delivery powered by Google > Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

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Fw: THE PUMP HANDLE a water cooler for the public health crowd
by Peggy Filios 13 Aug '11

13 Aug '11

This particular blog is written by Anthony Robbins. Former head of CDC/NIOSH, 2 different state health departments (VT and CO, I think), and now professor of public health at Tufts University School of Medicine. http://scienceblogs.com/thepumphandle/2011/08/frackings_consequences_obscur… Peggy

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Monongalia County Judge Declares Morgantown Fracking Ban Invalid
by Duane 13 Aug '11

13 Aug '11

> Monongalia County Judge Declares > Morgantown Fracking Ban Invalid > > Monongalia County Judge Declares Morgantown Fracking Ban Invalid > Posted: 13 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT > > > On August 12th, Circuit Judge Susan Tucker of Monongalia County overturned the fracking ban of the City of Morgantown, which extended one mile beyond the City limits, according to the Morgantown Dominion-Post. “The ordinance passed by the City of Morgantown,” she concluded, “is pre-empted by state legislation and is invalid.” > > Northeast Natural Energy has already started two Marcellus gas wells in the Morgantown Industrial Park on behalf of Enrout Properties LLC, which owns the well pad surface and co-owns the mineral rights. Morgantown City Manager Terrence Moore said he is reviewing and discussing the ruling with city attorney Steve Fanok, in order to develop a response to the ruling. > > At the July scheduling hearing, Tucker ordered the parties to prepare arguments to address her question: “Can a municipality adopt an ordinance that trumps WV-DEP rules?” Tucker now has ruled on that question; State code gives the Department of Environmental Protection (WV-DEP) sole discretion regarding the exploration, development, production, storage and recovery of oil and gas, she wrote. There is no exception to that carved out in the municipal home rule statute. > > “Governmental entities are required to supplement and complement the efforts of the state by coordinating their programs with those of the state,” she wrote. Where there’s a conflict, the state Supreme Court has ruled, “the municipal ordinance must yield.” State regulations, she wrote, “do not provide any exception or latitude to permit the City of Morgantown to impose a complete ban on fracking or to regulate oil and gas development and production.” > > The legal issues in the case, she claims, do not give her authority to consider environmental issues, which acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin addressed in the recent executive order to the WV-DEP. This executive order is to be put into effect this coming week, according to reliable sources. > > > WV Invests in Startup Offering Alternative to Cracker Plant > Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:16 PM PDT > There has been much talk of bringing an ethane cracker plant to West Virginia. But the state is investing in an alternative technology via an investment of $250,000 by the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust in Aither Chemicals, LLC. A traditional cracker plant requires an investment of approximately $1 billion or more. According to the press release by the WV Dept. of Commerce, “Aither uses an integrated process for creating chemical products derived from ethylene. Aither’s process is designed to work on a smaller scale with less start-up costs than traditional steam cracker.” > > Leonard Dolhert, Chief Executive Officer of Aither, said the company’s immediate goal is to build an alliance of investors, of which the Jobs Investment Trust is key. > > There was no information released regarding potential future investors in Aither. > > “In Marcellus shale and the byproduct ethane gas, West Virginia has a natural resource with tremendous economic potential. Aither’s approach to convert ethane into petrochemicals will enhance our capability to develop this resource, retaining and creating jobs in this state” said Keith Burdette, chair of the Jobs Investment Trust and secretary of the state Commerce Department in a prepared statement. > > Raw natural gas is composed of methane (70-90%) and natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane and butane. > > Charleston Daily Mail story, 8-12-11 > > > You can subscribed to email updates from Frack Check WV > > Google >

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Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser <Important>
by Duane330＠aol.com 09 Aug '11

09 Aug '11

CHICKEN DINNER: SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011 CHEAT LAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $8.00 for Adults. Half-Size Chicken for $4.00, Children under Four are Free. Time and Location: Starts at 11:00 AM, One Miles North of I-68 on WV-857 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Location and Purpose: Cheat Lake Fire Hall, Funds Needed To Sustain Fire Department Contact: Sue Miles Nichols, 304-599-8040 (Home) or 304-216-5535 (Cell) Will you attend on August 14th? Can you help with the preparations or the food service? Email Sue Miles Nichols: _Milesnichols(a)aol.com_ (mailto:Milesnichols@aol.com)

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Pittsburgh GASP
by Duane 06 Aug '11

06 Aug '11

GASPalerts Action and News from Group Against Smog and Pollution IN THIS ISSUE EPA to Regulate Marcellus Air Emissions Local Shale Happenings Side Street Stroll #3 Stroll(er) on the North Side Have a Ball at the SportsWorks JOIN OUR LIST August 5, 2011 Biggest News This Year? EPA Proposes New Air Rules for Oil and Gas Industry For many months now, GASP has been calling attention to the potentially huge emissions from the Marcellus Shale industry. While burning natural gas produces less pollution than burning coal, combustion isn't the only factor to consider. In bringing the gas to market, there are many emissions sources--from the drill rigs, to the gas processing equipment, to the compressors that push it along. Thankfully, the EPA is proposing to tighten emission limits for the oil and gas industry. This proposal would include the first federal air standards for hydrofractured wells, including, potentially, a reduction of 95% of VOC emissions from new or refractured wells. However, this proposal isn't the end of the affair--far from it. EPA should look harder at its aggregation policy, among other things. And we'll have the chance to say as much, at the public hearing on this proposal which will take place in or near Pittsburgh, one of only three to be held (date TBD). Contact Jamin at GASP to learn more--email here, or call(412) 325-7382. More Marcellus Miscellania While the EPA looks at new regulations on a federal level there's a lot of activity in our own backyards: The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) would like a closer look too. They're proposing a notification system that would help them know when major air-pollution emitting activities will occur at Marcellus operations, allowing ACHD to better quantify emissions by knowing when to have inspectors available and on-site. This is a draft proposal, and will soon be ready for public comment. Stay tuned to learn more and how you can weigh in. PA State Rep. Jesse White is holding a public hearingon August 24 to solicit opinion on impact fees. Expect testimony from Kathryn Klaber of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Andrew Heath of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition, and many others. Details here. The Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project, cosponsored by GASP, has their next training in Harmony, PA on August 27. More info here. KDKA's radio show, "The Marcellus Shale and You," will be discussing the economic effects of shale drilling from 2 to 3 on Saturday, August 6 (tomorrow). Call in and let them know how you feel at 866-391-1020. Final Side Street Stroll Visits East End On August 13, from 1 to 5, GASP will be leading a casual hike to some lesser-known spots in Pittsburgh's East End, in our final hike of our partnership with Venture Outdoors. A relaxed pace, plenty of interesting stops, and a (free!) snack break should make this another great outing. Previous hikes have led participants to ice cream, solar panels, coffee and cookies, green roofs, a hidden bed and breakfast, churches, and many more hidden gems. Please click here to visit the Venture Outdoors website for more info and to sign up. Stroller Brigades Coast to Coast and in Pittsburgh Children are much more vulnerable to toxins than adults. It's hard work for busy parents to shoulder the burden of researching every bouncy ball, tub scrub, or carpet company to find safe products for their families. Join Women for a Healthy Environment (dads, caregivers, and grandparents are all welcome too) for a walk along the North Shore to draw attention to home and product safety. WHE will even have a device on-hand that can test for toxic metals in products you bring. Find out more details here. Save the Date for "Have a Ball with GASP" on October 21, 2011 Hold the evening of October 21 for GASP's fall event, to be held at the Carnegie Science Center's Highmark SportsWorks. We'll have the place to ourselves, so bring the whole family to try out all of the kid-friendly exhibits. Our speakers will focus on the effects of air pollution on the health of children and athletes. More info to come soon! We appreciate your participation on the GASPalerts email list. Together, we can make a difference in our region's environment. We won't trade or sell your address with other organizations or inundate you with mailings. Thank you!

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MVCAC August 2011