Susquehanna County Blog

This is an article which ran in Newsweek dated 8/20/2008. 

In the past, there have been discussions on this blog regarding what county officials can do to protect our citizens.  This article has one Colorado county discussing implementing a regulation which would require the drilling company to disclose the contents of fracing fluid in the event emergency room workers were exposed.  This should extend to anyone who has been exposed to these carcinogenic chemicals. 

http://www.newsweek.com/id/154394/page/1

The medical personnel in the area need to be brought up to speed regarding treatment, handling and personal exposure of people who have been contaminated with these chemicals.  

IT’S TIME FOR OUR COUNTY, TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OFFICIALS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, VOLUNTEER FIRE, AMBULANCE AND OTHER RELATED PERSONNEL TO BE TRAINED IN WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW TO RESPOND AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN “WHEN - NOT IF” THESE INDUSTRIAL “ACCIDENTS” OCCUR. 

Obviously, this is occuring in other areas of the country, it will occur here.  Will we be ready?  Will our elected officials do anything to protect us?

Here is the link:

http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2008/08/25/news/sc_times_trib.20080825.a.pg1.tt25water_s1.1882104_top2.txt

“Currently no way to treat million of gallons of wastwater in NEPA” (Scranton Times-Tribune 8-25-2008)

OP-ED IN SCRANTON TIMES 

Finally, there is some notice in the regional media regarding the potential problems with fracing gas wells.  Here is the link:

http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2008/08/23/editorial/sc_times_trib.20080823.a.pg12.tt23edit1_s1.1892634_edi.txt

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY RAILROAD AUTHORITY 

One fairly simple way to get rid of most of the frac water is to contract with an approved recycling plant (the nearest is in Western, PA) and send it out there in rail tank cars.  Certainly it would be much more efficient than using trucks and a whole lot more ecologically sound than building retention ponds or injection wells.  Shipping could occur from the proposed rail transload facility in the New Milford area.

 Oh wait, no it couldn’t either.  Our fine county commissioners have not seen fit (other than minimal lip service) to support the railroad authority at all.  Maybe the Central Bradford Progress Authority (the economic development arm of Susquehanna County) could work with them to get some funding for this project. 

No wait, that won’t happen either.  Anthony Ventello, the executive director of the Central Bradford Progress Authority was scheduled to attend a recent meeting of the railroad authority.  He never showed.  He was immediately called by a commissioner and made some lame excuse for not attending.  Over the past couple of years, both the current and past commissioners have directed Ventello to work with the railroad authority.  According so some current and past members, he won’t even respond to written correspondence sent him by the railroad authority.  Just remember, we taxpayers are paying for his services (or lack of same).  It is this same lack of action on the part of former commissioner Roberta Kelly and former and current commissioner MaryAnn Warren which caused the railroad authority to lose a $2.5 million release of funds to create a transload facility.   This has lead to the loss of  some needed infrastructure. 

As has been noted here previously, commissioner Michael Giangrieco has never supported the railroad authority - from the time when he was county solicitor and wrote this letter:

letter-from-michael-giangreco-4-8-2003-stating-no-muni-code-for-rr-authority.PDF

Obviously, there is no commitment to railroad related economic development in this county. 

GAS LEASES AND WELLS 

Going back to the op-ed piece, not knowing what will happen with your legislators regarding injection wells, etc., you may want to get a really good baseline water test on you private water well before a gas well is fraced in the area.  Also, it wouldn’t hurt to keep tabs on John Hanger, the next secretary of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania. 

It has been said that Chesapeake and one or two others have stopped writing leases in Susquehanna County.  It is the understanding of this writer that Chesapeake does not have any drilling permits in the area.  So, are they just going to sell their existing leases (at a substantial profit of course) or just wait? 

Apparently the newest leases offered by some companies have finally gotten rid of the arbitration clause.  This is really a win for the landowners.  But don’t rush off to sign.  There are still the above noted environmental issues as well as the fact that there isn’t enough money or percentage offered yet. 

If you don’t NEED the money, don’t sign.  If you can wait, the numbers will only go up, especially after some of these wells are connected to the transmission line.

Here is the link to the map of gas wells, permits for wells and permits to connect to the Tennsessee Gas Transmission Pipeline in the area:

 http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=109081933932637779023.00044fb7409fbc47fd65d&ll=41.739297,-75.815449&spn=0.111183,0.243244&z=13

This map is updated on a regular basis.  By the way, it is not the product of the author of this blog or anyone associated with this blog.  So, thank the author, Railroad - RR,  for all the work it takes to keep this map updated. 

Your thoughts?

Apparently there are other companies leasing land (at least in Upstate New York).  This time is it is for windmills.  Give them time, they will be here.  Then you can lease the surface rights to your land as well as the mineral rights.   The question then becomes - “What do you really have left to sell?” 

The following article from the New York Times is about the possible corruption of local officials regarding wind farms.  

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/nyregion/18windmills.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=burke,%20ny&st=cse&scp=1

Do you think that will be happening here?  Has it already happened?  Is it happening now? 

Who is making sure the excellent roads we have here will be protected from deteriorating into mudholes and potholes?  Have the townships a plan in place to get a meaningful bond from these gas companies when the drilling starts?  Or are the various supervisors taking a “wait and see” approach?  Or is that wait and do nothing, hoping the gas companies will make things “right”?  How about enacting ordinances NOW to limit noise, smell, light, runoff, soil erosion, protect drinking water quality, etc. as well as from bothering other landowners, some of whom have not signed and will not sign a lease?

Your thoughts? 

The following is from Thompson.  Thank you

In a letter to the The Post-Standard of Syracuse, NY, published on August 12, 2008, Peter Grannis, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said:

“Before any permits are issued for horizontal wells in the Marcellus formation we will know what is going into and coming out of the ground. We will know how the large quantities of water needed for these operations will be managed and stored in order to protect out critical water resources. And we will know how any wastewater will be properly treated.”The people of Central New York love their land. Gov. Paterson and I understand and share their feelings. As we move forward to address the potential drilling in the Marcellus Shale, DEC will be there, working in partnership with local communities, to ensure that our precious land, air, water and natural resources are fully protected.”

I hope the folk in Harrisburg feel the same way.

According to published reports along with other sources, on July 16, our President Judge, Kenneth Seamans ruled that Minority County Commissioner Michael Giangrieco, Esq., is disqualified from the Assessment Appeals Board, regarding matters of Clean and Green.  The ruling was the result of Raymond Davis, Esq., filing a lawsuit on behalf of Rosemary, Todd and James Greenwood, in part requesting that Giangrieco be disqualified due to his involvement in multiple lawsuits against Cabot Oil and Gas, in which he is attempting on behalf of his clients to have gas leases voided.

 Congratulations to Attorney Davis for stepping up to the plate and calling foul. 

A legal ad in the Susquehanna Transcript today indicates there is a landman who will be holding a meeting in Susquehanna tomorrow to give information and try to get blocks of people to sign a gas lease.  I find it very interesting that they want to get even the smallest parcels signed up.  It indicates trying to create blocks of property owners in the Borough.  The ad is directed toward residents and business owners.  There are a significant number of owners who are NOT residents.  I wonder if they are specifically excluded or just poor wording in the legal. 

 It is fascinating that they are trying to get town parcels.  Maybe they (and possibly correctly) assume that because fuel oil is around $4.50 currently and climbing, that many will sign just to be able to pay their heating bill this winter. 

As Thompson noted previously, with 145 years of experience, they know more than we do. Do not sign a lease without knowing exactly what you are signing. If you think you do, you need to re-read it again, then get a qualified attorney to review and make changes in your favor.

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The attached comments to this post (below) contain some very interesting material.  Take the time to review them especially if you have any interest in considering a lease.

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 Your thoughts?

It is the understanding of this writer that today’s meeting was extremely short.  Would the readers who attended please post the facts here?  Also, the minutes from last meeting would be helpful.  Thank you.

 I thought the Commissioner MaryAnn Warren was supposed to relate the County’s position on specific aspects of the gas lease issues today.  Apparently if it was handled at all, it was just glossed over. 

First, Thank you to Thompson and Taxpayerpayingattention for the work of collecting and writing the minutes and agenda on this blog for all to see.  If you, the reader missed them, they are available here     A Very Good Suggestion Received Regarding Our County Commissioners Meetings   under the Comments.  In the future, I will try to remember to put up an entry for the agenda and minutes.

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The largest search requests on this site continue to be about gas leasing, gas wells, etc.  Does anyone have any updates to share.  If so, please just note yes, without details,  under the Comments for this entry and a new entry will be added for them.  Thank you!

Here it is:

http://www.ahs.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=5107&varQueryType=Detail

 It has been reported that landmen for several companies have curtailed their activity in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.  Confirmation please.

Also, has there been any slowdown in Susquehanna County as a result of the above press release?