Susquehanna County Blog

We have had documented fuel spills, the most recent being reported  January 30th (Cabot Oil and Gas spilled 100 gallons).  We have had gas getting into some private water wells and contamination getting in some others. 

The Scranton Times-Tribune had an article in the February 16th edition entitled Gas Well Lessors Weigh Environmental Cost.  Here is the link:  http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/sc_times_trib.20090216.a.pg1.tt16dimock_s1.2296976_top3.txt

 Do you feel the DEP and other State agencies, Federal agencies (EPA) and the like, along with our local agencies are doing enough to reasonably inform us about and protect us from these operations?   

If so, please explain.   If not, please explain.

There are many on both sides of the issue.  Let’s start talking.

It is no secret this writer has been concerned (to say the least) about the exploitation of the Marcellus Shale and the lack of accurate, official information provided to the landowners of the area, both those who leased their land and those who didn’t.

It appears that some who live near the drilling in Dimock Township have natural gas in their drinking water.  This has been reported by local and regional newspapers.  This is only one of the potential side effects of drilling for natural gas in our area.   As most of you know, there was an explosion around January 1, 2009 which leveled a well house at a private residence in Dimock Township.  Other reports have surfaced as well.  This is a serious issue. 

Now there is word Susquehanna County may be getting it’s first INJECTION WELL in the area of Auburn Township.  After all that has been written about injection wells in other parts of the country (Texas, for example) as well as unofficial comments from various regulatory officials, it escapes this writer as to what the mentality is here. 

 A little research brought up the following: 

Class II Injection Wells are the ones which dispose of brine, etc. which is the major byproduct of fracturing (fracing) a well.

First, a link to two official US EPA website regarding injection wells   http://www.epa.gov/SAFEWATER/uic/wells_class2.html

http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps21800/www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/classii.html

Next is a website showing an injection well site in Wise County, Texas  http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2007/10/injection-well-up-close-and-personal.html

Next, starting on Page 954, from the Standard Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering by William C. Lyons and Joseph Zaba, is mostly technical information regarding “production water and drilling muds”.  Note the discussed total disolved solids in table 6-91 as well as a discussion of NORM (naturally occurring Radioactive material) on page 961 and the following discussion of Class II wells.  http://books.google.com/books?id=dQWp8AbHhtEC&pg=PA962&lpg=PA962&dq=class+II+injection+well&source=web&ots=llviurNyiF&sig=OJAGbWTs-cJbpHG8ZCK61TuU9W4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA954,M1

By the way, you will note in the pages above, there is a discussion about concerns about PUBLIC water supplies.  Of course, most residents of Susquehanna County get their drinking water from private wells.  So, who is concerned about them?  Obviously not the gas and oil companies.

Whether or not you and your land are signed up for potential drilling, remember that we who live in the Marcellus Shale are all going to be affected one way or another by the effects of drilling, the briney, carcenogenic waste water and other factors which haven’t made themselves known to this point. 

All that being said, I urge you to get a baseline water test done (not the ones where you drop off the sample at PennState Extension or let the gas company do it for you).  Specifically, the test needs to be done by a third party, taken to an independent testing lab who is capable of testing for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as well as total disolved solids and other items.  The test will probably cost between $300 and $500.  Subsequent follow up tests can be done for roughly $100 and should be done once a year or more often if there is drilling activity (production well or injection well) in the area.  My personal criterial is within one mile. 

At the end of the day, if you don’t have a baseline test and something happens to your water, you will probably not have a leg to stand on.  If you do, you will know when you and your family is drinking something other than clean, safe water.   

Your comments?

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)

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.