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Could Algae be the Answer to Marcellus Wastewater? Innovative New “Green” Fracking Solution Looking for a Partner

From time to time businesses contact MDN to ask for exposure to their product or service. Most times MDN passes because it wouldn’t be of interest to landowners and industry participants. However, we recently received a request about an intriguing green solution for fracking wastewater.

What if you could use algae to feed on fracking wastewater and convert that wastewater into a harmless (and useful) biofuel? And what if you ramped up the growth rate of the algae by using hydroponics technology? And what if the whole operation, covering just one acre, was enclosed in an inflatable structure that protected the environment around it, and enabled 24/7/365 growth of the algae inside? And what if that one acre super-algae farm could handle 50,000 gallons of fracking wastewater per day? Well then, you’d have something called Algeponics®.

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Anti-Drilling Group PennFuture Sues Ultra Resources Claiming Air Pollution from Gas Wells, Compressor Stations and Pipelines

Anti-drilling group PennFuture is suing driller Ultra Resources claiming they are causing air pollution from almost all of their operations. A copy of the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is embedded below.

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New York Landowner Group Sponsors Letter Writing Campaign to Thank Gov. Cuomo and Commissioner Martens

The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) is encouraging landowners in New York State to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his actions in lifting the gas drilling moratorium, and encourage him to keep the process moving along quickly. How? By printing and signing a letter saying just that. The JLCNY has produced a form letter supporters can use (see below).

MDN heartily endorses the letter and encourages drilling supporters to sign and send it at their earliest opportunity.

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SRBC Seeks Comments on Rule Changes that Govern Shale Gas Drilling, Two Public Hearings Scheduled

On June 23, 2011, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) approved the release and publication of a Proposed Rulemaking package which, if finally adopted after being subject to public review and comment, would make certain changes to 18 CFR Part 806.

The purpose of the regulatory amendments set forth in this proposed rulemaking is to make further modifications to the Commission’s project review regulations, most of which relate to the approval of hydrocarbon development projects (ie shale gas drilling). These changes would be made to 18CFR Part 806. An Executive Summary of the proposed rule changes is embedded below.

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A Further Update, and a Correction, on Recent Ohio Lease Deals

MDN has recently highlighted a few articles about the increase in activity in Eastern Ohio with new leases being signed. MDN is written from the Southern Tier of New York, so Ohio is not normally my beat. From the press accounts, it appeared to me (in fact it was referenced in the original articles) that the leases were related to the Marcellus Shale. But astute MDN reader and Ohio landowner Dan Ellis wrote a friendly note to let me know that I was wrong. Thanks Dan! I don’t want to perpetuate an inaccuracy.

Here is Dan’s email:

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