Marcellus Drilling News

PA DEP Allows Cabot to Resume Fracking in Dimock

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

greenlight Now that most of the families in and around Dimock, PA who previously sued Cabot Oil & Gas claiming their water had been contaminated by nearby drilling have settled with the company (see this MDN story), the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has given Cabot a green light to resume fracking seven wells in Dimock that Cabot previously drilled but had not completed. The action to let Cabot finish those wells and bring them online comes two and a half years after activity on the wells was stopped by an order of the DEP.

South Fayette, PA First Town Challenged Under Act 13

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

Pennsylvania towns that have ordinances conflicting with the new state drilling law known as Act 13 run the risk of not receiving their portion of a new impact fee being collected by the state—unless they revise their laws to not conflict with Act 13. The first town to be challenged under this provision is South Fayette, in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh area). A resident of South Fayette wrote to the Public Utility Commission (PUC), the agency charged with policing compliance with Act 13, to complain that several town ordinances violate Act 13.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

NY Anti-Drillers Threaten Civil Disobedience over Fracking

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

If anti-drillers in New York don’t get their way with Gov. Cuomo (i.e., a total ban on fracking), they’re threatening to engage in so-called “nonviolent” civil disobedience.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Niagara County | Regulation

Wilson, NY Votes to Ban Fracking

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

The village board of Wilson (Niagara County), NY has voted to ban hydraulic fracturing. In a statement, one anti-drilling Wilson board member said he wants fracking to be banned everywhere, not just in New York. Gotta love those freedom-loving, “I know better than you do how to run your life” kinds of people, dontchya?

Greene County (OH) | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation

Yellow Springs, OH Votes to Ban Fracking

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

Over the objection of their own lawyer, the village board of Yellow Springs (Green County), Ohio voted to ban both injection wells and all hydraulic fracturing within the village at an August 20 meeting. Three board members (out of five) decided they know better than their residents what those residents can do with their own land.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

New York State Ad Wars Heat Up Over Fracking

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

As we get ever closer to the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) release of new rules to allow fracking—a decision expected either by or shortly after Labor Day—both sides of the debate are turning up the heat by taking to the airwaves and in print with advertisements.

For some time now, pro-drilling groups led by the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) have run radio and print ads (see below). The other side is now entering the fray with their own ads.

Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Aug 22, 2012

August 22, 2012August 22, 2012

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: