Marcellus Drilling News

Allegany County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

1st Lawsuit Filed Against NY Cuomo Frack Ban – in Allegany County
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

An Allegany County, NY attorney quietly filed a lawsuit–two months ago–against the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) over their infamous frack ban. It is the first such lawsuit that we are aware of to be filed against the DEC since the frack ban was officially declared (see It’s Official: Cuomo Bans Economic Opportunity & Prosperity in NY). The beauty of the Allengany attorney’s lawsuit is that it uses the DEC’s own words against them. The DEC, according to the lawsuit, admits in their own documentation that fracking for shale gas and oil is a “viable and acceptable” method for capturing natural gas. Those words may come back to haunt the DEC. This clever attorney is suing on his own behalf, for the right to drill and frack on his own property. He filed the lawsuit in a relatively low court, called (ironically) Supreme Court–one step up from county court in NY. Here’s the details on what we hope is the beginning of the end of the infamous Andrew Cuomo frack ban in NY…
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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA

No Work Gets Done at Inaugural PA Pipeline Task Force Meeting
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

In May, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced the formation of the Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force (PITF)–an effort to “promote unprecedented collaboration of stakeholders to facilitate the development of a world-class pipeline infrastructure system” (see Disaster on the Horizon: PA Gov Wolf Creates Pipeline Task Force). Last week we told you who Wolf appointed to the 42-member committee–one-third of them report to him in one fashion or another (working for the state government), and over one-half of the members work for either local, state or federal government (see PA Gov Wolf Packs Pipeline Task Force with His Own Minions). In other words, Wolf packed the so-called task force with people who don’t know a darned thing about the private sector and how to run a business. Yes, it is a train wreck waiting to happen. Wolf and his minion DEP Sec. John Quigley intends to slow down the pace of pipeline construction in the state just when it needs to speed up. Such are the consequences of voting for the wrong candidate. Yesterday the PITF held it’s first official meeting with Quigley chairing it. Interestingly, there was talk from Quigley about midstreamers getting a “social license”…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Washington County

MarkWest Energy Takes Cecil, PA Back to Court over Compressor Stn
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

As we noted in June, after more than four years of resisting, Cecil Township, PA–under court order–finally approved a compressor station proposed by MarkWest Energy (see Cecil Twp Approves MarkWest Compressor, with Poison Pill Conditions). We also noted that Cecil pulled a fast one with their so-called approval. The reason they got away with violating the court ordered deadline was because they were supposedly bargaining in good faith with MarkWest–nailing down final details both sides could live with. But it wasn’t good faith on the part of Cecil. At the last minute, Cecil tacked on 26 “conditions” making it all but sure that MarkWest would not agree to the plan. And sure enough, MarkWest has had to take Cecil, one of seven selfish towns that sued to overturn the Act 13 law, back to court yet again. Perhaps the judge should just remove the town supervisors this time since they habitually refuse to obey the law?…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Industrywide Issues | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines

Wrath of Kann: Lancaster Anti-Driller Guilty of Disorderly Conduct
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

Back in April MDN told you about a loud mouthed anti-drilling protester in Lancaster County, PA who was arrested and removed from a public meeting for disorderly conduct. That is, she wouldn’t shut her mouth. So the officials running the meeting removed her (see Wrath of Kann: Lancaster Anti-Driller Arrested/Ejected from Mtg). The meeting was an educational forum about home rule and what role the town can and should play when it comes to regulating things like pipelines. Audience members were permitted to ask questions only, but that didn’t sit well with a local anti-driller who refused to ask questions and instead pontificated. The audience was clearly agitated with her (watch the video below) so police present at the meeting arrested and removed her. A judge has found her guilty as charged…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline

Minor Speed Bumps for PennEast Pipeline in NJ
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

New Jersey residents who are somewhat ignorant, being stoked with fear by Big Green groups like the NJ chapter of the Sierra Club and THE Delaware Riverkeeper, are not allowing access to surveyors of the PennEast Pipeline. Because of it, the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection refuses to issue permits for the pipeline stating they don’t have enough information to make a determination–because PennEast can’t provide it because irrational residents are not allowing them on their property because their fears are being fed by Big Green/Sierra Clubbers/Riverkeeper. So anti-fossil fuelers are claiming victory and believe they have vanquished the evil pipleine. PennEast is saying (yawn) knock yourselves out. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will make the decision anyway and your silly little protests will ultimately mean nothing…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH

PA’s CELDF Unmasked as Troublemakers in Ohio Utica Shale
July 23, 2015August 14, 2015

Energy in Depth is out with a dynamite expose that rips the face off the Pennsylvania-based anti-drilling organization behind much of the anti-drilling mischief happening in Ohio. The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) seeks to ban fracking and anything to do with it, like pipelines, in every community with a sympathetic (and undiscerning) ear. CELDF founder, Thomas Linzey, is a real piece of work. EID’s expose shines the light on the unapologetic Linzey and his outrageous assertions–like instead of humans having rights he thinks nature should have rights. In fact, the potty-mouthed Linzey says, on camera (watch the video) that there should be a ballot initiative that bans all finance companies in New York City from funding new projects “that exasperate climate change.” Talk about a Cuckoo Bird. The worst part is Linzey’s arrogance and smugness–he really believes this stuff, and he believes he’s better (and smarter) than you and me. He’s on a mission to tear apart this country and our Constitution from the inside out to further his radical environmental agenda. Here, read and listen for yourself…
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Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Jul 23, 2015
July 23, 2015July 22, 2015

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Jul 23, 2015”