Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Robert Redford Anti-Fracking Commercial: Bald-Faced Lie
October 30, 2012

Sadly, but predictably, movie star Robert Redford is lending his star power to the anti-fracking movement in New York, no doubt because his long-time friend Debra Winger (Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy) asked him to. Redford has cut five radio commercials misrepresenting the miracle of hydraulic fracturing, encouraging New Yorkers to contact and tell Gov. Andrew Cuomo “fracking is a bad deal for New York.”

Unfortunately, either knowingly (or perhaps ignorantly) Redford repeats the lie that fracking is somehow responsible for the contamination of drinking water “all across the country.” That statement is 100% false. Give this latest anti-fracking lie a listen (below).

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Brits Visit PA Marcellus to Learn about Fracking
October 30, 2012October 30, 2012

America’s good friends the Brits are in Pennsylvania taking a look at how we’re fracking the Marcellus Shale as an example they may want to follow. Britain has its own shale deposits in the northern part of the country. They also have their own dedicated anti-drilling crowd, preventing them from moving forward (see this MDN story on Europe’s energy suicide).

British Consulate General Danny Lopez arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday just ahead of Super Storm Sandy:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Radon Debate: USGS Responds to Marvin Resnikoff Accusation
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is none too happy with Dr. Marvin Resnikoff and his accusations that the USGS has been “co-opted” by big fracking. MDN has written previously about “the sky is falling” – or in this case, “the radon is coming” Resnikoff. Dr. R says Marcellus Shale gas contains high levels of radon that will find its way into the kitchen stoves of New York City if we continue to allow hydraulic fracturing of shale for natural gas (see this MDN story).

In Dr. R’s zeal to crush any opposing viewpoint or research that disproves his theories, he’s recently taken to bashing the USGS as a “tool” of industry in covering up the so-called “fact” that high levels of radon exist in Marcellus Shale gas. The Akron Beacon Journal ran one of his screeds. A few days later the USGS fired back in response to set the record straight.

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Air Quality | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Pavillion, WY in the News Again: This Time for Clean Air
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

The federal Environmental Protection Agency, along with anti-drillers nationwide, have done their best to turn Pavillion, Wyoming into an example of water contamination from fracking. They’re desperate to prove a causal link between fracking and water contamination somewhere, anywhere! They have none—not a single case. And so Pavillion was to be it. Except the EPA has botched their own tests (see this MDN story). And except fracking in Pavillion is different than shale fracking (see this MDN story).

A story that’s not received any national attention is air testing that’s been done near Pavillion. The Wyoming State Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has just completed more than a year’s worth of air tests around Pavillion, and what did they find? Nothing. Air’s fine. But you won’t read about that in the New York Times, will you? Here’s the story the mainstream media won’t cover:

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

Clear Majority of New York Residents Now Favor Fracking
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

More New Yorkers now support fracking in the state than at any time in the past according to the latest Siena College Research Institute Poll. By a clear majority, 42% of New Yorkers support fracking vs. 36% who oppose it. In August, the numbers were 39% supporting vs. 38% opposing—so clearly there has been a shift over the past three months since Siena last polled on this question.

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Europe Commits “Energy Suicide” While America Fracks Future
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

Have you ever noticed how refreshingly honest the international media is when compared with U.S. mainstream media? Case in point: The London Telegraph has a story detailing how the miracle of hydraulic fracturing has turned the U.S. into an economic powerhouse once again—and how Europe is committing energy suicide by not leveraging fracking.

The article says, in part:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Washington County

Cecil, PA Public Hearing to Revise Zoning for Act 13
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

Even though the Town of Cecil (Washington County, PA) is one of the seven towns suing the state of PA over the zoning provisions of Act 13, the town is going to consider changing their zoning law to be compliant with Act 13 all the same. The situation is now murky and “fluid”…

On Friday, Cecil’s town manager said this:

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Seneca Resources

Seneca Boasts First 100% LNG-Powered Drill Rig in Marcellus
October 26, 2012October 26, 2012

EQT was the first driller in the Marcellus Shale to convert a drilling rig to run on electricity produced by LNG, or “liquefied natural gas” (see this MDN story). CONSOL has also been experimenting with converting some of their rigs to use LNG too (see this MDN story). You may now add a third driller to the list: Seneca Resources. Seneca is the gas drilling arm of National Fuel Gas Company.

Yesterday, Seneca announced they are converting two of their rigs to run on LNG. But unlike EQT and CONSOL which mix LNG with diesel fuel in a blend, Seneca is using 100% LNG to power their rigs—a first for drilling rigs in the Marcellus Shale. Seneca says they’ve already converted one rig that’s now in operation, a second rig will be finished in November, and a third rig is coming later this year. Seneca also says someday they’d like to use the gas coming out of the ground to power the rig that’s drilling it. Cool.

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

PA State Rep. White Accuses Range Resources of Extortion
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

Pennsylvania State Rep. Jesse White (D) from Cecil, PA (Washington County) is a well-known and devoted anti-driller. He’s accusing Range Resources of attempted extortion of the Town of Cecil. Here’s the background:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio

Fact and Fiction About Fracking in OH County Park
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

An article in the Salem (OH) News points out the false impressions sometimes held by those who oppose or have concerns about fracking. The example they highlight comes from area residents who had concerns about a county park in Mahoning County, OH, not far from Youngstown. The park is called Mill Creek MetroParks—a 4,400-acre park with spectacular views and walking trails, a championship golf course, a working farm and much more.

Residents were concerned about leasing land from the park for Utica Shale oil and gas drilling. Concerns center on contamination of water supplies in the park, land being disturbed with heavy equipment use, truck traffic and the like. Concerned residents learned at a recent seminar held at the park that drilling already happens from neighboring property and there’s been 40+ wells drilled (or being drilled) under the park to date.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD | Taxation

Maryland Senators Support Lease Tax to Fund Fracking Study
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

Two “prominent” Maryland State Senators, both from Montgomery County in the Washington, D.C. suburbs (and both Democrats), are supporting legislation that would create a long-term moratorium on shale gas drilling in the state:

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

Will Drillers Bother to Show Up if NY Allows Fracking?
October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

A new article by Platts asks the question MDN is often asked: “If shale drilling is allowed in New York State, will any drillers bother to show up and drill?” The Platts article quotes a number of experts who say, in a word, “no.” MDN has heard the same “no” sentiment from other experts as well. We’ve grappled with this issue in the past (see this MDN story from March 9, 2011).

These days, MDN has a contrary-to-popular-opinion position on the question of whether drillers will want to drill in New York soon after it’s allowed. But first, the viewpoints of those who say no:

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

U.S. will Produce as Much Oil as Saudi Arabia Starting 2013
October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

Not so long ago those of us who support shale gas drilling would proudly say, “The United States has as much natural gas sitting under it as Saudi Arabia has oil,” feeling the satisfaction of knowing that someday, somehow we may get out from under the thumb of counties who are our enemies by shifting our economy from using mostly oil to using mostly natural gas.

Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine saying, “The United States produces as much oil as Saudi Arabia.” Seemed like a fantasy. But starting next year, that statement will be true. Why? You guessed it: Shale.

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

President Obama’s Abysmal Energy Record
October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

Startling news today that the U.S. is set to eclipse Saudi Arabia as the leading producer of oil (yes, oil) in the world by the end of next year (see this MDN story). This year, the U.S. will be the most energy independent we have been since 1990. We’re now on track to produce 4/5 of the energy we consume. Why? The miracle of hydraulic fracturing.

President Obama and his administration try to claim credit for this energy renaissance and make noise about an “all of the above” energy strategy. But a close examination of the record shows Obama’s energy policies have actually worked against our energy independence. Without his policies of restricting drilling on federal lands and offshore, we might actually be energy independent right now.

The numbers don’t lie:

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Air Quality | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

OSHA Puts Brakes on New Silica Handling Rules for Fracking
October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

In June 2012, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) issued a joint hazard alert for workers who use silica (sand) used in fracking (see this MDN story). OSHA has been working for several years on a revision of its silica dust regulations—long before a new report was issued by NIOSH on silica used in fracking. The NIOSH report, released in May 2012, caused OSHA and NIOSH to issue the joint hazard alert in June.

The hazard alert, while using strong language to encourage stricter rules for handling silica, apparently does not carry the full weight of being a regulation—i.e., it’s not enforceable. The enforceable regulation comes from OSHA and release of a revised regulation on silica handling for fracking and other uses is now on pause. How come?

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Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

More Comments from Martens about NY Fracking Health Review
October 23, 2012October 23, 2012

Here’s a bit more about what New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens said last Friday about the current health review, some comments he made we did not previously see reported:

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