Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PIOGA Asks Supreme Court to Stop DEP Denying Permits Using Act 13
June 22, 2015June 23, 2015

Please see this MDN follow-up story for an important clarification/update: More on PIOGA Request to Keep DEP in its Regulatory Box

This story is why you pay MDN the “big bucks”–to break down complex issues into an easy-to-understand report. Last Friday the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) filed paperwork with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court asking for permission to, once again, intervene in the Act 13 lawsuit brought by seven selfish PA townships that resulted in portions of the Act 13 oil and gas drilling law to be struck down. Twice before PIOGA, which represents the companies directly affected by the Act 13 law, has filed to intervene and both times it was (incredibly) prevented from doing so. Apparently the people most affected by a lawsuit don’t have “standing” to defend themselves in PA courts–such is their system of “justice.” At any rate, PIOGA’s third attempt may succeed where the first two attempts failed, and that has the anti-drilling selfish towns, along with the Wolf administration, nervous. Why might PIOGA succeed this time? That’s where it gets complicated. In a nutshell, the zoning portions of the Act 13 law (Section 3304) were not the only sections to be struck down by the PA Supremes…
Read More “PIOGA Asks Supreme Court to Stop DEP Denying Permits Using Act 13”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Talk of Upstate NY Seceding & Joining PA Comes Roaring Back to Life
June 19, 2015June 19, 2015

This story comes right from MDN’s own backyard–in the Town of Windsor, NY. Following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to temporarily ban shale drilling while he’s in the governor’s chair, there was talk that some New York towns along the border of Pennsylvania are considering seceding from NY State and joining PA (see 15 NY Towns Consider Seceding from NY, Join PA Due to Frack Ban). It was certainly good for a few headlines–the story actually got international play for a while. But then it all seemed to simmer down. The “secession” story has now come roaring back to life with a proposal by a Windsor man (and MDN acquaintance) who is pushing a plan to split NY in two–and have all of upstate NY join Pennsylvania–not just a few towns. He’s even got a proposed platform and he’s working to organize a secession convention! Is this for real? Or is it a stunt–a clever way to focus attention on the abuse of upstate residents at the hands of a corrupt governor? You decide…
Read More “Talk of Upstate NY Seceding & Joining PA Comes Roaring Back to Life”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion | Statewide PA

More on that RMU Poll that Shows PA Residents Love Fracking
June 17, 2015June 17, 2015

Yesterday MDN highlighted a Robert Morris University poll on fracking (see Poll: 56% of Americans & 74% of Pennsylvanians Support Fracking). We mentioned at the time that only a few media outlets were reporting the results for this poll which had been conducted in early May. RMU themselves hadn’t reported it on their own website, even though other polls taken since (in June!) were listed. Apparently our chiding worked, because after our story RMU did posted an update on the poll on their website with this headline: “Fracking Enjoys Strong Support from Pennsylvanians”…
Read More “More on that RMU Poll that Shows PA Residents Love Fracking”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Research

EPA Begins Campaign to Discredit Their Own Fracking/Water Study
June 16, 2015June 16, 2015

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is furiously backpedaling after releasing a draft of their four-year study of fracking and water supplies with the conclusion that, “Hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. are carried out in a way that have not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources” (see EPA Draft Report Says Fracking Doesn’t Pollute Groundwater Supplies). Of course those of us who have long known this is the case have celebrated and pointed out the good news to the masses. Apparently the EPA, beholden to Big Green, either ideologically or financially, wasn’t prepared for the flood of stories saying “EPA says fracking is safe for water.” What to do, what to do? It’s obvious–they have to discredit their own research. Run away from it. So the EPA has begun to work with sycophantic members of mainstream liberal media, like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, to play up the “maybes, mights, could be’s and possibly’s” in the nearly 1,000-page report. In addition, the EPA has reactivated some of the retired dinosaurs from the agency to pitch stones at the research and paint nightmare scenarios. It’s like Jurassic World came to life at the EPA…
Read More “EPA Begins Campaign to Discredit Their Own Fracking/Water Study”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Pitt. Post-Gazette Affirms AMA Lie re Frack Chemical Disclosure
June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

Shale drillers already full disclose the relative thimbleful of chemicals used in fracking solutions. They do so by listing them on the FracFocus.org website–well by well for each well they drill. Recently the American Medical Association, either through ignorance or (more likely) an intentional desire to mislead the American public voted to adopt a resolution calling for the full disclosure of chemicals used in fracking (see American Medical Assoc Votes for Full Disclosure of Frack Chemicals). Makes no difference that this already happens. The point is to further the myth that it doesn’t happen. Just to ensure low information headline readers are 100% brainwashed on this issue, the editorial writers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette come along to affirm the AMA’s lie…
Read More “Pitt. Post-Gazette Affirms AMA Lie re Frack Chemical Disclosure”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

FrackFeed Site Uses Pop Culture to Spread Truth about Fracking
June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

An edgy new pro-fracking website has sprung up that deserves your attention. It’s called FrackFeed.com and it’s designed along the lines of BuzzFeed, a news and entertainment site aimed at Millennials. FrackFeed, like BuzzFeed, contains short, “pithy” articles–but in FrackFeed’s case the articles respond to and expose the lies peddled by anti-drillers–using humor. The format is meant to be easily “consumed” on a smart phone–and shared with others. Of course the “cool, hipster” anti-drilling nutters are flustered that pro-drillers are turning one of their own tools against them–exposing them for the humorless mind-numbed robots they are. We love it when someone figures out how to get under their skin! Example: categories on the site include Quizzes, Memes and something called “Listicles”. FrackFeed uses the image of the fictional Ron Burgundy (actor Will Ferrell) of the Anchorman movies with the superimposed statement: “You Have Fracking Questions? I Have Fracking Answers!” Love it!…
Read More “FrackFeed Site Uses Pop Culture to Spread Truth about Fracking”
Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Research

Harvard Study: Fracking is Safe, Profitable, Good for Environment!
June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

Wow–who woulda thought Harvard University would publish a report that says fracking is a good thing (when done right) and that it will create 3.8 million new jobs by 2030 AND lower carbon emissions? The report, titled “America’s Unconventional Energy Opportunity” (full copy below) outlines “a strategic, fact-based approach to developing America’s new energy advantage to increase U.S. competitiveness and drive much-needed job and economic growth, to reducing environmental impacts, and to accelerating progress on climate change.” The authors say that with some tweaks to regulations and by using know best practices, hydraulic fracturing is safe–and an economic bonanza for America–AND good for the environment (reduces nasty carbon dioxide which causes mythical global warming)! It’s important to note the study was self-funded and published by the Harvard Business School. No outside money was involved from the likes of the Park Foundation or Heniz Endowments or William Penn Foundation–virulent anti-drilling Big Green organizations that routinely purchase “scientific” studies with pre-determined outcomes. This time is different. The authors were not beholden to big money benefactors. They are smart people tackling tough issues with an open mind–and the conclusion they come to is the same conclusion reached by millions of people who bother to research the issues: fracking is safe…
Read More “Harvard Study: Fracking is Safe, Profitable, Good for Environment!”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

New Bill Allows Drillers to Use Acid Mine Water for Fracking in PA
June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

An idea whose time has come–in fact is long overdue–is that of re-using acid mine water (AMW) for fracking. The Old Forge borehole was drilled years ago near Scranton, Pennsylvania to alleviate the problem of water seeping into abandoned coal mines in the area, contaminated mine water that was threatening the water table. Old Forge was drilled to channel that water out–and into the Susquehanna River. Some 60-100 million gallons of acid mine water comes out of that hole every single day! It is the largest single source of pollution for the Chesapeake Bay. In 2013 money was allocated to begin a pilot project to clean up the acid mine water at Old Forge, using money from the impact fee assessed on Marcellus drillers in the state (see Specifics on Marcellus $ Helping to Clean Chesapeake Bay Pollution. While that’s a great plan, what’s even better is that drillers are ready and willing to use AMW for fracking operations–except for liability laws. The current laws on the books say “if you touch it, you own it” and drillers are afraid if they begin using AMW, litigious lawyers for Big Green groups like Food & Water Watch will take them to court and try to bankrupt them–claiming the AMW, even if treated, is causing negative environmental and health issues…
Read More “New Bill Allows Drillers to Use Acid Mine Water for Fracking in PA”
Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

American Medical Assoc Votes for Full Disclosure of Frack Chemicals
June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

The American Medical Association (AMA) is inhabited–some would say infested–with politically correct left-leaning liberals. At least that’s true of the leaders of the association. So it’s no surprise that in the name of “health” and “science” the AMA passed a policy at their annual meeting requesting something that already exists–full disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking. It makes no difference that full disclosure is already being done–the AMA is making a political statement–not a health or science statement…
Read More “American Medical Assoc Votes for Full Disclosure of Frack Chemicals”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Research | Statewide NY

NY DEC Claims Their Sham Studies Better than Federal EPA Study
June 9, 2015June 9, 2015

Even though faced with overwhelming scientific evidence that fracking has and is being done safely everywhere it’s tried (see EPA Draft Report Says Fracking Doesn’t Pollute Groundwater Supplies), New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won’t relent and change his mind to allow fracking. That’s the upshot of comments by Cuomo’s Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC would rather use sham “studies” perpetrated by anti-drilling radical environmentalists rather than believe a four year, in-depth study by the federal EPA on whether or not fracking can be done safely. But then, we didn’t expect Cuomo would change his mind, because his decision was 100% political–not based on science at all…
Read More “NY DEC Claims Their Sham Studies Better than Federal EPA Study”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Biz Group, Congressman Ask Cuomo to Lift NY Frack Ban
June 5, 2015June 5, 2015

In light of the federal EPA study released yesterday stating fracking doesn’t pollute groundwater supplies (see our lead story today), the Business Council of New York State and NY Congressman Chris Collins have publicly asked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lift the fracking ban he has put in place in the Empire State. Since Cuomo’s decision had nothing whatsoever to do with actual science, don’t look for him to suddenly change his mind…
Read More “NY Biz Group, Congressman Ask Cuomo to Lift NY Frack Ban”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Outsider Anti-Drilling Groups Celebrate Victory in Maryland Frack Ban
June 1, 2015June 1, 2015

As MDN reported last week, Maryland’s new Republican Governor, Larry Hogan–missing an important piece of his male anatomy–allowed a Maryland bill to become law that bans fracking in Maryland for another two years (see Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law). That now gives non-Maryland anti-fracking groups another two years in which to lock down a total and permanent ban on fracking–which is their stated goal. The odious Food & Water Watch and other non-Maryland, outsider anti-drilling groups couldn’t be happier over the victory…
Read More “Outsider Anti-Drilling Groups Celebrate Victory in Maryland Frack Ban”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Rex Energy

Rex Energy to Restart Drilling Near Mars School Following Vote
May 29, 2015May 29, 2015

Let the drilling begin! The three members of the Middlesex Zoning Hearing Board (Butler County, PA, where the Mars School District is located) voted unanimously on Wednesday to reject challenges by anti-drillers to changes in zoning laws that allow Rex Energy to drill a series of wells on a pad about 3/4 of a mile from the Mars School. Four Martian parents have worked themselves up into a frenzy, convincing themselves that faraway drilling will harm their precious, innocent lil’ chil’ren. The Martians have enlisted the help of anti-drilling groups from the opposite side of the state–the Philadelphia area–tapping into their deep pockets to fund endless lawsuits and appeals that are costing Middlesex taxpayers big bucks to defend (see Dela. RiverKeeper, Clean Air Council Cost Middlesex Residents $35K+). (By the way, when is the IRS going to investigate THE Delaware Riverkeeper for clear violations of their 501(c)(3) tax exempt status? Riverkeeper continues to operate, politically, far outside of the Delaware River Basin. Their tax exempt status should be revoked.) The zoning board vote was good news for Rex who says they won’t waste any time in returning to the drill site to begin work. By the time the Martians are done suing, the wells will already be drilled…
Read More “Rex Energy to Restart Drilling Near Mars School Following Vote”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law
May 27, 2015May 27, 2015

What a disappointment Maryland’s new Republican governor, Larry Hogan, has turned out to be. On his way out of office, Maryland’s previous governor, Martin O’Malley (Democrat), created strict drilling regulations that would allow fracking in Maryland THIS YEAR (see Maryland Gets Ready to Frack! Gov O’Malley Files New Regulations). O’Malley was a disaster as Maryland’s governor, and even though he lobbed new fracking regs over the wall in a sleazy political move (he’s running for president), we tipped our hat to him for doing the right thing–even if he did it for his own personal reasons. The prospect of any fracking was too much for the environmentally insane that belong to Maryland’s legislature. They passed a two-year moratorium bill and sent it to Hogan for his signature (see Maryland Closer to a 2-Year Fracking Ban, Will Gov have Guts?). Looks like the pusillanimous Gov. Hogan doesn’t have guts after all. He’s already defeated just a few months into his first term. Last Friday the Baltimore Sun quotes his office as saying Hogan, who supposedly supports shale drilling, will let the bill become law without his signature–a cop out if ever we’ve seen one…
Read More “Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Cuyahoga County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation

Broadview Hghts, OH Won’t Appeal Overturned Home Rule Law
May 27, 2015May 27, 2015

In March MDN told you about the crushing defeat of a home rule law in Broadview Heights, a Cleveland, OH suburb (see OH Antis Handed Crushing Defeat in Broadview Hghts Home Rule Case). A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge struck down Broadview Heights’ so-called community bill of rights that bans all oil and gas drilling–including shale drilling. The judge rightly ruled that only the state–and not localities–have the right to regulate oil and gas drilling. That caused the anarchists at the Ohio Community Right to Know Network (OHCRN) to call for an uprising. They “refuse” to recognize the court’s decision (i.e. they’re lawless). Fortunately for the citizens of Broadview Heights, city leaders do still recognize the rule of law. Last week the city announced it will not appeal the decision, because it has no basis on which to appeal it. But that doesn’t stop the nutters from an OHCRN associate group, calling itself Mothers Against Drilling In Our Neighborhoods, from filing yet another frivolous lawsuit, which they’ve done…
Read More “Broadview Hghts, OH Won’t Appeal Overturned Home Rule Law”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Regulation

Lawsuit Won’t Stop NC Agency from Drilling Test Holes in Shale
May 26, 2015May 26, 2015

An interesting twist in the story out of North Carolina where a judge recently halted the forward momentum on fracking in the Tar Heel State that was set to begin in July (see Judge Puts NC Fracking on Hold Pending Outcome of Lawsuit). Even though Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens’ decision means the Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) can’t issue permits for drilling and fracking in shale deposits, that isn’t stopping the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from contracting with a private drilling company to sink a series of test holes in Stokes, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland counties starting June 12 to see whether shale gas is present in those locations…
Read More “Lawsuit Won’t Stop NC Agency from Drilling Test Holes in Shale”