Regulation

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Gov. Corbett Creates Commission to Study and Recommend New Marcellus Shale Drilling Rules
March 9, 2011March 9, 2011

In yesterday’s budget address, new Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced the formation of a 30-member Marcellus Shale Commission. The members of the commission (listed below) come from a cross-section of government officials, representatives from the drilling industry, and representatives from environmental organizations. The new commission, which will be headed up by Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, is a balanced cross section representing all interests in the drilling debate. The commission is charged with taking a close look at the issue of Marcellus Shale drilling and producing a report with recommendations for development and regulation of the industry in PA. The report is due on the Governor’s desk on or before July 22.

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Industrywide Issues | Noise | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Westmoreland County

Western PA Township Makes a Run at Banning Marcellus Shale Drilling Using Noise Ordinance
March 9, 2011March 9, 2011

Administrators of North Huntingdon Township, PA (Westmoreland County), are attempting to control drilling in the Marcellus Shale within their borders. They acknowledge that Pennsylvania state courts have already ruled local municipalities cannot outright ban drilling, so the North Huntingdon planning commission is attempting to place restrictions that would greatly curtail drilling in the Township. The current draft regulations—yet to be voted on—focus on noise:

Read More “Western PA Township Makes a Run at Banning Marcellus Shale Drilling Using Noise Ordinance”
Broome County | Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Meetings | New York | Regulation

Sizable Crowd Gathers in Binghamton to Hear Hear Expert Panel Discuss Marcellus Drilling’s Potential Impact on New York
March 7, 2011March 8, 2011

MDN, along with about 200 other people, attended a meeting titled “Marcellus Shale in Our Community: What’s in it for All of Us” on Friday evening March 4th at the West Middle School auditorium in Binghamton, NY. The audience was, for the most part, composed of landowners and those generally in favor of drilling in the Marcellus Shale in New York. The meeting was sponsored by the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY).

Read More “Sizable Crowd Gathers in Binghamton to Hear Hear Expert Panel Discuss Marcellus Drilling’s Potential Impact on New York”
Broome County | Industrywide Issues | Landowner Coalition News | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

A Glimmer of Hope for Marcellus Drilling in New York State
February 25, 2011February 27, 2011

Newly elected Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, will be a key figure (perhaps the key figure) in determining whether or not drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale goes forward in the state. His appointment of Joe Martens on Jan. 4 to be head of the Department of Environmental Conservation which oversees drilling was not a good sign to those who favor drilling (see MDN’s story here). But Mr. Martens seems to be signing a different tune these days.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Final Set of DRBC Hearings Held in Trenton, NJ – More of the Same
February 25, 2011February 25, 2011

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) held it’s final round of public hearings yesterday near its Trenton, NJ headquarters. The hearings held earlier this week in Liberty, NY and Honesdale, PA, along with the hearings yesterday in Trenton, NJ, were for public comment on the DRBC’s proposed new extra layer of drilling regulations for Marcellus Shale gas wells drilled within the Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of Pennsylvania and New York where Marcellus drilling occurs. By all accounts, there was a similar theme from the comments in Trenton: Those in favor of drilling say the regulations are way too restrictive, and those against drilling say they’re not strict enough.

Read More “Final Set of DRBC Hearings Held in Trenton, NJ – More of the Same”
Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide NY | Statewide PA

Gas Drilling Supporters Outnumber Those Opposed at Honesdale DRBC Hearings, Roundup of Yesterday’s Hearings in PA and NY
February 23, 2011February 24, 2011

Yesterday saw the first round of hearings by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), four hearings total—two in Honesdale, PA and two in Liberty, NY (afternoon and evening sessions at both locations). The hearings were for public comment on the DRBC’s proposed new extra layer of drilling regulations for Marcellus Shale gas wells drilled within the Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of Pennsylvania and New York where Marcellus drilling occurs.

Read More “Gas Drilling Supporters Outnumber Those Opposed at Honesdale DRBC Hearings, Roundup of Yesterday’s Hearings in PA and NY”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

New Drilling in PA State Forests Back On with New Governor
February 22, 2011February 22, 2011

The drilling moratorium on Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania state forests has been lifted by new Gov. Tom Corbett:

Read More “New Drilling in PA State Forests Back On with New Governor”
Forced Pooling | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Forced Pooling in W.Va. Taken Out of New Legislation
February 22, 2011February 22, 2011

West Virginia gets closer with new rules and regulations for drilling in the Marcellus Shale. And it looks like the forced pooling provision has been dropped:

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Broome County | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Free Bus Ride from Binghamton Area to DRBC Hearings in Liberty, NY on Feb 22 for Pro-Gas Supporters
February 17, 2011February 17, 2011

MDN received the following email from the Joint Landowner Coalition of New York, offering free bus rides to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) hearings scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22 in Liberty, NY. Pickup locations include Binghamton, Windsor and Deposit, NY. The hearings are to accept public comments on the DRBC’s draft regulations that will govern drilling in the Marcellus Shale within DRBC-controlled areas. The DRBC adds an extra layer of regulation for drilling within watershed areas as part of it’s charter to protect water supplies. As Dan Fitzsimmons points out, it’s important for those who support drilling to make their voices heard at the DRBC hearings.

Read More “Free Bus Ride from Binghamton Area to DRBC Hearings in Liberty, NY on Feb 22 for Pro-Gas Supporters”
Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Gov. Cuomo’s Nomination to Head the NY DEC: Will the Real Joe Martens Please Stand Up?
February 9, 2011February 10, 2011

On January 4, newly inaugurated Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated Joe Martens to head up the all-important (to Marcellus Shale drilling in NY anyway), State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC is charged with drafting drilling regulations, and once in place, overseeing those regulations. Joe Martens’ nomination to head the DEC was viewed by most who support drilling as a bad omen. Why? Let’s take a look at who Joe Martens is, and what he has said on the topic of shale gas drilling in New York.

Since 1995 Joe has worked for the Open Space Institute (OSI), first as executive vice president and later as its president. The OSI buys private land in states along the East Coast of the U.S. to keep it from being developed. As it’s name implies, it wants to keep large tracts of open spaces undeveloped and pristine. Over 100,000 acres in New York State alone have been “protected” by the OSI. Most of the OSI’s land acquisitions and easements (laws to protect land they don’t actually buy but control) have come under Joe Martens’ reign as president.

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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Westmoreland County

PA County Drafts Local Ordinance for Marcellus Gas Drilling
February 8, 2011February 8, 2011

Supervisors in Upper Burrell Township (Westmoreland County), PA are working on a package of local ordinances that affect Marcellus shale drilling in the township.

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Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Delaware River Basin Commission Proposes Draft Drilling Regulations; Three Public Hearings in February
February 7, 2011February 7, 2011

On Dec. 9, 2010, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) released a draft of its proposed new regulations that will affect anything to do with the exploration, drilling and production of natural gas wells within the DRBC’s jurisdiction, which includes parts of the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The DRBC is responsible for protecting the waters of the Delaware River basin, which brings fresh drinking water to some 15 million people in the U.S.

Read More “Delaware River Basin Commission Proposes Draft Drilling Regulations; Three Public Hearings in February”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA State Rep. Phyllis Mundy Makes Another Attempt to Stop Drilling in the PA Marcellus Shale
February 7, 2011February 7, 2011

Pennsylvania State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (Democrat, Kingston) recently reintroduced several pieces of legislation designed to stop drilling in the Marcellus Shale in PA. Not that it will make much of a difference since Republicans now control the governorship, the Senate and the House in PA.

Read More “PA State Rep. Phyllis Mundy Makes Another Attempt to Stop Drilling in the PA Marcellus Shale”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Lawmaker Proposes Legislation to Ban Drilling in that State
February 7, 2011February 7, 2011

It appears the constant drumbeat that hydraulic fracturing is evil (coming from extremist environmental groups) is having the desired effect. At least on Democrat state politicians. Now it looks like Maryland may ban drilling in the Marcellus Shale that runs under a tiny section of that state:

Maryland state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County), is preparing legislation to ban drilling in the state until it is determined that it will not taint water. “We expect robust support,” she said. “The fuel source isn’t bad, we’re just concerned about the extraction method.”*

*The Washington Post (Feb 6) – Maryland county caught up in fight over energy extraction method
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Federal EPA Finally Starting Their Study on Hydraulic Fracturing, But Don’t Hold Your Breath on How Long it Will Take to Complete
February 2, 2011February 3, 2011

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finally close to launching their much ballyhooed study on hydraulic fracturing, according the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Jackson spoke before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today.

Read More “Federal EPA Finally Starting Their Study on Hydraulic Fracturing, But Don’t Hold Your Breath on How Long it Will Take to Complete”
Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Damascus Citizens for Sustainability Sue Delaware River Basin Commission over Exploratory Wells
February 1, 2011February 1, 2011

Two anti-drilling “environmental” groups, The Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) and Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS), have joined forces in filing a federal lawsuit today against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in federal district court in Trenton, NJ. The anti-drilling groups are challenging the actions the DRBC took to allow some exploratory natural gas wells to be drilled “without DRBC review and approval and despite a Basin-wide moratorium on gas wells.”

Read More “Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Damascus Citizens for Sustainability Sue Delaware River Basin Commission over Exploratory Wells”