Wayne County

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    PA Gov. Lights into DRBC Over Failure to Act on Drilling Rules

    It is a breath of fresh air and a wonder to behold when a politician strips away the smarmy doublespeak and says exactly what she (or he) thinks. Last week, PA Gov. Tom Corbett did just that. In very strong and plain language, he excoriated Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Carol Collier and his own fellow commissioners of the DRBC (NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, NJ Gov. Chris Christie and DE Gov. Jack Markell). The DRBC under Collier has not allowed drilling in several northeastern PA counties that lie in the Delaware River Basin for going on three years. Why?

    Depending on whom you ask, some say the DRBC’s failure to act is the fault of the commissioners (the governors of PA, NY, NJ, DE plus a rep from the Army Corps of Engineers). However, Director Collier has clearly thrown her lot in with anti-drillers and uses her leadership of the DRBC to block drilling–refusing to push draft rules adopted in 2011 out for a vote by the commissioners. Corbett has had enough and says so, very plainly, in his letter. He tells Collier she can expect to be sued if she doesn’t get moving–now…
    Read More “PA Gov. Lights into DRBC Over Failure to Act on Drilling Rules”

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    Impotent DRBC Killing Farmers in Wayne County, PA with Moratorium

    Sadly, there’s a large swath of land in northeastern Pennsylvania, in Wayne and surrounding counties (see map below), that has the same disease as all of New York State. It’s called a shale drilling moratorium. Why is there a moratorium in Wayne County? Most of Wayne, all of Pike County and parts of a few other NE PA counties are located within the Delaware River Basin Commission’s jurisdiction, which has had a ban in place since 2010. The DRBC is controlled by five voting members: the governors of Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and New Jersey, plus a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It’s hard enough to get one state government to sign off on drilling–but four? Including NY?? Good luck with that.

    An article in yesterday’s Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice looks at how the impotent DRBC is killing farmers in NE PA with their moratorium…
    Read More “Impotent DRBC Killing Farmers in Wayne County, PA with Moratorium”

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    Army Corps of Engineers Approves Pipeline in Delaware River Basin

    Good news for drillers, landowners and consumers who want to see more low-cost Marcellus Shale gas flowing to East Coast markets. On March 22, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers green lighted Tennessee Gas Company’s Northeast Upgrade pipeline project to cross wetlands (i.e. swamps), rivers and streams in the Delaware River watershed. Hooray! The Corps didn’t cave to eco-nut, anti-progress pressure.

    The details on where the new extensions are being built:

    Read More “Army Corps of Engineers Approves Pipeline in Delaware River Basin”

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    DRBC – Fishing for Money from 2 Pipeline Companies?

    The regional quasi-governmental organization in charge of “protecting” the Delaware River Basin—the Delaware River Basin Commission—has just reversed a decision about whether or not they have the right or power to review (i.e. regulate) two newly completed natural gas pipelines that run through DRBC’s territory. Yes, both pipelines are now completed (barn door…horse?).

    It appears the DRBC is kowtowing to anti-drilling environmental organizations like Delaware Riverkeeper Network by going after these two pipeline companies…

    Read More “DRBC – Fishing for Money from 2 Pipeline Companies?”

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    Anti-Drilling Group Does Air Sampling in Wayne County, PA

    Anti-drilling group Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS)—a group supposedly based in Damascus Twp (Wayne County), Pennsylvania but with its actual headquarters in Manhattan, NYC—has hired Massachusetts-based Gas Safety Inc. to perform what they call baseline air testing in and around Damascus Twp. This is not the first time DCS and Gas Safety have teamed up for a hit job (see this MDN story).

    The Damascus study supposedly provides baseline numbers for how much naturally occurring methane is in the air, just in case drilling should ever start in the township. Drilling is on hold everywhere in the Delaware Watershed Basin, which includes Damascus Twp, until/unless the Delaware Watershed Basin Commission votes to pass drilling rules that would allow it. What did Gas Safety find in its so-called “scientific” analysis of methane around Damascus? Let’s just say farmers with pooping cows may want to be concerned that DCS will be coming for them next…

    Read More “Anti-Drilling Group Does Air Sampling in Wayne County, PA”

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    Federal Judge Throws Out NY AG’s Lawsuit Against DRBC

    case dismissedBig news for landowners living in the Delaware River Basin area, especially for those in Wayne County, PA who want to see drilling in the Marcellus go forward: A federal judge has thrown out the lawsuit by New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman that sought to force the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to conduct a “fuller assessment” of the potential impacts of shale gas drilling on New York City’s water supply before allowing any shale gas drilling in the basin.

    Such an assessment would have meant years of additional studies and delays, especially harmful to landowners in Pennsylvania who happen to live in the DRBC’s jurisdiction and have seen no drilling for the past five years while their neighbors all around them have. This is a victory not only for landowners, but the DRBC itself, fighting the lawsuit.

    Read More “Federal Judge Throws Out NY AG’s Lawsuit Against DRBC”

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    U.S. Sen. Toomey Meets with Wayne County, PA Landowners

    U.S. Senator Pat Toomey met with a group of landowners in Wayne County, PA yesterday to hear their concerns and complaints that property owners in Wayne have so far not participated in the rest of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale drilling boom. Why not? Because Wayne County sits in the Delaware River Basin and comes under the regulatory oversight of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Although the DRBC has drawn up guidelines for drilling, so far it has not had the political spine to implement them, creating an ongoing moratorium.

    When/if it grows a spine, the DRBC says it will permit up to 300 wells throughout the region—a number of those (the majority?) will be in Wayne County.

    Read More “U.S. Sen. Toomey Meets with Wayne County, PA Landowners”

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    Newfield Plugs 3 Exploratory Wells in Wayne County, PA

    Newfield Exploration is plugging three exploratory wells they drilled in Wayne County, PA in 2010. Why? They won’t comment on what they found in the wells, but the fact is, the Delaware River Basin Commission controls drilling in most of Wayne County and the DRBC has so far not allowed drilling in the Marcellus Shale. They currently have an ongoing review process for new rules to allow drilling, but the sitting members of the Commission have not voted to release the rules.

    So to comply with PA Dept. of Environmental Protection rules, Newfield is plugging the wells—at least for now.

    Read More “Newfield Plugs 3 Exploratory Wells in Wayne County, PA”

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    DRBC Says No Marcellus Vote Until Nov. 2012 Earliest

    Eastern parts of Pennsylvania that sit within the boundaries of the Delaware River Basin have been locked in a drilling moratorium since the Marcellus drilling boom began. Eastern PA has the misfortune of sitting inside the boundaries of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), which delayed a vote to allow drilling in November 2011. That vote has still not taken place.

    Carol Collier, executive director of the DRBC, made an impromptu visit with Wayne County, PA landowners while in the area last week, and updated them on the “progress” being made on adoption of new drilling rules. She told landowner coalition representatives there are two reasons why new drilling rules for the Delaware River Basin will not be voted on before November 2012 at the earliest: (1) They’re waiting to see what New York does, and (2) they’re waiting for the Nov. 6 election.

    Read More “DRBC Says No Marcellus Vote Until Nov. 2012 Earliest”

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    How Much Revenue will NE PA Counties Get from Impact Fee?

    Pennsylvania’s northeastern counties stand to bring in millions of new revenue this year under the impact fee that Gov. Corbett is soon due to sign. Once the legislation is signed, county governments will have 60 days to decide whether or not to adopt an ordinance adopting the new fee structure, along with the restrictions it imposes on a county’s ability to regulate drilling via zoning (see this MDN story). Each county is allowed to keep 60 percent of the total impact fee collected. The other 40 percent? That goes to the state. The 40 percent is the “spread the wealth around” compromise lawmakers needed to strike in order to pass the legislation.

    Here’s a rundown on how much in new revenue northeastern PA counties stand to collect in direct fees, the 60 percent portion:

    Read More “How Much Revenue will NE PA Counties Get from Impact Fee?”

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    Hess Net Marcellus Shale Acreage 80K, Mostly in Wayne County, PA – Will Drill 5-10 Test Wells in Second Half of 2010

    An update from Greg Hill, President, Worldwide Exploration and Production with Hess Corporation, about their activities in the Marcellus (from a recent earnings call):

    “We’re continuing to build our position in the Marcellus. We’re at about 80,000 net acres now in the Marcellus, primarily in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. About 50,000 of that is Hess operated and the balance is part of this joint venture we have with Newfield. Our plan this year are to drill five to 10 wells during the second half of 2010 in order to evaluate the resource potential on the acreage.”*

    *Seeking Alpha (Apr 29) – Hess Corp. Q1 2010 Earnings Call Transcript

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    Delaware River Basic Commission Continues to Obstruct Drilling in PA

    The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) continues to obstruct drilling in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. The latest energy company to experience frustrations in dealing with the DRBC is Hess, which holds leases to 126,000 acres in Wayne County, PA:

    “It’s a big issue,” said Gene Linscomb, a Hess Corp. business manager based in Honesdale. “We’re asking them [the DRBC] for input.”*

    The thing is, the DRBC has not approved a single, solitary Marcellus shale operation in the watershed. Not one.

    The commission, a West Trenton, N.J.-based regulatory authority that has jurisdiction over water resources in the 13,539-square-mile Delaware River watershed, has yet to green light a single natural gas production well.*

    Hess has been asking the DRBC, repeatedly, what they want them to do so Hess can begin to drill.

    The [DRBC] has stated it does not intend to be a roadblock to natural gas development – something many Wayne County residents who signed leases do not believe.*

    So what is the DRBC doing? They’ve requested $250,000 to do a study about drilling in the Marcellus Shale in the watershed. They’re hoping to get federal money for the study “late this year.” In other words, they’re not doing anything. If you’re a landowner in the Delaware River Basin, or a drilling company, don’t hold your breath for drilling to begin any time soon.

    *Scranton Times Tribute (Apr 17) – Hess to Wayne County: ‘(We’re) here for the long term’

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    Opinion: How the AP and Other Media Outlets “Wag the Dog” Against Drilling in the Marcellus Shale

    Google News Search "Louis Matoushek" MDN notes with some amusement how news is manufactured—and is thankful blogs are around to help set the story straight. Case in point: A few days ago the Associated Press ran a single story about the “raging debate” over gas drilling in Northeast Pennsylvania. While the drilling debate is certainly ongoing, and there are plenty of people on both sides of the debate, the AP story would have us believe the forces of good (people against drilling) are rising up in overwhelming numbers to oppose the forces of evil (the nasty energy companies who want to rape and pillage the unspoiled landscape, along with the greedy landowners who enable them).

    That single AP anti-drilling story was picked up by no less than 250 media outlets, including large city newspapers, television stations and everything down to small town newspapers—all in the course of two days. One would have to be blind to miss the coverage and not think, “Maybe there are a lot of people opposed to drilling after all!” And all from a single story run again and again and again.

    The AP story starts this way:

    A few hundred yards from Louis Matoushek’s Wayne County farmhouse is a well that could soon produce not only natural gas, but a drilling boom in the wild and scenic Delaware River watershed.

    Energy companies have leased thousands of acres of land in Pennsylvania’s unspoiled northeastern tip, hoping to tap vast stores of gas in a sprawling rock formation—the Marcellus shale—that some experts believe could become the nation’s most productive gas field.*

    But wait, it’s not enough that the villainous drilling companies want to spoil the unspoiled land in PA. While that argument will sway some readers, let’s throw in the thing that works every time, the one thing that will magically turn everyone against drilling: Water.

    Standing in the way is a loose coalition of sporting groups, conservationists and anti-drilling neighbors. They contend that large-scale gas exploration so close to crucial waterways will threaten drinking water, ruin a renowned wild trout fishery, wreck property values, and transform a rural area popular with tourists into an industrial zone with constant noise and truck traffic.

    Both sides are furiously lobbying the Delaware River Basin Commission, the powerful federal-interstate compact agency that monitors water supplies for 15 million people, including half the population of New York City. The commission has jurisdiction because the drilling process will require withdrawing huge amounts of water from the watershed’s streams and rivers and because of the potential for groundwater pollution.*

    PA learns fast. They look over the border at New York where City politicians bleat about the New York City watershed as if drillers are about to poison the water supply of the entire City, and say, “Hey, if it works for them, maybe it will work for us.” And so, the shrill voices in PA have found their argument: Drilling pollutes water. Run the story (i.e. lie) enough times and after a while people will believe it.

    Don’t fall for the lie. And landowners: Make your voices heard!

    *Pittsburgh Tribute-Review/AP (Apr 19) – Gas-drilling foes fear for local water supplies

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    Delaware River Basin Commission May Become Roadblock for Drilling in Wayne County, PA and Other Watershed Counties

    The City of Philadelphia is voicing their concerns to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) about Stone Energy’s request to hydraulically fracture two previously drilled wells in Wayne County, PA. Stone has also made a request to the Commission to withdraw up to 700,000 gallons of water from the West Branch of the Lackawaxen River in Mount Pleasant Township for drilling. Philly’s 17-member City Council voted unanimously to ask the DRBC to not approve the drilling permits until an environmental impact study can be done first.

    An environmental impact study, an intensive and time-consuming endeavor, would determine whether natural gas drilling poses a legitimate threat to the Delaware River watershed, a 13,539-square-mile area that encompasses nearly all of Wayne County and is known for its pristine water quality and world-class trout waters.

    Commission spokesman Clarke Rupert said Monday the regulator is considering conducting such a study. A decision on a $250,000 appropriation request by the commission is not expected until late 2010.*

    In addition to permission from the State Department of Environmental Protection, drillers in the Delaware River Basin watershed area also need permission from the DRBC before they can drill. If the DRBC is not going to make a decision about whether or not to spend $250K on a study “until late 2010,” and if that study is a “time-consuming endeavor,” that means Stone’s request to drill will not be approved until sometime in 2011 at the earliest.

    If you’re a landowner (or driller) in Wayne County, or in other counties located in the Delaware River Basin, you may be in for major delays before drilling begins. Let’s hope the DRBC speeds the process along.

    *Water World (Mar 30) – Philadelphia dives in to gas drilling issue in Wayne County

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    Newfield Exploration Set to Drill 10 Wells in Wayne County, PA This Summer

    Drilling is coming to Wayne County, Pennsylvania this summer according to officials with Newfield Exploration. They are waiting for approvals from regulators to begin drilling up to 10 exploration wells. If those wells show promising results, they will likely be turned into full production wells.

    A Houston-based natural gas production company is laying the groundwork to fulfill its promise to drill up to 10 exploration wells in northern Wayne County this summer, with permits now trickling into the state Department of Environmental Protection.

    Newfield Exploration Co., which partnered with international oil and gas production firm Hess Corp. to develop a 140,000-acre leasehold in Wayne and Susquehanna counties, recently filed for its first four natural gas drilling permits in Damascus and Manchester Twps.

    The company has three pending drilling permits in Damascus Twp. [Wayne County] and one pending permit in Manchester Twp. [York County], according to state environmental regulator records. These permits, filed in late February and March, are on track to be approved by late April or May.*

    *The Scranton Times Tribune (Mar 24) – Gas driller seeks permits for Wayne County wells

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    Tennessee Gas Pipeline from PA to NJ Clears Major Hurdle

    The Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Upgrade Project (previously reported on here), also known as the 300 Line Project, has just cleared a major hurdle on its way to becoming reality. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has completed an environmental assessment of the proposed project and has found there will be no major impact to the environment from the proposed pipeline.

    The 300 Line Project involves the installation of seven looping segments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey totaling approximately 128 miles of 30-inch pipeline, and the addition of approximately 55,000 horsepower following the installation of two new compressor stations and upgrades at seven existing compressor stations. The new stations will be built in northwestern Pennsylvania.*

    Construction is set to begin in the later half of 2010, and the pipeline will come online by the end of 2011.

    *Wayne Independent (Mar 1) – Gas pipeline project clears review