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    Cornell Hydraulic Fracturing Expert Headlines First Meeting of New York Residents Against Drilling (NYRAD) in Vestal, NY

    Ingraffea_Anthony Nearly one week ago, on March 31, MDN attended the kickoff meeting of New York Residents Against Drilling (NYRAD) at the Vestal Public Library in Broome County, NY. No, MDN is not anti-drilling! We attend to listen and learn. The drilling debate is increasingly political in tone. Those of us who support drilling need to listen to those in our communities who oppose it—as a courtesy, to be sure we have not missed important information that informs our own opinions, and so we understand our opponents’ arguments in this debate—to be able to intelligently respond to their (often inaccurate and overhyped) accusations.

    The meeting room at the Vestal Public Library was filled to capacity for the meeting with about 120 people attending. Local news media was there, as well as cameras from (presumably) NYRAD themselves. MDN observation: As was the case when DISH, TX Mayor Calvin Tillman recently visited, there were a number of balding men with gray-haired ponytails in the audience. MDN continues to posit the theory that many 60s hippies have found a new cause célèbre that now energizes them—gas drilling.

    The meeting was opened by a NYRAD official who introduced the evening’s main speaker, Professor Anthony Ingraffea. Dr. Ingraffea is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell University. His Ph.D. is in rock fracturing mechanics. He has done twenty years of research on hydraulic fracturing for companies like Schlumberger, Exxon and the Gas Research Institute. If anyone knows how rock fracturing works, it is Dr. Ingraffea. I eagerly anticipated what he would say about hydraulic fracturing and whether or not the process contaminates water supplies, a commonly leveled charge by drilling opponents.

    Dr. Ingraffea is an accomplished speaker. He is equal parts comedian and expert, and he knows how to “work a crowd.” I can easily imagine that he’s a favorite professor at Cornell, one whose classes fill quickly. In his opening remarks he admitted he feels passionately about the issue of drilling in New York State, and that he is opposed to it. He opened his talk with a technique often employed by those who are anti-drilling. He mentioned he loves fishing for trout in New York’s streams and he asked the audience a question: “Would you like to keep fishing in New York State?” The implication is that if drilling begins, trout fishing is finished. It’s a non sequitur—a statement that does not follow from the premise. In the course of his presentation he never once connected any dots that drilling activity would lead to poisoning of streams and the end of trout fishing. This was a tip-off that the evening might disappointingly hold more emotional statements rather than factual statements. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how it turned out.

    Read More “Cornell Hydraulic Fracturing Expert Headlines First Meeting of New York Residents Against Drilling (NYRAD) in Vestal, NY”

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    Mesa Energy Adds Downstater from NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection to Advisory Board

    Mesa Energy keeps up the pace with the addition of former Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Robert Avaltroni. It certainly can’t hurt to have a downstater in your corner for the nasty fight that’s brewing over Marcellus drilling. New York City wants it banned statewide period, and City politicians regularly make noise about it. With former Gov. George Pataki (rumored to be considering a run for the NY Senate as well as a run for president), and with former New York State Senator Nicholas A. Spano, the addition of Mr. Avaltroni makes a truly formidable and influential group on Mesa’s advisory board.

    From the Mesa Energy press release:

    Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), an exploration stage oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on the Marcellus Shale in western New York, announced today the appointment of Robert C. Avaltroni to the Company’s Advisory Board. Mr. Avaltroni has over 23 years of experience in addressing political and environmental issues in New York, thirteen of which were spent as Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

    “Robert is a great addition to our Advisory Board and rounds off a seasoned group of advisors,” said CEO of Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc., Randy M. Griffin. “His knowledge and experience regarding environmental issues as well as his longstanding relationships and extensive experience in New York city and state government will provide the Company with valuable insight and guidance as we move forward with the development of our Marcellus Shale projects in New York.”

    “It is an honor to join such an astute group of directors and Advisory Board members,” said Mr. Avaltroni. “Randy has assembled an outstanding team and has my full support as we endeavor to lead the way toward environmentally friendly development of natural gas resources in western New York. New York has a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the economic benefits that the Marcellus Shale brings, and I expect Mesa to be at the forefront of that effort.”

    Robert C. Avaltroni was New York Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) for 13 years. He was responsible for directing all environmental, chemical, biological and radiological initiatives in conjunction with the NYPD Counterterrorism/Intel Division, Dept. of Homeland Security, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Emergency Management, and the Dept. of Energy. He was granted the highest security clearance “Q Clearance” in the United States. Mr. Avaltroni was New York Mayor’s “point person” with the White House and Senator Hillary Clinton, regarding the establishment of a 9/11 EPA led clean-up committee known as the “Blue Ribbon Panel of Experts”.

    Mr. Avaltroni enhanced DEP’s hazardous materials response capabilities as a model for the nation. In this capacity, the Division of Emergency Response and Technical Assessment became the premier response team for chemical, biological and radiological threats. He also addressed prior longstanding environmental issues resulting in a positive dialogue with environmental advocates and community groups in New York.

    In addition to being Deputy Commissioner of the DEP, Mr. Avaltroni was also First Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Sheriff’s Department, Chairman and Managing Director of Empire Commercial Services L.P. and Chief of Staff for the NYC Sheriff’s Department. Today, Mr. Avaltroni represents various entities including the Environmental Contractors Association of New York as Advisor/Consultant.*

    *Business Wire (Apr 6) – Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc. Appoints Robert C. Avaltroni, Former DEP Deputy Commissioner, to the Advisory Board

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    Proposed New Marcellus Wastewater Treatment Plant Shifts from Athens Township to Tuscarora Township

    After getting turned down by the supervisors in Athens Township, PA, Somerset Regional Water Resources is now planning to build a Marcellus wastewater treatment plant in nearby Tuscarora Township. Both Athens and Tuscarora are located in Bradford County in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

    A search of DEP permit applications confirms that Somerset has applied for a permit to use the former Cornell Manufacturing building (more recently Pendu Manufacturing) just off Route 6 in Tuscarora Township at the intersection of Township Roads 524 and 494. The new name for the facility, as stated in the permit application, is the Tuscarora Township Wastewater Treatment Facility. It is actually in the first phase of the permitting process, having completed the preliminary administrative review and now into what is known as the technical review.*

    Supervisors in Tuscarora have not yet been approached by Somerset to officially request permission to proceed, a step that will have to come soon in the process. If the supervisors approve the facility, it will also require approval from the PA State Department of Environmental Protection, which is estimated to take between 12-18 months.

    If all goes according to plan, the facility will employ about 40 people. It is projected there will be about 180 truck trips in and out of the facility per day once it’s operational.

    *Wyalusing Rocket-Courier (Apr 1) – Gas Well Water Treatment Plant Proposed at Former Cornell Plant in Tuscarora Township

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    Will Soil be the New “Water” in the Fight to Stop Marcellus Gas Drilling in NY State?

    MDN finds it necessary to periodically post disclaimers such as the following: We think drilling can be done safely, but we must remain vigilant. The more we know about drilling, the more we are convinced it is a good thing for the economy and the nation’s energy future. We are not anti-science, we’re not blind, we do care about our neighbors and we welcome opposing opinions. No one wants water supplies to be poisoned, and no one wants enjoyment of the great outdoors to be spoiled by drilling activity. And it doesn’t have to be that way if drilling is done right.

    With that said, the other side of the drilling debate seems to stop at nothing to instill irrational fears into the general population under the guise of science. Put the name of a prominent educational institution next to a committee or group, invoke the name of someone with a Ph.D., and viola, instant credibility. And if you dare say, “but the Emperor has no clothes” out loud, you’re shouted down as an industry shill or accused of being greedy at others’ expense. Such loving and caring people those who disagree with us.

    Since “your water will be poisoned” doesn’t seem to be getting sufficient traction these days as a scare tactic, we now find out that soil is “sensitive” (bet you didn’t know that!) to drilling activity:

    Researchers have developed the Cornell Soil Health Test to evaluate soil response to management on different types of land. It’s intended to assess changes due to gas drilling work.

    The construction necessary to extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in southern New York could affect the soil around drilling sites and pipeline right-of-ways, says a Cornell soil expert who has helped develop a new soil health test to assess such impacts.

    “Soil is sensitive to heavy construction, and while there are a lot of construction standards and practices, there isn’t really a standardized way to measure construction impacts on soil behavior,” said Robert Schindelbeck, a Cornell extension associate in crop and soil sciences and member of the Cornell Soil Health Team.

    To fill in that information gap, Schindelbeck and his team have developed the Cornell Soil Health Test (CSHT), a set of tests designed to evaluate soil response to management on different types of land.*

    *PhysOrg.com (Apr 1) – New test assesses gas drilling effects on soils

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    Mesa Energy Gets NY DEC Approval to Convert Two Existing Medina Wells into Marcellus Wells

    Mesa Energy has received a green light from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation to convert two vertical wells in Western New York from Medina gas to Marcellus gas. We also learn from the press release that the Marcellus Shale layer in the Java Field owned and operated by Mesa is about 200 feet thick across the entire area—much larger than originally thought.

    Mesa Energy press release:

    Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), an exploration stage oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on the Marcellus Shale in western New York today announced that the Company has received permits from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation to move forward with its re-completion plans on two existing Medina wells in its Java Field natural gas development project in Wyoming County, New York.

    “An initial round of location maintenance, through-casing logging and evaluation was completed on the two wells in December 2009, and now that we have our permits in place, we can begin the next phase,” said CEO of Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc., Randy M. Griffin. “The preliminary data obtained in December 2009 on both wells clearly supports our project in the Java Field and now that we have received permits, we can proceed with the final planning and execution of the re-completion of both wells.”

    The through-casing logs that were run in December 2009 indicated that there is nearly 200 ft. of high quality shale with good organic content in the Marcellus zone; nearly twice as much as the Company initially anticipated. The two wells are approximately three miles apart and the log over the Marcellus zone in each is almost indistinguishable from the other. This indicates that the Marcellus zone appears to be evenly distributed across the acreage.

    *Press Release (Apr 1) – Mesa Energy Holdings, Inc. Receives Permit Approval

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    Mud Spill at Drilling Site in Central PA Due to Human Error

    There was a mud spillage at a drilling site on Friday, April 2nd in Pennsylvania. The site is located on state-owned land—the Sproul State Forest in north-central Pennsylvania. The drilling was being done by Anadarko. According to reports:

    An estimated 8,000 to 12,000 gallons of mud used by Anadarko E&P Company Inc. for drilling operations overflowed at the well site due to human error, said Daniel Spandoni, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection in Williamsport.

    While about half of the mud spilled over the boundary of the well pad, it didn’t spread far enough to contaminate any surface waters, ground water or wetlands in the area, Spandoni said. A contractor began cleanup work Friday night. DEP officials have taken mud samples to determine a proper disposal method.

    The mud is used as a cooling agent in drilling operations. Since the mud that spilled is synthetic-based, it doesn’t contain any diesel fluids as some other agents do, said Spandoni.*

    *Hazelton Standard Speaker (Apr 2) – Mud spill at drilling site contained

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    T. Boone Pickens Talks About the Marcellus, Natural Gas, and America’s Energy Future

    The Philadelphia Inquirer recently interviewed T. Boone Pickens, the famous Texas oil billionaire and now “energy evangelist,” out to help chart a new course for energy in America. One of the main points in his Picken’s Plan is to use natural gas as a transition fuel to replace the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Mr. Pickens is less than impressed with President Obama’s recent decision to lift a drilling ban in certain areas of the North Atlantic. The problem, according to Pickens, is there are no appreciable oil reserves in the locations where the ban has been lifted.

    In the interview, Mr. Pickens had some interesting comments about drilling in the Marcellus Shale, including:

    Pickens told New York listeners he was mystified by the uproar gas drilling had caused in the Marcellus Shale region, where environmentalists oppose hydraulic fracturing (fracking), an extraction technology involving high-pressure injections of sand and drilling fluids into a well. The EPA recently announced it would study fracking.

    “You’ve been fracking wells in Texas and Oklahoma for 50 years,” Pickens said. “I’ve never heard anybody complain about your damaging the water. We’re just amused that people in Pennsylvania and New York are crying about messing up their water.”

    On the topic of electric vehicles:

    Pickens said he had nothing against electric vehicles and hybrids – he just thinks it will take too much time for them to penetrate the market of 220 million vehicles in America to have much effect on petroleum consumption.

    And electric vehicles don’t enter into the equation when it comes to heavy trucks, the biggest consumers of motor fuel; there is currently no commercial battery-driven vehicle capable of powering a tractor-trailer rig.

    “If you replace eight million 18-wheelers with natural gas, you have cut OPEC in half,” Pickens said.

    Don’t you just love a plain talking, truth-telling Texan! Finally, one of his favorite and now oft-repeated phrases:

    “Natural gas. It’s cleaner, cheaper, and it’s ours.”

    *Philadelphia Inquirer (Apr 4) – Pickens: Drilling isn’t the answer

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    Video Interview with John Sherman, CEO of Inergy, About Infrastructure in the Marcellus Shale

    TheStreet.com reporter Debra Borchardt interviews John Sherman, CEO of Inergy, a company that, among other things, provides transportation and distribution of natural gas. They are the nation’s fourth largest propane distributor, and they “have their eye” on the Marcellus Shale, with plans for major investments in the Northeast to meet demand in the Marcellus region.

    Sherman says that natural gas is clean burning and is a “transition fuel” for the United States. Watch the short segment from TheStreet.com to learn more about Inergy’s plans for the Marcellus Shale.

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    Are the Shale Cuttings Being Dumped at the Chemung County Landfill Radioactive?

    Part of the process of drilling a well includes disposing of the material that comes out of the well, including “cuttings” and mud—i.e., leftover dirt and rock. A “controversy” is brewing in Chemung County, NY where the county landfill is accepting cuttings from drillers over the border in the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale. The problem? Sometimes shale cuttings have elevated levels of radioactivity. Those opposed to drilling are playing on people’s fear of the word “radioactive” hoping it will shut down the shipments of shale cuttings to the landfill. (Those shipments, by the way, are generating a nice revenue stream for Chemung County.)

    Anyone living in New York’s Southern Tier or Northeast Pennsylvania knows when buying a house you have the basement tested for radon—a naturally occurring radioactive gas that exists in high concentrations in some (not all) locations. Radon comes from the ground. Far below the ground radon gas exists, but also radium and even uranium. Radon and radium are both isotopes of decaying uranium. When you drill one to two miles under the earth, the cuttings that come out may have high concentrations of radioactivity (mostly radium). It’s not a good idea to dump highly radioactive material, naturally occurring or not, in a landfill. No argument on that count. But! What is a “high concentration?” Can it be treated if it is high? And, do cuttings usually have high radioactivity as a general rule?

    There is an easy answer here. Determine what levels are safe, and then test incoming loads of cuttings to be sure they don’t violate that standard. That’s just what Chemung County is in the process of doing. The system works—no one wants a health hazard for current and future generations.

    Read about the cuttings “controversy” here: Elmira Star Gazette (Mar 31) – Questions raised as landfill seeks to increase intake of Marcellus drilling waste

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    Will Gov. Paterson’s Political Troubles Delay Drilling in New York State Until 2011?

    Bloomberg, a left-leaning (anti-drilling) news organization published a story about the seemingly eternal question of “When will drilling begin in New York?” with reasoning that goes like this:

    (A) New York Gov. Paterson is more or less pro-drilling and wants to see it start soon.

    (B) Gov. Paterson has run into political troubles, “probes” of his conduct are ongoing, so he’s decided not to run for re-election. He’s damaged goods.

    (C) The Department of Environmental Conservation, fearing political turmoil and upheaval, and perhaps reprisals, will not go forward with drilling until after the election in November (at the earliest).

    The Bloomberg article gives some background details about drilling in New York State for those who are new to the debate—all of it with an anti-drilling flavor. But some good background details nonetheless. May be worth a read if you’re so inclined:

    Bloomberg (Mar 31) – Gas Drillers’ New York Hopes Fade on Paterson Woes

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    Six Short-Line Railroads in Central PA Report Business is Up 40 Percent Because of Marcellus Drilling

    MDN previously reported on two short-line railroads that have seen their prospects dramatically improve with Marcellus drilling activity in Pennsylvania—the Wellsboro & Corning Railroad and the Reading & Northern Railroad. You can now add six more short-lines to the list—all of them owned by the North Shore Railroad Company.

    A system of six railroads in northcentral Pennsylvania, including the Lycoming Valley Railroad Co., is enjoying a 40 percent increase in business over last year’s first quarter, said chairman and CEO Richard Robey.

    “We have seen a substantial increase in business related to the Marcellus Shale gas well drilling,” Robey said Wednesday.

    Before that, the recession had sliced the railroads’ business by nearly 20 percent, as it hauled fewer loads of iron and steel products and scrap, food stuffs and plastics to manufacturers, he said.*

    Once again the main product being hauled is sand, which is mixed with water and chemicals and injected into well bores as part of the process to free trapped natural gas from the shale.

    *Charleston Daily Mail (Mar 31) – Railroads booming with Marcellus Shale business

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    PA Oil and Gas Association, Independent Oil and Gas Association Merging into One Organization

    From the press announcement:

    WEXFORD, PA – The Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association (POGAM) and the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania (IOGA) today announced they have unanimously voted to merge their organizations to create a single, comprehensive trade association representing oil and natural gas interests throughout Pennsylvania.  The new organization, named the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA), will represent approximately 700 members, including oil and natural gas producers, drilling contractors and service companies, as well as various professional firms, individuals and royalty owners.

    “The Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association will draw upon the combined expertise of our independent associations to better serve the needs of our member organizations, which represent the leading oil and natural gas producers working in the Commonwealth,” said PIOGA President and Executive Director Lou D’Amico. “By joining forces as one, unified voice, we will expand our mission to achieve even greater success for our members, including our role as liaison with other associations, companies, government and regulatory agencies to foster proactive communication, regulatory and policy development, work force and safety training, and continued education and growth within all segments of the industry.”

    PIOGA will be based in Wexford, Pa. and will employ a five-person staff, responsible for planning and implementing the association’s mission. In addition, PIOGA’s merged 29-member board will provide oversight, as well as govern the strategic planning and direction of key deliverables, while various committees oversee transportation, safety, environmental, and exploration and production initiatives. PIOGA will host an annual meeting, a large-scale conference and trade show, as well as yearly industry seminars, public educational meetings, and community events.

    “This merger is an important milestone in leveraging the industry’s common goal to operate under a unified framework that advances the responsible exploration and production of both the Marcellus Shale and other oil and gas producing formations throughout the Appalachian Basin,” said current POGAM Chairman Frederick Fesenmyer. “The entire industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, and the importance of a united, cohesive industry and community advocate cannot be overstated.  PIOGA will equally represent all facets of Pennsylvania’s oil and natural gas industry.”

    “We look forward to working closely with other states’ associations to collaborate on key initiatives that advance the industry and ensure the responsible development of our region’s promising domestic energy resources,” said current IOGA Chairman Craig Neal.

    The PIOGA board of directors will meet on April 1 to determine the structure and officers of the new association.

    *Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association (Mar 30) – Members give unanimous approval to merge PA’s historic, independent oil and gas advocacy groups

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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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    Not All Chenango County, NY Landowners will Benefit from Marcellus Shale Drilling

    The Chenango County (NY) Natural Gas Advisory Committee views drilling in the Marcellus Shale as a reality, not a “far off fantasy” that a recent string of articles in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (from neighboring Broome County, NY) seem to indicate. Good for Chenango County. They’re researching and planning, and they will be ready when drilling begins.

    But it seems only the southern parts of Chenango County would be suitable for drilling. Some interesting details (if you’re a landowner in Chenango County) from a recent article:

    As far as Chenango County is concerned, when it comes to exploring the natural gas-rich Marcellus Shale, energy companies won’t be as interested in the northern half of Chenango County because the formation there is much too shallow. Geologists say the Marcellus lies only 2,000 to 3,000 feet deep north of the town lines of Smithville, Oxford and Guilford versus more than 4,000 feet deep below the demarcation.

    Hydraulic fracturing, the controversial technique used to extract natural gas from fissures in organic rich black shale, simply won’t work in formations less than 4,000 feet, and is more likely in depths almost twice that amount.*

    MDN points out that hydraulic fracturing is only controversial because anti-drillers make it so. The practice has been around for years (since the late 1940s). So has horizontal drilling. The “new” thing is combining the two together—but even that has been around for years.

    Landowners in Chenango County will need to figure out if their land is suitable for drilling. Consult with local landowner groups, and with the County Natural Gas Advisory Committee.

    *Norwich Evening Sun (Mar 30) – Planning for Marcellus Shale activity is ‘a reality’

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    PA Marcellus Shale Coalition Responds to Gov. Ed Rendell’s Fibbing

    It seems that someone in Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell’s office is telling fibs about the Marcellus Shale industry (say it ain’t so!). The PA Marcellus Shale Coalition has issued a statement to “set the records straight.” Forthwith:

    CANONSBURG, Pa. – Marcellus Shale Coalition President and Executive Director Kathryn Klaber today issued the following statement in response to claims that the natural gas industry declined a meeting requested by Governor Ed Rendell to discuss state policy issues:

    “It is important that the Marcellus Shale Coalition clarify the record regarding a meeting planned among industry representatives, Gov. Ed Rendell and other groups, scheduled for the morning of January 19, 2010. The industry did not decline the Governor’s request for a meeting. In fact, invited CEOs went one step further and requested that every member company of the MSC’s Executive Committee and their representatives participate in the meeting along with leaders of the Pennsylvania House and Senate in order to make real progress on the opportunity natural gas presents for the Commonwealth. The MSC team was en route to this scheduled meeting when we were notified by the Governor’s office that the meeting had been canceled due to an emergency trip to Haiti that demanded the Governor’s attention. We regret that the meeting didn’t take place, but understand that he needed to make relief in Haiti his priority that day. In addition, we have clearly indicated our willingness to meet with all engaged stakeholders, including Senate and House leadership, to discuss upcoming policy and legislative issues in the Commonwealth. In fact, our industry reiterated this commitment in a February 9 press statement.

    “The Governor has also made reference to public opinion regarding our industry. Our research and observations in the communities where we do business shows that support for our industry continues to grow. Just last week a poll released by a leading Pennsylvania newspaper found that most Pennsylvanians do not support the Governor’s proposed severance tax, which would be the highest in the nation for shale gas producing states. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians have become partners in the development of our vast natural gas resources by actively signing leases with natural gas producers. Natural gas producers receive requests daily from interested landowners who have not yet signed a lease. Our industry has paid more than $4 billion to landowners in the form of lease and royalty payments, and those numbers will only increase. Thousands of Pennsylvanians are working in the gas industry today, and workforce development programs are expanding across the Commonwealth. Most importantly for the Governor to observe is the $1 billion in total state and local tax revenue that this still-growing industry will create in 2010.

    “All of this positive economic activity for Pennsylvanians is taking place at a time when producers will not recover these significant investments for several more years. This is just the beginning and we must work together to maximize the opportunity for the betterment of all Pennsylvanians.”*

    *Marcellus Shale Coalition (Mar 30) – Marcellus Shale Coalition Releases Statement to Set the Record Straight on January Meeting with Gov. Rendell

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    Citizens Committee in Mt. Pleasant, PA Draft Drilling Ordinances for Their Community

    A citizens committee in Mt. Pleasant Township, PA (Washington County) has developed a draft zoning ordinance that will dictate what drillers in their township can, and cannot, do. From a news article:

    The citizens advisory committee presented a final draft on its proposal for a zoning amendment governing oil and gas activities.

    The committee, headed by Dencil Backus, is made up of about a dozen residents who have studied other zoning ordinances to find suitable regulations that would address the activity in Mt. Pleasant. They have looked at ways to address noise, light, odors and buffers in addition to where certain activity can take place.

    In studying the matter, the committee has taken the approach that gas drilling into the Marcellus Shale should take place but not at the expense of the landowners, township or residents’ quality of life.

    The rough draft still has to be reviewed by the supervisors and solicitor. From there, [Township Supervisor Larry] Grimm said, it will be passed on to the township and Washington County’s planning commissions for their approval.*

    *Pittsburgh Observer-Reporter (Mar 24) – Meeting recap