About Unconventional Gas Drilling
New York State is about to join PA, Ohio, WV and other states in "welcoming" unconventional gas mining in a really big way. The Marcellus Shale gas rush is on.
Unlike standard vertical wells, unconventional mining techniques, including horizontal drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing, are necessary to get at the gas locked in Marcellus shale. With state budgets in truly dire condition, royalties from mining under public land may be too tempting to resist. 10,000 new well permit applications are expected in NY alone. We're told our DEC has 17 (seventeen) staffers remaining to process gas permits and oversee drilling operations statewide.
One major concern is water. "Fracking" uses 1-3 million gallons of clean water under high pressure, with a secret brew of toxic additives, PER WELL. The water comes back out (most of it, some travels elsewhere) contaminated, even radioactive. There are no (0) water treatment plants capable of treating this water.
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and other environmental groups are fighting for SOME new regulations, and trying to protect public drinking water sources statewide, as well as streams, private wells, and ecologically sensitive areas. This is a real mess.
Links to amazing citizen-journalist youtube videos and news articles below. ONLY engaged citizens will protect our water, our air, and our special places from the new gas rush.
 |
Aerial view of the Alleghany State Park in PA late 2009 with the well pads, roads and other related drilling properties. (Click on image to view larger version) |
Public comments on the dSGEIS for unconventional mining in NY's Marcellus Shale are now closed. However, you can still sign a joint letter to Gov. Paterson, calling on him to withdraw the dSGEIS and start over, here: http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/coalition_letter
Last-minute official comments from EPA, and DEC's professional and scientific staff's surprise call for at least a 1 year delay in fracking permits, have shaken up the landscape. In their cover letter, EPA:
- Calls for expansion of review of cumulative and indirect impacts,
- Questions using 17-year old GEIS as basis for review,
- Says DEC needs to include all other aspects of mining endeavor such as transport--gas pipelines
- States that Health impacts review must be expanded--highlights potential health impacts throughout
- Suggests NYSDOH be co-lead agency, specifically refers to Safe Drinking Water Act
States that Indian Nations expressed nearly uniform opposition to hydrofracking in NY, in November at the annual White House meeting - EPA states that a filtration plant for NYC water would cost $10 Billion capital and $100 Million/yr operating costs--this must be avoided (Other estimates are even higher.)
Recent articles:
Unknowns about fracking: Great investigative reporting from ProPublica and the Albany Times-Union has done extensive coverage.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/natural-gas-drilling-what-we-dont-know-1231
EPA comments:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/science/earth/31drill.html?scp=2&sq=EPA&st=cse
DEC's professional staff calls for moratorium:http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=883182#email
Rep. Hinchey's comments:http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/December09/24/natgas_Hinchey-24Dec09.html
NYC says dSGEIS should be abandoned:http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=881845
Water and frac waste facts: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=882817
GOOD company! http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/almost_10000_people_submit_com.html
Action:
Sign the Petition to ban unconventional gas mining in NY State
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/NY-Statewide-Ban-On-Natural-Gas-Drilling
Although the headline says simply "ban gas drilling" the petition specifies horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
On Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Chapter (New York State) of the Sierra Club met in Syracuse and passed a resolution calling on the NYS legislature to enact a ban on unconventional gas drilling in NYS.
The Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club resolution:
“WHEREAS extensive environmental and health damages would be caused by horizontal drilling and high pressure hydrofracturing gas extraction techniques due to the contamination of water, soil and air by the toxic chemicals used in drilling and fracturing, and the naturally occurring toxic chemicals brought to the surface from deep in the ground,
“WHEREAS these environmental and human and animal health damages will have damaging economic consequences on residential property values, and on the state’s tourism, agriculture, forestry, winery, real estate development and educational businesses,
“WHEREAS the infrastructure costs of building and repairing roads, water treatment facilities, and other public services would far exceed any economic benefit to local communities, and
“WHEREAS it is yet to be proven that the green house effects of the production and use of natural gas produced by horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing are any less than those of the production and use of coal when the life cycle emissions of natural gas production and the higher impact of methane as a green house gas are taken into account.
“Be It Resolved that the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club calls on the New York State Legislature to enact a ban on permitting gas wells that use horizontal drilling and hydro-fracturing to release gas from tight sand and shale formations such as the Marcellus.”
Send WRITTEN COMMENTS to DEC on the dSGEIS until Dec 31, 2009:dmnsgeis@gw.dec.state.ny.us put "SGEIS Comments" on the subject line.
Mail Attn: SGEIS Comments, Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation, NYSDEC Division of Mineral Resources, 625 Broadway, Third Floor, Albany, NY 12233-6500
Youtube links, Citizen Journalism:
Chesapeake's water use, stink, noise in Ft. Worth TX: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdVgmWbgj30
Burying frac waste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spOVW_oSPrI
Well water on fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01EK76Sy4A
TX at night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spOVW_oSPrI
Indiana at night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CByc4bKaSJM&NR=1
Noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbvB4k7DT6o&feature=related
Suspected "brine water" (frac waste) killed EVERYTHING in Dunkard Creek, beloved fishing stream in WVa & PA, much like Catskill streams:
9/15/09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJbx9XD5GXU
9/20/09 Heartbreaking (this video needs to load in fully)
10/19/09 WVa DNR investigates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXyQmftYoSw
Dumping "methane water" in Wyoming ranchland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8NR4XZrrLo
Washington County PA--Upper Delaware River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHFD3jOTEuY
ABC Local News Video http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7135084
Articles:
DEC 4, 2009 Excellent comprehensive article on Marcellus Shale drilling in NY State from DC Bureau http://www.dcbureau.org/20091203299/Natural-Resources-News-Service/the-marcellus-shale-new-york-is-the-natural-gas-industrys-new-lab-rat.html
Congress orders EPA to study Hydrofracking
http://www.propublica.org/feature/congress-tells-epa-to-study-hydraulic-fracturing-hinchey-1110
Marcellus Shale radioactive; fracking waste water too?
http://www.propublica.org/feature/is-the-marcellus-shale-too-hot-to-handle-1109
PA to allow drilling in forest preserve lands
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09314/1012136-454.stm
Gas Company Won’t Drill in New York (City) Watershed
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/business/energy-environment/28drill.html
NY State Wildlife Pathologist Ward Stone sent this note:
"this (Dunkard Creek event, article links follow) is an incredibly important case to diagnose. If this is from fracking it needs good and fast diagnosing so that the public can be aware and government can move to stop this from happening. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTINEL CASES I HAVE EVER HEARD OF. I want to thank the Sierra club for their cautions on fracking." Ward Stone
PA orders Cabot to shut down all Fracking after 3 spills in ONE WEEK, articles:
1. Reuters Article
2. Press Connects Article
3. Philly Article
NYC awakens to the dangers of upstate gas drilling:
http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3805
City Wants Answers, Input On Upstate Drill Plan
A huge underground reserve of natural gas is luring fuel companies to upstate New York. But local officials and advocates are worried about what the drilling will do to the city's watershed. www.CityLimits.org 9/21/09 By Sarah Crean
New York State sits atop what may be one of the world's greatest supplies of natural gas, at a time when climate concerns have increased demand for it, when advanced technology has made it more accessible and when Albany is hungry for new economic opportunities. That's why in a draft State Energy Report issued last month, Governor David Paterson said the upstate gas reserve "presents an opportunity for the State to unlock substantial economic value while helping to achieve a key energy policy. (very thorough article at link)
###
DEC released the Draft SGEIS for review of natural gas extraction in NY's Marcellus Shale.
Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement On The Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program; Well Permit Issuance for Horizontal Drilling And High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing to Develop the Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs
Exec Summary: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/47554.html
Full document: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html
Articles:
http://www.propublica.org/feature/new-york-state-paves-way-for-gas-drilling-with-release-of-review-930
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/nyregion/01drill.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0129722520091001
There is only a SIXTY DAY comment period, (NO public hearings have yet been scheduled.) DEC finally acquiesced to public pressure and scheduled public hearings for the record.
Email comments here: dmnsgeis@gw.dec.state.ny.us put "dSGEIS Comments" on the subject line. Mail comments Attn: SGEIS Comments, Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation, NYSDEC Division of Mineral Resources, 625 Broadway, Third Floor, Albany, NY 12233-6500
Contact NY Assemblymember Kevin Cahill CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us Ulster and Dutchess Counties, Chair of Assembly Energy Committee, has signaled his support of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus. http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=101
Articles:
Cahill supports Marcellus Shale gas drilling as short term energy source
ALBANY – State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill Thursday said tapping the Marcellus Shale formation for a short term natural gas supply would provide New York with the opportunity to develop a reliable indigenous fuel supply. Mid-Hudson News http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/October09/02/natgas_Cahill-02Oct09.html
State Advances a Power Plant
New York should put more emphasis on solar power. And keep Indian Point open. And shatter the strata west of the Hudson to free the natural gas there. Westfair Online: http://www.westfaironline.com/component/zine/article/4787-state-advances-a-power-plan.html
