Posts Tagged ‘Marcellus Shale’

Submitted by Readers
September 18, 2010

In a recent column (“Gas drilling’s threat to our water,” Sept. 12), Edward Smith makes claims about Marcellus Shale natural gas production that aren’t supported by facts.

Hydraulic fracturing, a 60-year-old technology that’s been used more than 1.1 million times since its inception in the 1940s, has never contaminated groundwater. A top Department of Environmental Protection official confirmed that “no one’s ever documented drinking water wells that have actually been shown to be impacted by fracking.” And a top Environmental Protection Agency official recently testified that “he hadn’t seen any documented cases that hydro-fracking was contaminating water supplies.”

Smith writes that “government needs to know the chemicals used in fracking.” But DEP already lists these additives on its website. Truth is, more than 99.5 percent of these fluids are made up of water and playground sand.

Readers should also know that advancements in technology have allowed Marcellus producers to recycle more than 60 percent of the water used in the process; many companies are recycling 100 percent.

It’s difficult to reconcile Smith’s call for a moratorium, and the need to deliver clean-burning Marcellus gas to Pennsylvanians – which is already helping to lower energy costs for Pennsylvanians and creating tens of thousands of jobs during one of the most difficult economic periods in our lifetime.

We do agree with Smith’s statement, “It must be done with every care and protection for our water and citizens.”

That’s not only our goal, it’s our expectation.

Kathryn Klaber

President and Executive Director, Marcellus Shale Coalition

Canonsburg, Washington County

Copyright: http://tribune-democrat.com

WILK-FM
Kathryn Klaber, President of Marcellus Shale Coalition, talks to Corbett about a PA Homeland Security intelligence bulletin warning of an increasing threat to the energy sector.

• MSC president: “It’s important for listeners to understand more and more about this industry, and really get the facts, because this has been done safely for years and years.”
• MSC president: “The Safe Drinking Water Act never was the venue for which we regulated hydraulic fracturing processes in this country. It’s regulated by the states, and has been for as long as it has been regulated.”
• Radio host: “I was in Bradford County last weekend and must say that the gas companies look like they’re keeping everything looking nice and clean, building new roads.”

Canonsburg, Pa. – Yesterday, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) president Kathryn Klaber appeared on WKOK’s “On The Mark” program to discuss a host of issues regarding the responsible development of clean-burning, job-creating natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. Below are key excerpts from the interview, which is available on-line HERE (40:13–1:02:52).

On the MSC’s Community Outreach, Supply Chain Opportunities

• “It’s a really exciting time for the industry. There’s a huge interest around all sorts of businesses who see opportunities here to add new products, to strengthen the supply chain, in working alongside the drillers and the midstream companies. … We’re also working on quite a few public appearances. … It’s important for listeners and viewers and readers to understand more and more about this industry, and really get the facts, because this has been done safely for years and years. And I can let you know that the Marcellus Coalition is working hard to make sure it’s done right for years to come.”

On Modernizing Pa.’s Outdated Legislative, Regulatory Framework

• “Making sure that as we upgrade the different standards to reflect the current technologies that our members are brining that technical expertise to the table to do it in a way that really does it right. … It’s really important that we have a competitive framework and a competitive tax in place. … And for Pennsylvania, being a shining star in the national shale revolution, we want to make sure that there’s not a tax put in place that takes us out of that status, and makes it over punitive to do business here. And that’s really the same as any business person in Pennsylvania would expect, and deserve as well. Paying taxes is part of what businesses do, but you want to do it in a way that does not make you uncompetitive in what is more and more everyday a global and national marketplace.”

On Hydraulic Fracturing and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• “There is an extreme amount of misinformation about the Safe Drinking Water Act. The SDWA never was the venue for which we regulated the process of how water was used in hydraulic fracturing processes in this country. It’s regulated by the states, and has been for as long as it has been regulated. … We have the distinct daily exposure to the many regulatory professionals who are working in all of these companies, both with well drilling companies, well service companies, and the many environmental consulting firms, who are the members of our coalition. And those folks are implementing the dozens of laws that apply to every step of the process. … We’d be glad to show anyone the level of reports and the level of monitoring, the constant tracking of all the water that’s managed throughout this process.”

On GasLand, Shallow Methane Migration, and Pa.’s Private Water Wells

• “I do believe its entertainment. … [PA DEP] Secretary John Hanger had called it “propaganda.” It’s very easy to show certain images, and not talk about what is the science behind it. For example, the northern tier in Pennsylvania has long had naturally occurring methane in the shallow surface area. It’s a problem when it contaminates private water wells. … That has nothing to do with the shale gas, that’s 8,000 feet below the surface. Is it a problem, absolutely. Does it result in being able to light taps on fire? I understand that’s the case. That is certainly not anything that has to do with shale gas development, and has everything to do with an issue that we really need to address in Pennsylvania, separate and apart from what this new [Marcellus] opportunity means for Pennsylvanians.”

On DEP’s Claims that Half of the Marcellus Operators Failed to Meet Reporting Deadlines

• “The industry supported a law passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor that created more transparency into what’s called the “production data.” We didn’t have that in Pennsylvania and thought it was a great idea, which gives greater transparency to all involved — and helps move the industry into the next level of modernization. …  August 15^th was the first ever filing date for that kind of data. When I saw that information I immediately reached out to our membership and … with the agency to correct some of the significant pieces of misinformation on that release. There is a majority of names on the list that have not even had production during the reporting period. There was no indication that “zero” should be reported, and we’ve since talked about what the industry needs [to do] when there is “zero” production.”

On Midstream Development, Moving Marcellus Gas to Pa. Consumers

• “We’ve had natural gas wells in Pennsylvania for generations, and that gas travels through what are called gathering lines, and then they go to the transmission lines. Part of the business, called the downstream part, is what sells you or I the gas for our homes or business. … So what’s happening, as larger quantities are being developed from a single well pad than before, is new gathering line infrastructure is being put in place. … Gathering lines are kind of like our neighborhood streets. It’s not the highway; those are the transmission lines. And it’s not our driveway, which just takes the gas from the ground to the wells on site. Those companies are also very integrated in what’s going on in Pennsylvania right now, and work for years, in many cases, with local landowners to make sure that that gas can get to market.”

Copyright MarcellusCoalition.org

• Marcellus production “is creating jobs and boosting local economies”

• “Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale”

• “The opportunity for growth, job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s”

Mighty Marcellus “Boosting Pa. economy”: “Forum panelist Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, detailed how the gas drilling industry is creating jobs and boosting local economies, making special note of the steel and rail industries in the state. She also addressed how the industry is working to safeguard public health and the environment and noted that the industry supported the state Department of Environmental Protection significant increase of permit fees to fund the hire of more oil and gas inspectors. (Times-Leader, 8/22/10)

Responsible Marcellus development “could yield millions for Pittsburgh”: “A solution to some of Pittsburgh’s money problems could be just below the surface. Leasing the drilling rights to natural gas trapped in a portion of the Marcellus shale formation under Pittsburgh’s 2,000 acres of parks could net the city $6 million to $16 million in one-time access fees and potentially millions more in royalties if officials make deals similar to those struck elsewhere in Western Pennsylvania and Texas. (Tribune-Review, 8/20/10)

MSC president in-studio on ‘Corbett’s Corner’: “I’m already seeing people hiring in communities where the drilling is happening, all down the supply chain. We see restaurants that are opening that have lines outside, we see suppliers. I’ve had a unique opportunity, as our industry continues to expand, to see businesses who are increasing their top line and revenue and bringing on new people. (WILK-FM, 8/19/10)

“Marcellus Hope”: “I also see the hope that Marcellus Shale brings to these farm families. The relief from financial stress and their ability to make much needed improvements to their farms is a new way of life and is in fact insuring thousands of acres will continue in agriculture for future generations. … Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale. … I see a rebuilding of the Northern Tier agriculture infrastructure that was at risk. … Marcellus Shale will be an important part of America’s energy future as well as an important part of production agriculture’s future in the northern tier. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette LTE, 8/22/10)

Heroic Marcellus worker helps rescue woman, pet from house fire: “A gas industry worker who recently moved to Wellsburg from Oklahoma got an unusual opportunity on his birthday Monday: the chance to save a life. Billy Watts, who turned 37 Monday, was driving home on South Broadway from Troy at about 6 p.m. when he saw black smoke in the air. Watts, a hydrofracturing operator for Cudd Energy Services in Pennsylvania, pulled over and helped a volunteer firefighter at the scene before any fire trucks arrived. … “It’s important for people to stop and try to help out,” Watts said. (Star-Gazette, 8/23/10)

More jobs headed to southwestern Pa.: “Universal Pegasus International, a Houston, Texas, company that provides engineering and project management services to the oil and gas industry, has opened an office at 601 Technology Drive, Southpointe. During brief ribbon-cutting ceremonies Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer John Jameson said the office employs 12 people but is expected to grow to between 50 and 70 employees within the next 18 months. (Washington Observer-Reporter, 8/26/10)

“It’s economics 101”: “Kathryn Klaber, the president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, countered that the shale development will bring “lots of economic activity” but only if the tax is structured to encourage drillers’ continued investment in the state. “It’s economics 101,” she said. “The more you tax something, the less you get of it.” (Times-Tribune,8/22/10)

Ph.D. in petroleum seismology says “hydraulic fracturing can work for NY”: “Hydraulic fracturing – sometimes called “fracking” – involves injecting fluid into tight formations at very high pressures to create artificial fractures. … Fracking has made production from the Marcellus Shale possible and created thousands of jobs. … New York is well able to regulate fracking while at the same time allowing development of natural gas and enjoying the jobs and revenue it brings. (Syracuse Post-Standard, 8/25/10)

Marcellus production “has brought an influx of jobs, business, money to Williamsport”: “The positive impacts include the arrival of new companies, job opportunities and property owners getting lease and royalty checks. “In the past 18 to 24 months, 60 to 70 companies of varying sizes have opened in Lycoming County as a direct result of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry,” said Vincent J. Matteo, president and CEO of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. “I have been in economic development for 30 years and have never seen anything that comes close to what we are experiencing,” he said. The opportunity for growth and job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s, when Williamsport was the lumber capital of the world, he said. Halliburton alone projects hiring up to 300. “We estimate, to date, more than 1,500 jobs have been created and thousands more will be. … We are looking at a generational opportunity that will be creating jobs and wealth for decades to come.” (Patriot-News, 8/24/10)

Marcellus producers educate local business leaders: “[EnCana’s Don] McClure and Brian Grove, Chesapeake’s director of corporate development for the Eastern Division, spoke ofeconomic and environmental benefits of natural gas production – creating jobs, using less water than any other energy-production method and producing cleaner-burning energy than coal or oil. … “So there is clearly a job creation impact associated with the industry. … We’re happy about that,” [Chamber President Todd] Vonderheid said. (Times-Leader,8/26/10)

Marcellus Multiplier: “Task force works to link businesses to gas industries”: “The Clinton County Natural Gas Task Force juggled a large number of issues Tuesday evening. … Estimates by Penn State University experts suggest the Marcellus might contain more than 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Using some of the same horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods previously applied in the Barnett Shale of Texas, perhaps 10 percent of that gas (50 trillion cubic feet) might be recoverable. That volume of natural gaswould be enough to supply the entire United States for about two years. (Lock Haven Express, 8/25/10)

Marcellus production bringing an “industrial boom to Pennsylvania”: “All agreed that the gas – with an estimated worth of $1.2 trillion – contained in the Marcellus Shale formation underlying a good portion of the state could bring industrial boom to Pennsylvania. To date, gas extraction has created 88,000 jobs, $800 million in local and state tax revenue and $8 billion in economic value for Pennsylvania. (Beaver County Times,8/27/10)

NY landowners continue to rally for Marcellus opportunity: “The Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and supporters of natural-gas drilling struck back Thursday during a meeting of the county’s full Legislature. One by one, Partnership officials and county property owners stood up to defend the organization’s position on drilling and to criticize environmental groups for opposing an industry supporters say will boost Sullivan County out of its economic malaise. … Drilling supporters also value the land, he said, and“realists” understand the economic benefits of drilling. (Times Record-Herald, 8/20/10)

Marcellus development in NY could be “incredible”: “The economic benefit to New York could be “incredible,” says Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association. In Pennsylvania towns where drilling has begun, he says, “the motels are filled, the restaurants are filled. It’s flourishing.” … Fracking is “absolutely” environmentally safe, he says. “I would never do anything to destroy my property.” A lucrative gas lease would change everything, he says. “To farm without debt — what a dream that would be.” (USA Today, 8/24/10)

Another local govt. backs responsible Marcellus development: “The supervisors of Lehman Township expressed their support of the industry at Monday night’s meeting. Several township residents were boisterous in their support as well. Carl Kern, who owns trucks that provide service to drillers in Bradford County, said the public should listen to the positive side of drilling. … For example, the companies are maintaining the roads they use, Kern said. … Township Chairman Dave Sutton concurred, adding that if the township must repair a road in an emergency situation, it will be reimbursed for the cost by the drillers. “It’s nice to hear something positive,” Sutton said. (Dallas Post, 8/22/10)

Copyright MarcellusCoalition.org

• Marcellus production “is creating jobs and boosting local economies”

• “Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale”

• “The opportunity for growth, job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s”

Mighty Marcellus “Boosting Pa. economy”: “Forum panelist Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, detailed how the gas drilling industry is creating jobs and boosting local economies, making special note of the steel and rail industries in the state. She also addressed how the industry is working to safeguard public health and the environment and noted that the industry supported the state Department of Environmental Protection significant increase of permit fees to fund the hire of more oil and gas inspectors. (Times-Leader, 8/22/10)

Responsible Marcellus development “could yield millions for Pittsburgh”: “A solution to some of Pittsburgh’s money problems could be just below the surface. Leasing the drilling rights to natural gas trapped in a portion of the Marcellus shale formation under Pittsburgh’s 2,000 acres of parks could net the city $6 million to $16 million in one-time access fees and potentially millions more in royalties if officials make deals similar to those struck elsewhere in Western Pennsylvania and Texas. (Tribune-Review, 8/20/10)

MSC president in-studio on ‘Corbett’s Corner’: “I’m already seeing people hiring in communities where the drilling is happening, all down the supply chain. We see restaurants that are opening that have lines outside, we see suppliers. I’ve had a unique opportunity, as our industry continues to expand, to see businesses who are increasing their top line and revenue and bringing on new people. (WILK-FM, 8/19/10)

“Marcellus Hope”: “I also see the hope that Marcellus Shale brings to these farm families. The relief from financial stress and their ability to make much needed improvements to their farms is a new way of life and is in fact insuring thousands of acres will continue in agriculture for future generations. … Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale. … I see a rebuilding of the Northern Tier agriculture infrastructure that was at risk. … Marcellus Shale will be an important part of America’s energy future as well as an important part of production agriculture’s future in the northern tier. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette LTE, 8/22/10)

Heroic Marcellus worker helps rescue woman, pet from house fire: “A gas industry worker who recently moved to Wellsburg from Oklahoma got an unusual opportunity on his birthday Monday: the chance to save a life. Billy Watts, who turned 37 Monday, was driving home on South Broadway from Troy at about 6 p.m. when he saw black smoke in the air. Watts, a hydrofracturing operator for Cudd Energy Services in Pennsylvania, pulled over and helped a volunteer firefighter at the scene before any fire trucks arrived. … “It’s important for people to stop and try to help out,” Watts said. (Star-Gazette, 8/23/10)

More jobs headed to southwestern Pa.: “Universal Pegasus International, a Houston, Texas, company that provides engineering and project management services to the oil and gas industry, has opened an office at 601 Technology Drive, Southpointe. During brief ribbon-cutting ceremonies Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer John Jameson said the office employs 12 people but is expected to grow to between 50 and 70 employees within the next 18 months. (Washington Observer-Reporter, 8/26/10)

“It’s economics 101”: “Kathryn Klaber, the president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, countered that the shale development will bring “lots of economic activity” but only if the tax is structured to encourage drillers’ continued investment in the state. “It’s economics 101,” she said. “The more you tax something, the less you get of it.” (Times-Tribune, 8/22/10)

Ph.D. in petroleum seismology says “hydraulic fracturing can work for NY”: “Hydraulic fracturing – sometimes called “fracking” – involves injecting fluid into tight formations at very high pressures to create artificial fractures. … Fracking has made production from the Marcellus Shale possible and created thousands of jobs. … New York is well able to regulate fracking while at the same time allowing development of natural gas and enjoying the jobs and revenue it brings. (Syracuse Post-Standard, 8/25/10)

Marcellus production “has brought an influx of jobs, business, money to Williamsport”: “The positive impacts include the arrival of new companies, job opportunities and property owners getting lease and royalty checks. “In the past 18 to 24 months, 60 to 70 companies of varying sizes have opened in Lycoming County as a direct result of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry,” said Vincent J. Matteo, president and CEO of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. “I have been in economic development for 30 years and have never seen anything that comes close to what we are experiencing,” he said.The opportunity for growth and job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s, when Williamsport was the lumber capital of the world, he said. Halliburton alone projects hiring up to 300. “We estimate, to date, more than 1,500 jobs have been created and thousands more will be. … We are looking at a generational opportunity that will be creating jobs and wealth for decades to come.” (Patriot-News, 8/24/10)

Marcellus producers educate local business leaders: “[EnCana’s Don] McClure and Brian Grove, Chesapeake’s director of corporate development for the Eastern Division, spoke ofeconomic and environmental benefits of natural gas production – creating jobs, using less water than any other energy-production method and producing cleaner-burning energy than coal or oil. … “So there is clearly a job creation impact associated with the industry. … We’re happy about that,” [Chamber President Todd] Vonderheid said. (Times-Leader, 8/26/10)

Marcellus Multiplier: “Task force works to link businesses to gas industries”: “The Clinton County Natural Gas Task Force juggled a large number of issues Tuesday evening. … Estimates by Penn State University experts suggest the Marcellus might contain more than 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Using some of the same horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods previously applied in the Barnett Shale of Texas, perhaps 10 percent of that gas (50 trillion cubic feet) might be recoverable. That volume of natural gas would be enough to supply the entire United States for about two years. (Lock Haven Express,8/25/10)

Marcellus production bringing an “industrial boom to Pennsylvania”: “All agreed that the gas – with an estimated worth of $1.2 trillion – contained in the Marcellus Shale formation underlying a good portion of the state could bring industrial boom to Pennsylvania. To date, gas extraction has created 88,000 jobs, $800 million in local and state tax revenue and $8 billion in economic value for Pennsylvania. (Beaver County Times, 8/27/10)

NY landowners continue to rally for Marcellus opportunity: “The Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and supporters of natural-gas drilling struck back Thursday during a meeting of the county’s full Legislature. One by one, Partnership officials and county property owners stood up to defend the organization’s position on drilling and to criticize environmental groups for opposing an industry supporters say will boost Sullivan County out of its economic malaise. … Drilling supporters also value the land, he said, and“realists” understand the economic benefits of drilling. (Times Record-Herald, 8/20/10)

Marcellus development in NY could be “incredible”: “The economic benefit to New York could be “incredible,” says Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association. In Pennsylvania towns where drilling has begun, he says, “the motels are filled, the restaurants are filled. It’s flourishing.” … Fracking is “absolutely” environmentally safe, he says. “I would never do anything to destroy my property.” A lucrative gas lease would change everything, he says. “To farm without debt — what a dream that would be.” (USA Today, 8/24/10)

Another local govt. backs responsible Marcellus development: “The supervisors of Lehman Township expressed their support of the industry at Monday night’s meeting. Several township residents were boisterous in their support as well. Carl Kern, who owns trucks that provide service to drillers in Bradford County, said the public should listen to the positive side of drilling. … For example, the companies are maintaining the roads they use, Kern said. … Township Chairman Dave Sutton concurred, adding that if the township must repair a road in an emergency situation, it will be reimbursed for the cost by the drillers. “It’s nice to hear something positive,” Sutton said. (Dallas Post, 8/22/10)

Copyright: Marcelluscoalition.org

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — City Councilman Doug Shields will introduce a bill next month that would ban corporations from drilling for natural gas in the city.

Shields’ proposal, which one fellow councilman suggested might not survive a court challenge, comes as the number of leases signed by property owners to allow drilling has boomed in recent years.

About 7 percent of Allegheny County’s land parcels have been leased for drilling, mostly for Marcellus Shale exploration, according to the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research. In the city, only about 362 acres have been leased, said Bob Gradeck, the research project’s manager said.

Still, Shields said it’s time to act. He plans to introduce the bill Sept. 5 when council reconvenes after the summer break.

“We as a city don’t want to have drilling operations going on in the city of Pittsburgh,” Shields said on Tuesday. “Because they’re adverse to our rights to the use and enjoyment of our property; they’re adverse to our rights to our health and welfare, because of the environmental degradation that it produces.”

The bill is being drafted by the nonprofit Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund.

Councilman Patrick Dowd said the city law department told him that an outright drilling ban likely wouldn’t survive a legal challenge.

Ben Price, director of the nonprofit helping Shields, acknowledged the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act gives the state authority to regulate those industries.

Copyright The Times Leader

Citing job creation, much-needed tax revenue generation, Mayor Ravenstahl opposes shale gas production ban

Canonsburg, Pa. – Despite the fact that no Marcellus Shale operators have any near-term prospects of producing clean-burning natural gas within Pittsburgh’s city limits, earlier today Councilman Doug Shields formally introduced legislation seeking to prevent private city landowners from generating value from their own private mineral rights – potentially setting a dangerous precedent. According to his spokesperson, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl opposes this effort. Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), issued the following statement regarding the legislation:

“At a time when Pittsburghers are feeling uncertain about the current state and future direction of our economy, policymakers and our elected officials should recognize that all economic opportunities should be considered in full. The shale gas industry has brought to my hometown new jobs, an expansion of our tax base, and environmental stewardship and a safety culture that pervades our daily work. The effort announced today by Councilman Shields furthers none of these tremendous benefits to Pittsburgh residents and taxpayers – and in the process, attempts to deny residents in the city some of their most basic and fundamental rights.

“The extent to which the promise and potential of the Marcellus Shale is fully realized for our area will depend on a number of things – chief among them, our ability to demonstrate to the public that our operations are safe, and that the benefits they generate stand to improve the lives and livelihoods of every resident in the Commonwealth. It’s a task we take on with pride every day – and one to which the councilman’s legislation seeks to put an indefinite end, very much to the disservice of all who live in our city.

“Environmentally sound, tightly regulated shale gas development on privately-owned land in the region can and will create jobs and and revenues at a time when they’re most needed. Mayor Ravenstahl understands that; and our hope is that councilman Shields will see the merits.”

NOTE:

• The Pittsburg Post-Gazette reports today that “Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also opposes a ban, in part because drilling would create jobs, tax revenue for the state and spinoff revenue — such as earned-income tax — for the financially strapped city, his spokeswoman, Joanna Doven said.”

• This from a recent KDKA segment: “I believe if we can do it in a city like Fort Worth we can certainly do it in a city like Pittsburgh,” Kathryn Klaber, a spokesperson for the Marcellus Coalition, said. In recent years, natural gas companies have extracted gas from wells in the city of Fort Worth, Texas, and Klaber says drilling could be done safely in Pittsburgh. “Pittsburghers for generations have been able to figure out how to do things and I think they can figure out this one as well,” she said.

Copyright: Marcelluscoalition.org

Politicians in NY Senate don’t miss the chance to demagogue the Marcellus with a lopsided vote against HF – but whose interests are they really representing?

Politicians in NY Senate don’t miss the chance to demagogue the Marcellus with a lopsided vote against HF – but whose interests are they really representing?

Those who tell you that natural gas has never been produced from shale in New York don’t know the history of Chautauqua County, and certainly don’t know the story of a fellow by the name of William Hart.

Intrigued by tales he had heard from local settlers of streams and creeks that could literally be set on fire in the area (naturally, of course), Hart made the trip from Connecticut to Fredonia, N.Y. in 1819 — and by 1825, had done something that no one in the world previously had: He drilled a successful natural gas well. Twenty-seven feet deep; right next to that “burning” creek; right into a shallow strata of shale. Thirty-four years later, Col. Edwin Drake would drill the first-ever oil well 70 miles down the road in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Modern society was born.

Most folks don’t identify New York as the birthplace of natural gas, and even those who do are surprised to learn the state has more than 13,000 active wells in operation today. Some for oil, others for natural gas – just about all at some point in their life undergoing a procedure known as hydraulic fracturing, a technology that’s been in use for 60 years and deployed across the country more than 1.1 million times.

Thanks to hydraulic fracturing, New York’s natural gas production over the past 20 years has consistently been on the rise – from 1.7 billion cubic feet a month in 1991, to a peak of 5.35 billion cubic feet produced in in December 2006. Nothing to sneeze at, for sure — but also nothing on the scale of the 2 billion cubic feet that estimates suggest a single county in the Southern Tier (Broome) can produce in a single day by tapping the Marcellus Shale.

Of course, accessing those resources requires the use of hydraulic fracturing. But thanks to a vote in Albany earlier this week, the prospect of this technology being available in the future to help convert this natural gas into jobs (900,000 NY’ers currently unemployed) and revenues (Albany currently dealing with a $9 billion budget shortfall) suddenly became a lot more uncertain. Here’s how Bloomberg reported the story:

The state Senate approved a measure late [Tuesday] that would prohibit new drilling permits until May 15 in the New York portion of the Marcellus Shale …. The moratorium passed 49-9. …

“Not only did they pass it but it passed overwhelmingly,” Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, a Democrat from Suffolk County who sponsored his chamber’s version of the bill, said in an interview. “That opens the way for us to do to the bill in the Assembly where I would expect it to pass with similar overwhelming numbers.”

Just in case you’re scoring at home – no, there is no Marcellus Shale in Suffolk Co., N.Y. And no: It’s not likely that Assemblyman Sweeney knows the history of natural gas in his state, or the important and long-standing role that hydraulic fracturing – which his bill seeks to ban – has played in helping to deliver a portion of the 1.18 trillion cubic feet of natural gas that New York consumes each year.

But you know what else this fellow probably doesn’t know? He doesn’t know that his bill is written in such a way that it could actually be used to shut down all future oil and gas production in New York — even if it doesn’t have a thing to do with the Marcellus Shale. Don’t believe us? Let’s consult the experts over at over at ProPublica:

But the language in the final bill as it is posted on the state’s website does not differentiate between the different ways hydraulic fracturing can be used. It appears to be a blanket prohibition that would also stop hydraulic fracturing in New York’s many vertical oil and gas wells and would apply to drilling in geologic formations outside the Marcellus.

Keep in mind the state of New York is a member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, whose mission is to promote the “responsible development of our own resources,” make “oil and natural gas more affordable for consumers,” and leverage those resources for the purpose of “creating and maintaining jobs.” With this week’s vote, the Senate of New York has unfortunately gone rogue – and in the process cast serious doubt on the jobs, revenue, security and environmental benefits that would’ve been made possible through the responsible development of the Marcellus.

Naturally, the news out of New York this week didn’t escape the notice of PA DEP secretary John Hanger, who rightly took exception with the suggestion from the state Senate that his department has somehow been asleep at the switch – notwithstanding the fact that DEP has added scores of new oversight staff to the rolls (actually doubled it since 2008), and continues to post and enforce some of the most stringent regulations on the development of shale gas in the entire country. Here’s what he told the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice today:

The senators’ criticism raised the ire of [Hanger], who defended the state’s environmental regulations on Thursday and criticized New York for riding the moral “high horse while consuming Pennsylvania gas.” “If they are so ashamed of what’s gone on here perhaps they should stop buying Pennsylvania gas,” Hanger said.

The good news is that this debate is far from over, with one leading Democratic candidate for governor in New York telling reporters this week that he still wants to learn all “the facts” before rendering a position on how best to manage this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of course, the minute this debate becomes more about facts than fear – that’s the minute we win it. Not for the industry’s sake. Not for the memory of William Hart. But for the people of New York who deserve far more and far better than what some in the ranks of their elected leadership are currently giving them.

Copyright: Marcelluscoalition.org

• Marcellus production “will enable us all to keep our farms”
  
• “Farmers are making investments in their farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale”
• Marcellus development pumping “hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s  economy”

Family farmers say Marcellus development “will enable us all to keep our farms”: “Some see it as a way to keep their farms, which have been in their families for generations. … Nor do they have concerns over the hydraulic fracturing process, which some environmentalists claim can contaminate water wells and pollute rivers and streams. “We’ve been stewards of the farms for years,” said Ward, a fourth-generation farm owner. McMurray’s family has owned its land since 1811, and Bird’s since 1821. “It will enable us all to keep our farms,” said Wright-Croft. Ward believes that farmers have the most to lose from gas drilling since they rely on private wells to water livestock as well as drink it themselves. “You’re not going to find anyone with more concerns about the water than us,” he said. (Observer-Reporter, 8/3/10)

Marcellus development pumping “hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy”: “With lease payments ranging from $750 per acre to $3,600 per acre – and royalties set from 12.5 percent to 18.75 percent – the Marcellus Shale contracts Chesapeake has signed with local property owners has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy. … The natural gas company presently employs 636 Mountain State residents, with plans to hire more local workers in the future once those potential employees receive proper training. Chesapeake has spent $46 million with West Virginia-based vendors so far this year, including $1 million in shops based in Marshall and Wetzel counties and several million dollars more with a company in St. Marys, W.Va. The company also donated more than $400,000 to community organizations within Marshall and Wetzel counties during the past two years, Chesapeake leaders note. (Wheeling News-Register, 8/1/10)

Marcellus bringing hope to family farmers: “As an accountant who works for many farmers in the northern tier, I have witnessed first-hand the financial stress this important industry has experienced for the past 30 years. In the past two years, I also see the hope that Marcellus Shale brings to these farm families. … Today, these farmers are making investments in their farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale. Also because of these new investments by farmers, I see a rebuilding of the northern tier agriculture infrastructure that was at risk. (Daily Item, 7/28/10)

Marcellus production “good for everybody”; Helping counties “meet their bottom line”: “Marcellus Shale drilling is boosting local water sales and helping to push the Quemahoning pipeline close to its permitted capacity. Bruce Hottle, president of the Lincoln Township Municipal Authority, said the nonprofit has been selling close to 3 million gallons per month to Dallas-based Chief Oil & Gas. Drillers use several million gallons of water to “frack” each Marcellus Shale gas well. “It’s given us some decent cash flow we wouldn’t normally have,” Hottle said. “It’s probably doubled our water sales for the months of June and July.” … “This helps us get out of the hole sooner. It’s been good for everybody,” Hottle said. … As for the county, Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said the increased usage is helping them meet their bottom line. “The more water we sell the better for the Que pipeline project,” Tokar-Ickes said. “We hope it continues.” (Daily America, 7/30/10)

More new jobs on the way thanks to the Marcellus: “A partnership between Medico Industries Inc. and a South American company looks to tap into the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling boom with the opening of a manufacturing facility in Hanover Township. … Medico Industries received a $500,000 low-interest loan through the Luzerne County Business Development Loan program to install and purchase machinery. The company is investing nearly $960,000 in the project. It’s estimated 20 jobs will be created. (Times-Leader, 7/31/10)

Marcellus-related jobs “another strong performer”: “The Pittsburgh region’s growth in all four of those sectors ranked between third and seventh best among the 40 largest regions in the country. Another strong performer was the natural resources and mining sector; although it only added 500 jobs, that was more than any region other than Houston, likely reflecting the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8/1/10)

Gov. Ridge: “The development of the Marcellus Shale will benefit all of the citizens of our state, our region, and our nation”

Canonsburg, Pa. – The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), representing the majority of those responsible for the development and transportation of clean-burning shale gas throughout the Commonwealth, is pleased to formally announce that former Gov. Tom Ridge has joined the group as a strategic advisor.

“I am pleased to work with the members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition to ensure that this clean and abundant natural gas resource is developed for the full benefit of my home state of Pennsylvania and the nation. Joining the planning effort at this early stage will allow my voice to be added to efforts already underway to ensure worker safety and environmental protection, and to encourage the fullest economic benefit for our state, our communities, and the entire workforce involved in this transformational effort,” said Gov. Ridge.

“The responsible development of the Marcellus Shale represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen our region’s economy and our nation’s security,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC. “We are honored to have Gov. Ridge working alongside our organization to help ensure that Pennsylvanians fully recognize our industry’s commitment to environmental and workforce safety, as well as the positive and overwhelming economic benefits that responsible shale gas development continues to generate across the region.”

“Pennsylvania, Penn Woods, is rich in natural resources and has led our nation in energy development. We have learned from the past that we must develop our resources safely and efficiently. During my term as Governor, we grew our economy by providing incentives for economic growth and always by ‘Growing Greener.’ The development of the Marcellus Shale will benefit all of the citizens of our state, our region, and our nation. Not only can the environmental and economic benefit be transformational for generations to come, our homeland security will be forever strengthened.,” added Gov. Ridge. “There is much work to be done to maximize the benefits of these abundant and domestic resources, and I’m looking forward to help lead this important effort.”

Before becoming Pennsylvania’s 43^rd governor, serving as the Commonwealth’s chief executive from 1995 to 2001, Gov. Ridge represented northwestern Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 10 years. Following the tragic events of September 11^th, 2001, Gov. Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.