Posts Tagged ‘Quality’

Canonsburg, PA – At a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) will consider and review a set of recommendations to enhance transparency, streamline permitting processes and strengthen overall enforcement, which, taken together, aim to increase the region’s air quality. These Environmental Air Quality Task Force recommendations were released in a December 2009 report.

“Our industry supports increased transparency and a common sense, workable regulatory framework at the county level that is consistent with state regulations,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC).

The Task Force reviewed the following areas within ACHD’s Air Bureau, seeking to determine if the current regulatory structure “facilitated, challenged, or compromised” the delivery of effective and efficient operations:

• County air quality regulations;
• Permitting and appellate process;
• Enforcement;
• Air quality monitoring; and
• Organizational design.

“If these recommendations are implemented and ACHD is able to modernize its current air quality regulatory framework, our industry is confident that environmental, public health and economic benefits associated with shale gas development all will progress together,” noted Klaber, who served as a Task Force member.  “The natural gas industry is committed to partnering with key stakeholders, community members and the ACHD to advance the Task Force’s important work.”

In August 2008, Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato created an Environmental Air Quality Task Force. The group’s mission was to review the county’s air quality programs and provide recommendations to enhance efficiencies. Given the interdependence of the county and state governments with respect to air quality management, it was the Task Force’s charge to identify the effective management tools to meet the needs of the community.

Copyright: MarcellusCoalition.org

Canonsburg, PA – At a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) will consider and review a set of recommendations to enhance transparency, streamline permitting processes and strengthen overall enforcement, which, taken together, aim to increase the region’s air quality. These Environmental Air Quality Task Force recommendations were released in a December 2009 report.

“Our industry supports increased transparency and a common sense, workable regulatory framework at the county level that is consistent with state regulations,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC).

The Task Force reviewed the following areas within ACHD’s Air Bureau, seeking to determine if the current regulatory structure “facilitated, challenged, or compromised” the delivery of effective and efficient operations:

• County air quality regulations;
• Permitting and appellate process;
• Enforcement;
• Air quality monitoring; and
• Organizational design.

“If these recommendations are implemented and ACHD is able to modernize its current air quality regulatory framework, our industry is confident that environmental, public health and economic benefits associated with shale gas development all will progress together,” noted Klaber, who served as a Task Force member.  “The natural gas industry is committed to partnering with key stakeholders, community members and the ACHD to advance the Task Force’s important work.”

In August 2008, Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato created an Environmental Air Quality Task Force. The group’s mission was to review the county’s air quality programs and provide recommendations to enhance efficiencies. Given the interdependence of the county and state governments with respect to air quality management, it was the Task Force’s charge to identify the effective management tools to meet the needs of the community.

Canonsburg, PA – This week, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched its “Oil and Gas Electronic Reporting website – a first-of-its-kind tool that provides the public with greater insight into oil and gas operations across the state,” with a focus on making “the activities of drilling companies and their business partners more transparent.” The site — www.marcellusreporting.state.pa.us/ogrereports — provides information on production reports, which are broken down by operator and county, as well as a host of other relevant reports and data points.

“Within seconds, anyone with the internet, an iPhone or a Blackberry now has access to critical, up-to-date information about job-creating Marcellus development in Pennsylvania,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC). “The natural gas industry is focused on ensuring that our operations are world-class, and that as an industry, we remain true to our Guiding Principles. This new and much-needed level of transparency not only reinforces our commitment to the community, but it also gives Pennsylvanians a unique opportunity to understand the specifics of our operations.”

Additionally, DEP released air emission data from southwestern Pennsylvaniayesterday afternoon, which, according to DEP Sec. John Hanger, “shows no emission levels that would constitute a concern to the health of residents living near these operations.”

“Maintaining environmental quality – air, rivers and streams, drinking water – is a shared goal, and a paramount responsibility of ours,” said Klaber, also a member of PA’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee. “As Marcellus development continues to expand, and more Pennsylvanians realize the limitless economic and energy security benefits associated with this historic opportunity, our industry is determinedly working to put in place procedures and leverage cutting-edge technologies to help meet these critical environmental goals and objectives, particularly as it relates to air quality and all areas of our environmental management.”