Horizontal well leak leads to evacuation

ROULETTE, PA — Several homes in Roulette were evacuated Wednesday night when natural gas from a new Marcellus Shale well started leaking in heavy concentrations. The Marcellus Shale wells near Roulette were the first three horizontal wells drilled by Pennsylvania General Energy, a Warren-based company. They were drilled earlier this year.

During the evacuation, Route 6 was closed from the eastbound Roulette Main Street exit to the Fishing Creek exit. Roulette firefighters had to access the wells with four-wheel-drive vehicles to turn off the valves. The leak was eventually stopped.

Guardian Exploration of Texas owns the wells, but they have an office in Shinglehouse and are investigating.

‘State of the Basin’ report released

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has released the 2008 State of the Delaware River Basin Report (State of the Basin Report). Along with the 2008 State of the Delaware Estuary Report released in July, it discusses the current health of the Delaware River Basin by examining the status of certain environmental conditions. The two reports provide a baseline analysis to help determine whether things are getting better or worse in the Delaware River Basin, and whether the goals set forth in its plans are being achieved.

The results are mixed, according to DRBC deputy executive director Robert Tudor. “While there are some conditions in the basin and estuary that have improved over time and are on a positive trend, there are others that have worsened, as well as some that have remained static. Furthermore, while some goals in the plans have been attained, the reports highlight that more work needs to be done.”

The State of the Basin Report is available at www.drbc.net. The Estuary Report can be found at www.DelawareEstuary.org.

Smaller version of mushroom plant approved in Mamakating

WURTSBORO, NY — A revised plan for the Yukiguni Maitake mushroom factory proposed for Mamakating, which scales back the height of the building and water use, has been approved by the Mamakating Planning Board. The vote was unanimous. A conditional use permit was also granted for the factory.

The Yukiguni Manufacturing Corp. of America still has other hurdles to clear before starting construction. Approvals are needed from the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Delaware River Basin Commission. Local environmental groups, including pre-eminently the Basha Kill Area Association, continue to oppose the project.

Under the new plan, about 120 people would be employed at the operation, compared to an original 210, and the factory would produce about half the originally estimated output.

County sued in college teen’s death

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — The mother of a Sullivan County Community College student who died of a heart attack in a dormitory is suing the county for negligence.

The teen, 17-year-old Robert Bastian, suffered the heart attack when chatting with his friends. The autopsy showed an enlarged heart. The lawsuit filed by Robert’s mother Sharen charges that there was no automated external defibrillator placed in the facility, as required by law, and that this failure contributed to her son’s death.

The lawsuit has been filed against the county on the grounds that it provides funding to the college. The dormitory is owned by a private corporation.

Police warn of text message scam

HONESDALE, PA — Residents in the Honesdale, Hawley, Waymart and Hamlin area have been receiving phony text message alerts purporting to be from Wayne Bank, telling them their cards have been deactivated and asking them to call certain telephone numbers to have them reactivated.

The Honesdale Police and Wayne Bank are instructing the public not to respond to the messages or conduct any banking business through automated telephone calls. Those who may have already provided information should monitor their bank accounts and credit lines.

Sullivan allows installments on taxes

MONTICELLO, NY — In response to difficult economic conditions, Sullivan County legislators have passed a resolution that will allow residents to pay their town and county taxes in three installments. Fifty percent of total taxes will be due in January, with 25 percent due in February and another 25 percent in March. The resolution will apply to 2009 only.

“I do believe it is a help to some of the folks who have to play catch-up,” said legislator Leni Binder, one of the proponents of the move.

If taxes are not paid in full by April, the usual penalty and interest will apply.

Conservancy groups: reservoir levels present threat of flooding

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER — Conservancy groups called on New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York City (the “decree parties” of the Delaware River Basin Commission) to take immediate action to lower levels in the city’s Delaware River reservoirs to prevent flooding.

“All three reservoirs will soon start spilling. A major flood could occur with any large rainfall if the water levels aren’t lowered quickly’,” said Chuck Schroeder, president of Drowning on the Delaware.

“Last spring, we only avoided flooding because the rains stopped. The decree parties’ flexible flow management plan didn’t save us, Mother Nature did,” said Scott Burgess, chairman of Residents Against Flood Trends. The city built up billions of gallons this fall when the diversion tunnel was shut off for inspections.