Trout Unlimited raises drilling concerns

Stone Energy seeks 21 million gallons from Lackawaxen River

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION — Drilling in the Marcellus Shale has now caught the attention of the national organization Trout Unlimited (TU). The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) recently weighed in on the potential impacts of drilling on trout populations and the issue has even landed on the cover of the Winter 2009 issue of that organization’s nationally-distributed magazine, Trout, as rising concerns have surfaced.

PATU represents 13,000 members in 53 chapters across the state and has issued a white paper outlining its concerns about drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation. “We understand that natural gas drilling and other energy developments are important to the economy of the Commonwealth and the nation. However, we are adamant that this drilling be done in a manner that does not damage our natural resources,” notes the council.

Some of PA Trout’s concerns include the use of millions of gallons of water to frack wells, the storage and disposal of the resulting contaminated water, the impact of drilling activity in Special Protection Watersheds (High Quality and Exceptional Value streams) and Wilderness Trout Designated areas, the potential increase in sediment and storm water from the well pad sites and inadequate staffing resources to handle the increase in permit requests and on site enforcement.

PA Trout has made 13 recommendations, which can be viewed online at www.riverreporter.com/issues/09-03-12/MarcellusTU.pdf along with the full white paper. See the Trout Unlimited story by Morgan Lyle, “Fractured Landscape: The Appalachians’ Energy Development Rush” at online.qmags.com/TU1208S/Default.aspx in which Ken Undercoffer, president of TU’s PA Council, is quoted as saying, “My biggest concern is the need for massive water withdrawals to fracture the wells, and where this water is going to be treated afterward to render it harmless to the environment. Even if every environmental law that exists is absolutely enforced and followed, which is highly unlikely, the damage to our streams and forests will be considerable.”

According to Brian Wagner, Northeast regional vice-president of the PATU, the organization issued its white paper as a reference and guide for its membership and the public as Pennsylvania and surrounding regions move toward tapping into the Marcellus formation.

“In our region, I am concerned about the cumulative impacts that drilling operations may have on our smaller watersheds that currently hold populations of our native and state fish, the brook trout,” said Wagner. “There is a national initiative to preserve the brook trout in its eastern U.S. range, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture ( easternbrooktrout.org ).”

Wagner is also concerned about the potential impacts on rainbow and brown trout spawning tributaries to the Upper Delaware River system. “The Upper Delaware fishery, which is already being jeopardized by inadequate summertime releases by the NYC reservoirs, represents a significant financial benefit to the region,” he said. “We are asking our local chapters to be the eyes, ears and voice for their streams and rivers. If they see something unusual or a negative impact from a drilling operation, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) will be notified.”

Looking at the Lackawaxen River

TU members will likely be keeping an eye on the Lackawaxen River following a recent announcement from the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) that the drilling company, Stone Energy, has applied for a permit to withdraw 21 million gallons of water over a 30-day period from the West Branch of the Lackawaxen River.

The application is part of a settlement agreement, which includes a $70,000 penalty levied against the drilling company by the DRBC in relation to Stone Energy’s failure to follow permitting procedures last year as it began developing the Matoushek well in Wayne County.

Wagner is calling for close monitoring as such permits are sought. “The Lackawaxen River is listed by the PA DEP as a high-quality trout-stocked fishery and the West Branch and its tributaries are listed as high-quality cold-water fisheries (HQ-CWF),” he said.

“Numerous other streams in the Northeast are listed as HQ-CWF or exceptional value (EV), the highest rating. The impacts would vary depending on location and water availability. Trout need cold water to survive. We insist that the regulatory agencies [DRBC and PADEP] closely monitor these withdrawals and take into account the accumulative effects of these withdrawals and not allow a withdrawal that would negatively impact temperature, dissolved oxygen and available trout habitat,” said Wagner.

DRBC communications manager Clarke Rupert said the agency is experiencing a four-to-six-month delay in processing a backlog of applications, most unrelated to drilling, and that following a review of Stone Energy’s application for surface water withdrawal, the request will be placed on the agenda for an upcoming public hearing of the commissioners for final determination.

The status of all dockets being processed by the DRBC can be monitored on its website at www.state.nj.us/drbc (click on “Project Application Status Page”).