Gas at a glance

SRBC OPENS PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED CHANGES AFFECTING NATURAL GAS DRILLERS

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is taking public comments until August 15 on proposed regulatory revisions to streamline the use of SRBC-approved water for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus and other shale formations.

The primary objective of the revised regulations is to allow natural gas drillers to use water from any of their SRBC-approved water sources at any approved drilling pad in the Susquehanna basin. Currently, companies must specify, pay for and obtain SRBC approval for water sources for each and every drill pad.

In conjunction with the public comment period, public hearings to explain the proposed revisions and to take public comments will be held on August 4 in Harrisburg, PA and August 5 in Elmira, NY.

The proposed regulatory changes are available on SRBC’s web site at www.srbc.net/programs/projreview.htm. SRBC is scheduled to take final action on the proposed regulatory changes at its next quarterly business meeting on September 10.

DEP ORDERS U.S. ENERGY TO CEASE DRILLING OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA

The DEP has issued a cease-and-desist order to U.S. Energy Development Corp. of Getzville, NY for persistent and repeated violations of environmental laws and regulations. The order prohibits the company from conducting all earth disturbance, drilling and hydro-fracturing operations throughout Pennsylvania.

The 302 violations that serve as the basis for the order were documented over a period of two years, beginning in August 2007. About one-third of the violations have been resolved, but 197 violations remain uncorrected.

The order stops U.S. Energy from building new sites and gives the company 30 days to fix those sites that already have been built. DEP issued the cease-and-desist order because of continued violations of the Oil and Gas Act, the Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste Management Act.