Gas news at a glance

BREAKING NEWS: HEARING ON WATER WITHDRAWAL FROM DELAWARE POSTPONED

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has postponed its hearing on revised proposed Docket No. D-2009-20-1 for Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, previously scheduled for Wednesday, September 23 at the PPL Corporation Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center in Hawley, PA.

Chesapeake applied to the DRBC for approval of a surface-water withdrawal from the West Branch of the Delaware River to supply a maximum of 29.99 mg/30 days of water for its exploration and development of natural gas wells in New York and Pennsylvania.

The hearing will be re-scheduled to a later date at the request of the applicant to allow the public and the applicant more time to consider the revised draft docket. In its September 15 request to the Commission chairman for postponement, Chesapeake said it is seeking additional time "to review and consider the changes reflected in the revised draft docket for the project" published on the Commission's web site on Friday, September 11. Chesapeake stated that it "has not had adequate time to review the changes reflected in the revised draft docket, particularly with respect to the proposed pass-by flow."

In response to this development, the revised proposed Docket No. D-2009-20-1 will remain posted on the Commission's web site; the public comment period on the revised draft will remain open beyond September 30; the dates for a new hearing and close of the public comment period will be announced as soon as a new hearing date is determined; and the Commission will not be considering the Chesapeake docket at its October 22 business meeting.

Visit www.state.nj.us/drbc/ for more information.

FORTUNA ENERGY OFFERS $165 MILLION FOR DRILLING RIGHTS IN PA AND NY

According to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Fortuna Energy Inc. has agreed to pay $165 million for the rights to drill for natural gas in roughly 30,000 acres of the Marcellus Shale in Susquehanna and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania and Broome County, NY. Members of The Friendsville Group, a coalition of about 600 property owners, would receive $5,500 per acre, plus royalties, for a five-year lease, with a three-year lease extension option held by Fortuna. The company will also pay 20 percent royalties for producing wells.

Fortuna officials will be in Choconut, PA on September 26 and 27 to sign the lease agreements with landowners.

Pennsylvania landowners will receive the $5,500 per acre within 40 to 90 days of signing the lease agreement. New York landowners will receive $500 per acre when the lease is signed, and $5,000 per acre when the state’s drilling moratorium is lifted.

The deal prevents wells closer than 750 feet to a building, requires that development plans be presented to landowners before drilling and protects the landowners’ rights to other minerals on their properties.

GAS COMPANY FUNDS GAS PROGRAM STARTUP

Lackawanna College will launch a new gas technology program this fall to prepare students for careers in natural gas opportunities related to the Marcellus Shale. EXCO North Coast Energy Inc., the first natural gas exploration company to drill in Lackawanna County, will give $25,000 to help develop the new campus in New Milford, PA.

DRILLING DOCUMENTARY ‘SPLIT ESTATE’ TO SCREEN

Catskill Mountainkeeper program director Wes Gillingham will host a viewing of a film about a drilling boom in the Rocky Mountains which had wide-reaching nergative impacts on the lives of the residents.

The screening is on Sunday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m. at The Settlers Inn located at 4 Main Ave, in Hawley, PA.

Registration is required as space is limited.Contact Catskill Mountainkeeper at: info@catskillmountainkeeper.org or call 845/482-5400.