Gas at a glance

‘HANCOCK & THE MARCELLUS SHALE’ AVAILABLE

REGION: A new publication that examines the impacts and opportunities of natural gas extraction along the Upper Delaware River has been released. Completed as a collaborative effort by many organizations and individuals, the project focused on the Town of Hancock, New York, where 25 percent of the acreage is under lease to gas companies. Full-color aerial photography by J. Henry Fair illuminates the drilling landscape in Dimock, PA, only 35 miles away. The project is the fourth document focused on environmental issues facing the region, produced by a graduate level seminar within the Urban Design Program at Columbia University. To obtain a copy, contact The Open Space Institute, Inc., at 212/290-8200 or email your name and mailing address to webmaster@osiny.org.

DEP ORDERS CABOT TO CEASE ALL GAS WELL FRACKING IN SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation to cease all natural gas well hydrofracking operations in Susquehanna County until the company completes a number of important engineering and safety tasks. The department took the action because of its concern about Cabot’s current fracking process. Cabot voluntarily shut down fracking operations at the Heitsman well in Dimock Township following three separate spills there in less than one week. The company is currently drilling seven new wells in the county that will require fracking.

The order requires Cabot to develop within 14 days an updated and accurate Pollution Prevention and Contingency Plan and Control and Disposal Plan for all permitted well pad sites in the county. The company must conduct an engineering study of all equipment and work practices associated with hydraulic fracturing at all well sites in the county within 21 days. The engineering study must include a detailed evaluation and explanation of the causes of the three spills that occurred and establish corrective measures that Cabot will use to prevent similar releases.

Within 21 days of DEP’s approval of the Pollution Prevention and Contingency Plan, the Control and Disposal Plan and the engineering study, Cabot must fully implement all of the recommendations and requirements in those documents.

In a separate enforcement action, DEP issued a notice of violation to Cabot for the third spill at the Heitsman well that occurred Tuesday morning. The violations noted are nearly the same as in DEP’s September 22 notice of violation issued to Cabot for the two spills last week, totaling about 8,000 gallons and involving a liquid gel called LGC-35, which is mixed with water and serves as a lubricant in the well fracking process. Cabot informed DEP that failed pipe connections caused both spills.

MARCELLUS SHALE TOPIC OF BUSINESS SEMINARS

Workforce Wayne, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, WEDCO and Penn State Extension will host “Your Business & Marcellus Shale,” at the Wayne County Park Street Complex, 648 Park Street in Honesdale. The series targets entrepreneurs and established small-to-medium sized businesses and will consist of five weekly webinars with sessions including: how businesses can establish working relationships with natural gas and service companies; how other businesses are already responding; and planning skills necessary to evaluate and implement possible new business ventures. Presenters and panelists will include local businesses, a natural gas industry representative and Penn State officials.

The first four 90-minute sessions will meet on Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 a.m. on October 14, 21 and 28 and November 4. The final session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Cost to attend the five part series is $20. Checks should be made payable to Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and mailed to Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 32 Commercial Street, Suite 200, Honesdale, PA 18431.

For more information, contact Dave Messersmith at 570/253-5970, extension 4110, Jennifer Porter at 570/253-5334, email membership@waynecountycc.com or see the “Your Business & Marcellus Shale” website, at http://www.economicdevelopment.psu.edu/marcellusbiz/.

DRAFT SGEIS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE

The draft version of the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement regarding gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale in New York was expected to be released by the NY Department of Conservation on September 30. Advance word is that some stakeholders are concerned that the comment period will be too short to provide as much input as they would have liked.