Gas at a Glance

Tioga County water truck crash claims life

Mildred L. Barnard, 74, of Lock Haven, PA, died after the car in which she was a passenger was struck from the rear by a tanker truck hauling water used in natural gas drilling, according to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. The accident happened in Putnam Township. According to state police, the crash occurred as the car was stopped and waiting to make a left turn when it was struck from behind by the truck at approximately 1:30 p.m. The driver of the car, Diane M. McKinley, 51, and a 5-year-old girl who was riding in the back seat suffered minor injuries. The truck driver, Barry K. Smith, 39, was not injured. The crash is believed to be the first involving a natural gas-related vehicle in the greater Mansfield area.

Cooper Union hosts natural gas symposium on April 14 and 15

The Cooper Union Institute for Sustainable Design will present the public program and symposium, “Hydro-fracking for Natural Gas: How this ‘clean’ fuel technology threatens our water, our health, our landscapes and our energy future” on April 14 and 15. The symposium will feature Dr. Theo Colborn, president of the Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Dr. Michel Boufadel, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Temple University and Albert Appleton, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The gas-drilling documentary “Split Estate” will be shown on April 14 at 6:30 p.m., and a “Faculty and Experts Roundtable” is being organized. The event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Great Hall, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art at 7 East Seventh Street, New York, NY. Visit cooper.edu for more information.

Landowners form ‘Fleased’

A new organization has formed in Tompkins County, NY to provide a voice to landowners who leased mineral rights for exploration of gas in the Marcellus Shale, but “now realize that unconventional gas development threatens their land, air, water and communities.”

Also in the group are landowners who did not lease their land and are equally concerned about the effects of extracting natural gas from under their land. “In the past few months, we have discovered a great deal that we wish we had known when we signed leases,” wrote Elisa Evett and John Miller of Brooktondale. “In the future, safe extraction of gas may become possible and provide an enhanced economic incentive for people in this region. Until then, we intend to provide a forum for all who care uppermost about restraint of the rush to drill.” Email fleasedny@ gmail.com for more information.

Noncompliance results in gas fines

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) will receive $170,000 in fines from three gas companies for not complying with Pennsylvania state regulations on water withdrawals used for gas drilling, as reported in the Lock Haven Express. Novus Operating LLC began drilling two wells in Tioga County without receiving the proper water withdrawal permits from the SRBC and was ordered to cease construction and penalized $100,000. Southwestern Energy began construction on a single well in Bradford County without acquiring permits. The company agreed to remove pipe it had installed in the ground and to pay $50,000. Chesapeake Energy Corp. made a $20,000 payment after it discovered a contract water hauler had removed 10 percent more water than the company was permitted to take for gas drilling operations. Chesapeake reported the violation to the SRBC.

Water well testing programs scheduled

The Penn State Cooperative Extension and Wayne Conservation District will offer “Home Water Well Testing in the Gas Well Era” on June 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Damascus School in Damascus, PA or from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Park Street Complex in Honesdale, PA. Presenters Bryan Swistock of Penn State University and Joe Calabro of Aqua-Tech Laboratory will discuss regulations, impacts, testing strategies and more. Admission is $5 per person and reservations are required. Call 570/253-5970, extension 4110 or 570/253-0930 for more information.