Gas at a glance

‘Pipelines and Rights of Way’ workshop set for September 8

Penn State Cooperative Extension (PSCE) will host a workshop, “Understanding Natural Gas Pipelines and Rights of Way” on September 8 at the Wayne County Park Street Complex, 648 Park St., Honesdale, PA. The meeting will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Speakers will include representatives from PSCE, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Wayne Conservation District and the law firm of Tressler Saunders LLC, Scranton. Topics of discussion will be the Tennessee Gas Pipeline looping project, Federal pipeline regulations and understanding right of way agreements. The cost of the workshop is $5 per person payable at the door. To register, please contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in Wayne County at 570/253-5970 ext. 4110. The program is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.

55% of Marcellus well operators fail to meet reporting deadline

More than half of the natural gas drillers operating in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania missed an August 15 deadline to report the production levels of their wells in violation of state law, according to DEP. DEP Secretary John Hanger said that 41 of the 74 oil and gas companies failed to submit reports on the past 12 months of production. “The fact that so many companies failed to meet the deadline for providing this information is troubling,” said Hanger. “We plan to follow up with each non-compliant firm and pursue whatever enforcement action is necessary to get them to follow the law.” Violators have been notified and additional enforcement actions may follow. The public can track compliance with Act 15 production reporting requirements online at www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/OGRE_production/Marcellus_Report_Submissions_8-26-10.xls. Companies will be required to report production every six months, making the next report due February 15. Among the companies operating regionally who failed to meet the deadline were Hess Corporation; Newfield Appalachia, PA; East Resources, Inc.; and Encana Oil and Gas.

PennDOT offers online Marcellus Shale resource

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s District 4-0, which includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties, has a new Marcellus Shale website for customers including residents and members of the natural gas drilling industry. The website features maps and lists of closed, posted and bonded roads and bridges; truck routes and approved motor carrier routes; and restricted roads and bridges. Forms and regulations will be available, including those required by PennDOT from natural gas drillers. The website will also include news releases, frequently asked questions about road posting and bonding, Marcellus Shale-related links and contact information for PennDOT personnel and natural gas company contractors. Visit www.dot.state.pa.us, click on the right-center photo “PennDOT Near You,” then “District 4” on the green map. Follow the link for District Services to Marcellus Shale Information.

Delaware Riverkeeper to train river monitors on September 18

The Delaware Riverkeeper will hold a training workshop for citizen river monitors on September 18 at the PPL Environmental Learning Center in Hawley, PA. The training is designed for citizens willing to become part of an existing network of volunteers to collect field data for streams that may be impacted by hydraulic fracturing. Data have been used as testimony, to provide comment to agencies as permits are considered, and to inform advocacy efforts. The data also serve as baseline for local streams before drilling occurs. Workshop space and equipment is limited. No prior experience is necessary. To register, email faith@delawareriverkeeper.org or call 215/369-1188 ext. 110.

Survey shows huge support for gas tax

The Marcellus Shale Examiner reports that nearly 80 percent of Pennsylvanians voiced support for a severance tax on the natural gas industry according to a new poll. The poll, by Republican pollster Frank Luntz and Democratic pollster Jeffrey Pollock, asked participants whether they favored or opposed a tax to fund important environmental programs and to support local governments facing an increased demand for services from drilling. In response, 78 percent said they supported such a tax, while only 14 percent opposed it.

EPA fracking hearing set

The public hearings on hydraulic fracturing, which were cancelled in August due to security concerns, have been rescheduled. There will now be four meetings in Binghamton, NY. Two meetings will be held on September 13, one from noon to 4 pm, and the other from 6 pm to 10 pm. Two more will be held at the same times on September 15.

The meetings will be held at the Broome County Forum Theater, 236 Washington St., in Binghamton.

Individuals may pre-register for the meetings online at hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com or by calling 866/477-3635. Online and telephone registration will remain open through 5 pm, September 10. Those who are not pre-registered may still register to attend or provide verbal comment on the day of the meeting. Verbal comments from individuals registered on-site will be accommodated as time allows.