A new study by the Center for Environmental Health uses well-worn talking points to claim that hydraulic fracturing – a process in use for more than 65 years – poses health threats to women and children. Tellingly, the report offers no evidence of this occurring and conveniently leaves out the fact that health is improving in communities where shale development and hydraulic fracturing is taking place.
An outfit calling itself the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) released a report last week called “Toxic and Dirty Secrets: The Truth about Fracking and Your Family’s Heath.” The thesis? That the continued use (and even mere existence) of hydraulic fracturing – a well stimulation technology that’s been in commercial use now for more than 65 years – poses a dire and immediate threat to pregnant women and children all across the nation. Yikes! Thankfully, as we show below, the CEH paper is more about political science than it is about the actual stuff, and in some cases hilariously so.
** Unfortunately this post contains a video with language that is not suitable for all audiences. Please use discretion in watching the video
Tom Shepstone, Energy In Depth
Nicole Jacobs, Energy In Depth
A recent effort by anti-natural gas activists, in one last desperate attempt to preserve the Dimock myth, is a pitiful example of the tactics of the natural gas opposition.
The name Dimock, as a rallying point for anti-gas activists, all but died when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the water safe last year, putting a merciful end to three years of demagoguery. Opponents of natural gas development won’t let it go, though, and, as we noted at the time of the infamous Yoko Ono tour, have now resorted to relying upon one remaining litigant – a junkyard owner, no less – to make what is a rather pitiful case. read more…
Governor Andrew Cuomo told everyone last month the poor job numbers in the Southern Tier of New York will not enter into his decision on natural gas development. This was a slap in the face to the landowners in the Southern Tier who are barely making ends meet but working nonstop to try to raise their families in the area.
There are hundreds of families in the Southern Tier who are trying to make ends meet and keep their children close by. They love upstate New York and don’t want to have to move, so they struggle daily to try to keep ahead of the game. Many of these families are sacrificing their family time and their dreams just to stay in the state they call home, and they’re hurting. read more…
Penn State extension educator, Dave Messersmith came to Brooklyn Township and spoke about European shale gas development, it’s complications, and how the continent’s governments are working to develop their shale resources. He also discussed shale development in Pennsylvania and exactly what it’s meant for the agriculture industry.
Dave Messersmith recently visited Northeastern Pennsylvania to speak to a Brooklyn Township landowners group. Messersmith is an extension educator at Penn State and his job focuses on natural gas development in Pennsylvania as well as throughout the Marcellus Shale play. Messersmith recently returned from a trip to Europe where he presented on shale gas development in the United States and how similar benefits can be accrued to European nations that embrace natural gas development.
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Richard Downey
Unatego Area Landowners Association
Governor Cuomo keeps saying his decision on allowing hydraulic fracturing in New York will be determined by science, but the data, which Governor Cuomo continues to ignore, shows that hydraulic fracturing can be conducted safely. So then Governor its time to either approve the process or admit science, in fact, has nothing to do with your decision at all.
I have a message to Governor Cuomo: the data is in but you’re out. The decision on drilling that was supposed to be science based seems more and more political. Postponement follows postponement. Meanwhile, the data continues to accumulate.
For seven years the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) has maintained hundreds of monitoring stations in the Basin. Fifty eight are situated in the headwaters area, including heavily drilled Pennsylvania. These stations measure water quantity and quality, using satellite technology for real time sampling, ie., every five minutes for data intake and every hour and a half for satellite pick-up. The data is then posted on the internet. These samplings are augmented by bi-monthly and quarterly on-site data collection for a wide variety of specific chemicals. Aside from occasional turbidity (muddy water), there has been NO (that’s ZIP, ZERO, NADA) change in water quality or quantity in areas where drilling has occurred. Check it out, Governor, at www.SBRC.net. Or give them a call. You’ve got the juice to get personal attention.
This past weekend there was a FrackNation screening in Callicoon, New York. The movie was shown at the exact same time as Gasland Part II and was received with much acclaim due to its fact-based approach to discussing shale development.
The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York helped organize the FrackNation screening and continues to help spread the truthful message about natural gas throughout New York. They are also still looking for all the help they can get to move forward with their lawsuit, by the way, which is a natural outgrowth of what FrackNation is all about – the refusal of some to listen to reason.
This fall will mark the four year anniversary since the New York Department of Environmental Conservation exercised its right to take over as lead agency for the proposed Inergy Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility. Frustratingly, and despite approval from various experts, including the New York state geologist, a decision still has not been made.
We have been following the Inergy Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility for awhile now, from the public hearings that took place almost two years ago to EarthJustice’s recent decision to step in and stop the project. In an effort to halt all natural gas development in New York, activists have targeted this project proposed by Schuyler County’s top taxpayer and employer – which will store clean-burning propane – despite expert approval, cooperation of the company, and a long history of propane storage in the region.
A recent meeting in Berkshire, N.Y., brought together Craig Stevens and two other “experts” to rail against hydraulic fracturing and natural gas. It was anything but impressive.
There was a meeting in Berkshire, N.Y., recently, put together by a group of natural gas opponents. They invited three supposed “experts” to speak, including Craig Stevens, otherwise known as the founder and President of Energy In Denial, a would be business generator of business for trial lawyer Charlie Speer, who’s made his money suing hog farmers and now wants to shift to suing natural gas companies.
The meeting was interesting, but singularly unimpressive in terms of its intended purpose. The Town of Berkshire is located in Tioga County, and nearby are a few other towns that have passed moratoria against natural gas, including the Town of Caroline. Ironically enough, one of the “experts” speaking to Berkshire folks was Don Barber, who is also the Town of Caroline Supervisor. He has never worked in the natural gas industry or lived near it.
Three New York residents have left their home state in search of work. Their search has brought them to Washington County, Pa., where all three now have good paying jobs in the natural gas industry.
Recently I received a call from Donald Roessler, who rented one of his properties to three young professionals working in the natural gas industry. Normally this isn’t anything to write home about, since the natural gas industry provides thousands of jobs to people throughout the United States. But what’s interesting about these three is that they are from the Southern Tier of New York, where shale development could occur were it not for politics.
If people leaving New York state in search of work isn’t already a trend, I am sure it is one that will increase as the New York moratorium on hydraulic fracturing stays in place. This is a true testament that the industry does, in fact, supply not only jobs but good paying jobs — worth relocating to obtain, even. Meanwhile, Governor Cuomo continues to delay his decision on shale development.
A new study in the peer-reviewed journal Groundwater found that naturally-occurring methane is ubiquitous in northeastern Pennsylvania as the region’s groundwater is contained in a hydrocarbon bearing rock that is interspersed with water wells that lack structural integrity.
Time and again, opponents of shale development have pointed to cases of alleged methane contamination of water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania as evidence of hydraulic fracturing contaminating water. Many examples abound, but the most recent comes from Franklin Forks, Pa., where activists claimed Marcellus Shale development caused a family’s water well to become infused with dangerous levels of the gas. Regulators eventually determined the situation was due to natural causes, but not before the claim drew widespread media acclaim, the attention of celebrities like Yoko Ono and countless activists working overtime to block the advance of responsible shale development in neighboring New York.
It’s really the same old game: Activists make a claim that shale development impacted water before a scientific investigation shows the claim to be unfounded. In the interim, we see inflammatory headlines about water pollution and environmental damage, all based on claims of harm derived purely from ideological predisposition. While that may have worked in the past, a new study featured in Groundwater, the peer-reviewed journal of the National Groundwater Association, provides some much needed context regarding methane “contamination” from Marcellus Shale development in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The natural gas industry is at it again, sponsoring a sporting clay tournament to benefit two great veterans’ groups in Pennsylvania! The industry has sponsored clay shoots before, but the one coming up is extremely special as we wrap up our Memorial Day celebrations. Cabot Oil and Gas is sponsoring a Sporting Clay Tournament to benefit two different veterans’ groups in Pennsylvania. Southwestern and Wier-Seaboard are also sponsoring the event. The industry has sponsored clay shoots before, but the one coming up is extremely special as we wrap up our Memorial Day celebrations.
Memorial Day weekend has just passed, but it’s important to remember the many sacrifices the individuals in our armed forces make on a daily basis–and we should do it more than just one day out of the year. That’s why Cabot Oil & Gas, Southwestern, Weir-Seaboard and other companies affiliated with the natural gas industry are participating in a sporting clay tournament in June. The veterans who will benefit from this clay shoot have served our country and allowed us to enjoy our freedoms, and this is our chance to do something to help give back for the all they have done for us.
Save the date: The event will take place Friday, June 14 at 8 am. read more…
The Marcellus Shale Coalition is sponsoring an event September 25-26 in Philadelphia, Pa. The event is called “Shale Insight” and it will provide the opportunity for you to learn pretty much anything about natural gas development. If you have the two days free it will certainly be worth attending!
The upcoming “Shale Insight” conference has three main goals: Provide attendees with more information about the industry; to encourage those who support natural gas to contact the legislature; and to provide a forum for attendees to hear from experts in the oil and gas field.
A forum such as this is just what the doctor ordered for landowners stressed out by the non-stop baseless attacks of a vocal ideological minority. The reality is that, as “Shale Insight” will show, natural gas development is one of the best job machines that rural America has going for it right now. read more…
