Marcellus Outreach Butler
Connect with us
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Write Letters to the Editor
    • Contact Elected Officials
    • Track Permit Activity
    • Go Green Festival
    • Local Groups
    • PAF Farmers Letter to Governor Wolf
  • Concerned?
    • Krendale Neighbors
    • Emergency Contacts for Gasfield Residents
    • File a Complaint or Report an Incident
    • Property Values
    • Before You Sign a Lease
    • Water Testing
  • Fracking Impacts
    • Well Counts
    • Toxic Chemicals
    • Human Health Impacts
    • First Person Experiences
    • The Impact of Act 13 (HB 1950)
  • Newsletters
    • Newsletter 2018-07
    • Newsletter 2018-06
    • Newsletter 2018-05
    • Newsletter 2018-04
    • Newsletter 2018-03
    • Newsletter 2018-02
    • Newsletter 2018-01
    • Newsletter 2017-12
    • Newsletter 2017-11
    • Newsletter 2017-09
    • Newsletter 2017-03
    • Newsletter 2016-10
    • Newsletter 2016-07
    • Newsletter 2016-04
    • Newsletter 2016-03
    • Newsletter 2016-01
    • Newsletter 2015-12
    • Newsletter 2015-08
    • Newsletter 2015-04
    • Newsletter 2014-12
    • Newsletter 2014-09
    • Newsletter 2014-05
  • Additional Resources
    • MOB Generated Info >
      • Butler Water Supply at Risk
      • Natural Gas Does That
      • Spill Baby Spill
    • Books >
      • Fracking
      • Climate Change
    • Films
    • Websites
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Proof is in the Eye of the Beholder

12/17/2011

 
_After more than two years of study, the EPA released a draft report indicating that groundwater contamination may have resulted from hydraulic fracturing in Pavillion, Wyoming.  The report emphasizes that this is just the first step in the analysis and that the data is open for a 45-day public comment period and a 30-day peer review.  Residents of Pavilion have long complained of health issues related to a natural gas field owned by Encana.   Not surprisingly, Encana, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW), and politicians quickly took aim at the report, finding fault wherever they could.  But do they hold themselves to the same standards?

Encana questioned EPA’s methodology stating that results were likely caused by “problems associated with...drilling and sampling.”  PAW called the results “unsubstantiated” and “irresponsible.”  Senator James Inhofe (R) called them “premature” and raised questions “regarding EPA’s data and methodologies.”  They have all demanded more independent testing and peer review.

This national story quickly brought to mind the cases of contaminated water in Connoquennesing Township that implicate REX Energy.  On December 3, 2011 the Butler Eagle published a story on the front page that lead with “Well water is fine for human use.”  It is based on a report prepared by AMEC from Sewickley, PA; an engineering consultancy firm contracted by Rex.

Although the AMEC report was dated October 10, 2011, Rex Energy did not release their findings to the homeowners until December 2, 2011 and only after attending a meeting to discuss the report with the Butler Eagle.  The homeowners were not invited to this or any other meeting to discuss the report.  They received a packet via UPS.  This begs the questions, who was the report produced for?  The homeowners or the press?

The cited report contains several serious flaws.  The report clearly states that the report was solely based “on data provided to AMEC by Rex Energy” and that “AMEC inferred likely groundwater flow.”  No one from AMEC ever contacted the landowners to verify well depth, date of complaints, current conditions, or to request other tests done by the homeowners or the DEP.  AMEC never set foot on the properties to take a water sample nor did they oversee the sampling or the testing.  Did AMEC even verify the calibration of the test equipment?  How could they?  The testing was done by Environmental Service Laboratories Inc. (ESL) based out of Indiana, Pa.  The samples were taken and the tests completed before August of 2011 often without oversight by DEP (against the DEP agents’ wishes).  The results were then sent to Rex.  According to their website “ESL is a proud member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.”  Is this what an “independent study” looks like?  Was this report vetted by peer review and public comment? Would this report stand up in court?

Nonetheless, the result of this report and others like it is that six families in Connoquennesing Township will stop receiving potable water after the New Year, including a three-year-old girl, a newborn and, a pregnant mother and no one has stepped up to question the  validity of the report.  Where are our local officials?  The press?  The DEP?

Although REX Energy has operations in Wyoming, is unknown whether or not REX Energy is a member of PAW as PAW refuses to disclose their membership (in fact, when asked for a list of their members the PAW representative on the other end of the phone’s first response was to laugh and say, “You don’t have enough money to know that.”)

How is it that the natural gas industry demands high standards of proof and transparency from others yet hides behind secrecy, stretched-truths, and assumptions when the shoe is on the other foot?

Jason Bell

"You Drink It!"

12/10/2011

 
_ It amazes me that there are still people walking around who aren't aware of how “bought out” by the oil and gas industry Penn State University is.  If they are counting on Penn State to alleviate their concerns about natural gas drilling, they'll never need moonshine to escape from reality.

Speaking of concerns, in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County and Connoquenessing Township, Butler County, the same story is being played out: gas companies (in the latter case, Rex Energy) and the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection are saying that contaminated water is safe to drink and homeowners are saying otherwise.

Much has been written about having “court-ready” water tests costing thousands of dollars in hand before doing legal battle with the gas industry over contaminated water.  But I suggest a simpler, cheaper solution: test the safety of the water upon the bodies of those who declare it safe.

With media cameras rolling, let state regulators and gas company representatives converge on neighborhoods with allegedly contaminated water. And then, let them drink up! Not just a little sip, but a nice big glass full of the brown frothy stuff.   Let the cameras capture every grimace as this refreshing beverage flows down the hatch (except when the clumps interrupt the flow).  The cameras won't lie.  The cameras will show whether this liquid is the “pure water” guaranteed to every Pennsylvania citizen by the state's constitution.

It is to be hoped that industry cheerleader-in-chief Tom Corbett would be present for this special media event.  Perhaps some of the more prominent pro-drilling politicians as well. Brian Ellis?  Mary Jo White?  Come on! Drink up!  You know it's safe – the DEP says so!   Let's not forget to invite Mike Kelly and Jason Altmire as well! Perhaps they could serve this special Pennsylvania vintage at their next campaign fundraiser!   And just for fun, they can set it ablaze at the end of the evening.

Maybe some local drilling proponents who have leased their land would be willing to drink the water from Woodlands Road in Connoquenessing Township on camera as well.  Perhaps their Penn State-induced delusions of safety would protect them from all ill effects.   Or it could be like the morning DJ who decided to be water-boarded just for kicks: a rude awakening.

Our elected officials, state regulators, those who are drilling our state's land and those who are leasing that land need to be willing to drink what they say is safe for other Pennsylvania citizens to drink.  Or, as the lawsuit launched by Dimock residents against Cabot Oil and Gas suggests, are the state's residents merely “lab rats” for the oil and gas industry?

To borrow another metaphor from the animal kingdom, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Drink up!

j.p.m.

    Authors

    Blog posts written by members of Marcellus Outreach Butler.

    Archives

    April 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    13
    Act
    Act 13
    Action
    Activism
    Air Pollution
    Alternative Energy
    Aquifer
    Banking
    Birth Defects
    Butler Township
    Cement Casings
    Chainsaw
    Challenge
    Chemicals Used
    Children
    Children's Health
    Civil Disobedience
    Civil Rights
    Clean Air Act
    Clean Air Council
    Clean Energy
    Clean Water Act
    Climate Change
    Commomwealth Court
    Concerned Health Professionals Of New York
    Constitution
    Constitution Pipeline
    Contaminated Water
    County Commissioners
    Court
    Cutting Trees For Pipelines
    Deception
    Definition
    Delaware Riverkeeper Network
    Dep
    Doctor
    Drilling Ban
    EMA
    Emergency Management
    Eminent Domain
    Energy Revolution
    Environment
    Environmental Impacts
    Environmental Regulations
    Evacuation
    Farmers
    Farmers Against Fracking
    Farms
    Farm Show
    Flaring
    Flowback
    Forest Stewardship Program
    Fracking
    Franklin Township
    Gas Industry Lies
    Gas Lease
    Gerhart
    Geyer Wellpad
    Governor Tom Wolf
    Grandparents
    Groundwater Contamination Cases
    Halliburtan Loophole
    Health
    Health & Safety
    Health Study
    Holleran
    Holleran-Zeffer
    Hormone-disrupting
    House Bill 1950
    Impact Fees
    Jackson Township
    James Cromwell
    Lake Arthur
    Law
    Law Suit
    Lawyer
    Legislation
    Long Term Effects
    Long-term Effects
    Maggie Henry
    Maple Farm
    Maple Sugaring
    Margaret Flower
    Mars Parent Group
    Mars School Board
    Mars Schools
    M.D.
    Middlesex Planning Commission
    Middlesex Township
    Moraine State Park
    Mortgage
    Municipal Water
    Nonviolent Direct Action
    Pa Constitution
    Pediatrician
    Pennsylvanians Against Fracking
    Pipeline
    Property Value
    Proposed Processing Plant
    Protest
    Radiation
    Rally
    Real Estate
    Renewable Energy
    Rep. Brian Ellis
    Residential Drilling
    Resist
    Rex Energy
    Rights Of The People
    Sacrifice Zone
    Safety
    School
    Seneca Valley School
    Sen. White
    Solar
    Stephen Cleghorn
    Stop The Frack Attack
    Supreme Court Ruling
    Sustainable
    Tar Sands
    Tourism
    Unconventional
    Vehicle Acidents
    Violations
    Water
    Water Testing
    Well Casings
    Well Integrity
    Wendell Berry
    Woodlands
    XTO
    Zoning

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.