Posted by Brian on September 21, 2013 · 1 Comment
What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a semi-metal, a member of the nitrogen family. It occurs naturally in the earth and in the seas. It is odorless and tasteless. Arsenic is an element (As) that occurs in the earth’s crust-rock, soil, all natural sources of exposure, or can be traced to deep water brines used to produce oil and natural gas. Consumption of food and water are the major sources of arsenic exposure for the majority of US citizens. People may also be exposed from industrial sources, as arsenic is used in semiconductor manufacturing, petroleum refining, wood preservatives, animal feed additives, and herbicides.
Arsenic can combine with other elements to form inorganic and organic arsenicals. In general, inorganic derivatives are regarded as more toxic than the organic forms. While food contains both inorganic and organic arsenicals, primarily inorganic forms are present in water. Exposure to arsenic at high levels poses serious health effects as it is a known human carcinogen. In addition, it has been reported to affect the vascular system in humans and has been associated with the development of diabetes.
As compared to the Western part of the United States, it is relatively rare contaminant in Pennsylvania groundwater supplies. A recent survey by the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) found that arsenic exceeded 5 ppb in 8% of wells in Pennsylvania. Recent work in Northeastern Pennsylvania – Indicates that it that the occurrence may be slightly higher.
What are the symptoms of arsenic poisoning?
Observable symptoms of arsenic poisoning are: thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness.
How does arsenic enter my private water system?
It is widely thought that naturally occurring arsenic dissolves out of certain rock formations when ground water levels drop significantly. Surface arsenic-related pollutants enter the ground water system by gradually moving with the flow of ground water from rains, melting of snow, etc. Either way, ongoing testing for arsenic is an important strategy by the private water system owner to safeguard the health and well being of their family.
Is my private well at risk?
Like many contaminants in drinking water, the element is potentially hazardous at levels or concentrations that do not impart a noticeable taste, odor, or appearance to the water. Your best course of action is to get you water tested and compile as much information as possible about your water supply source, well construction, surrounding land-use, and local geology. If you do have an arsenic problem, there are water treatment technologies available now that can reduce or even remove arsenic from your drinking water. Note: Do not just test your water for Arsenic because there may be other primary and secondary drinking water standards that are elevated or that may interfere with the proposed remediation system.
Learn More and Get the Water Tested
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.. Unsolicited donations are appreciated.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization).
Posted by Brian on September 21, 2013 · 3 Comments
The McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility was established to be a visible, dynamic expression of the commitment of King’s College to offer students intellectual, moral, and spiritual preparation for satisfying and purposeful lives. That commitment has its origins in the understanding of education distinctive to the tradition of the Congregation of Holy Cross. In the words of the College’s founding president, King’s teaches students “not only how to make a living, but how to live” (Father James Connerton, C.S.C., 1946). Education is accordingly a work of both instructing minds and cultivating hearts.
2013 Feast of Saint Francis Lecture
Catholic Social Teaching and Energy Policy,” Dave Andrews, C.S.C.David Andrews, C.S.C., Senior Representative, Food and Water Watch, and former Executive Director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Thursday, October 3, 7:00 pm, Burke Auditorium, McGowan School of Business
Most recent articles by the speaker:
In global fight against fracking, faith community should lead
“Given those dangers, there is good cause for caution and responsible oversight before further fracking proceeds (currently, more than 30 states permit fracking). The Catholic Rural Life Conference has pushed for an infusion of ethical analysis into the fracking debate, like what has occurred in other issues, from agriculture and labor, to energy, water and other natural resources.”
Another article
http://ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/br-david-andrews-morality-fracking
Just providing notice – it is important to attend events of this nature.
Holy Cross Br. David Andrews is a senior representative at Food and Water Watch, a consumer group based in Washington. He is former director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. The Rural Life Council -http://www.ncrlc.com/
Important Note who is the
Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross Valatie, New York
The Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross owned 450 acres of land in Valatie, New York, when Brother David Andrews arrived in 1976 to create a Retreat and Conference Center. Brother David developed a local board of directors including people from the Diocese of Albany. Contacts within the New York State Assembly Committee on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy, especially Mabel Gil, encouraged the Brothers to develop programs on “alternative agriculture”. http://www.crystalspring.org/html/religlandsstoriessvalat.html
Overall-
1. Hope that this talk is more than just suspected impacts and what ifs about natural gas development.
2. I do not remember ever having an ethical debate about nuclear power, hydroelectric dams, use of fossil fuels, biofuels (ethanol), getting energy from countries that are unstable and have worse social justice than use, counties with zero tolerance to womens’ rights/ religious freedoms/ etc or even renewable energy – did i miss something?
3. Renewable energy is not without is dangers and environmental impacts.
4. We must admit we are the problem not the fuel source.
5. We waste over 50% of the energy we produce.
6. Social Teaching could be a great approach to make the change we need to make as a society – but one sided augments that are NOT fact based will no help at all. We need to move forward as a Community.
6. If Business will not invest in biomass, renewable, energy efficiency etc – I would then suggest the Church become the investor. Invest in the people to make a positive change in the community.
Training and More Education
Filed under Children's Health, Environmental Fear, Environmental Health, Unconventional Gas · Tagged with catholic religion, energy jobs, energy policy, energy soft power, energy storage production generation, energy waste, ethics, faith based community, faith based environmental movement, food and water watch, fracking, high volume hydraulic fracturing, hydraulic fracturing, Kings College, social responsibility natural gas development
Posted by Brian on September 5, 2013 · 11 Comments
The National Association of Royalty Owners’ Pennsylvania Chapter (NARO-PA) will host two meetings locally for landowners who are receiving or soon hope to be receiving natural gas royalties. Numerous NARO-PA representatives will be on hand to discuss issues such as deductions of post-production expenses and the NARO-PA legislative agenda.
The first meeting will be held at the Montrose VFW on Tuesday, September 10th at 6:30 pm and the second meeting will be at the Black Walnut American Legion on Wednesday, September 18th at 6:30 pm. Both meetings are open to the public.
Chapter Vice-President Trevor Walczak explains the “coffee-house” meetings as “a casual atmosphere to engage in discussion covering a broad range of royalty owner issues and how NARO-PA is working to assist royalty owners. There is no formal program, but rather an informal briefing highlighting our upcoming legislative initiatives in an atmosphere which promotes discussion and attendee participation.”
“As an advocacy group representing the rights of
Marcellus interest owners in Harrisburg, NARO-PA wants to make sure we are delivering a clear message from the people to our elected officials this fall,” Walczak adds. “To do this effectively, we have been conducting these style meetings statewide as an opportunity to listen to royalty owners and discuss our path forward as we update
Pennsylvania’s gas laws.”
Tuesday night is pizza and wing night at the Montrose VFW. The kitchen will be open on Wednesday evening at the Black Walnut Legion. There is also a cash bar at both events.
Royalty Owners Need To be Educated and Informed to make GOOD Decisions
Please Get All The Facts !
Recently Settled Suited CHK (Waiting Court Approval!)
Note: Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is not for or against natural gas drilling. We are for the facts, making good decisions, and helping to inform the public on all sides of this issue.
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization).
Posted by Brian on September 3, 2013 · Leave a Comment
The Carbon County Groundwater Guardians has been along standing supporter and trainer as part of the Master Well Owner Network. Our group conducts local face to face training sessions through Pennsylvania. Listing of some of our past Outreach Events. Since 1999, this organization and its partners have provide direct and indirect assistance to over 1.2 million private well owners worldwide. We stared a Private Well Owner Education Program and Water Testing Program in 2000. Please consider support our efforts.
New Announcement – 9/30/2013 – MWON Free Webinar.
We wanted to announce, that the PSU is offer a free online training program.
If you are interested in learning more about the proper management of private water wells, springs and cisterns and you are willing to share what you learn with others, you might be interested in applying for the Master Well Owner online course being offered by Penn State Extension starting on September 30, 2013!
The Penn State Master Well Owner Network will provide free, online training for the first 25 volunteers who submit an application and are accepted into the program. To be eligible for this program you must
1) NOT be employed by any company that provides paid services to private water supply owners (i.e. water testing companies, water treatment companies, water well drillers, etc.) and
2) you must be willing to pass along basic private water system management knowledge to other private water system owners.
The registration deadline for this course is September 20. Each accepted volunteer will receive seven weekly emails with links to short reading assignments and video presentations on private water system basics, water testing, water supply protection, water treatment, water conservation, and how to educate others. Course registrants can complete the course at their own pace from September 30 to November 11. A computer with a high speed internet connection is recommended to view all of the course materials and videos.
Volunteers who successfully complete the training course and pass a short exam will receive a free copy of the 80 page publication – A Guide to Private Water Systems in Pennsylvania, a coupon good for a 10% discount on water testing through the Penn State water testing lab, and access to various MWON educational materials. In return, MWON volunteers are asked to pass along what they have learned to other private water supply owners and submit an annual report of their educational accomplishments.
Note From Carbon County Groundwater Guardians – Consider coming back and helping our efforts – Looking for Volunteers Statewide.
For your information, we wanted to point out a few other resources
1. Mail Order Water Testing Kits or consider using a local water testing laboratory. The mail order testing is done by a Nationally Certified Laboratory and a portion of the proceeds that help support this organization.
2. New Education Guide for Private Well Owners in PA – What do the numbers mean and Insights into Baseline Water Testing? (Proceeds Benefit this Organization- free online read only version)
3. Our Online FREE Library of Pdf, videos, powerpoint presenations for private well owners.
4. Our New Flier
5. Stop by at the PA Energy Games and Say Hello – September 7, 2013
More Free Webinars
Posted by Brian on September 1, 2013 · 3 Comments
CLU-IN’s ongoing series of Internet Seminars are free, web-based slide presentations with a companion audio portion. We provide two options for accessing the audio portion of the seminar: by phone line or streaming audio simulcast. Past summaries and presentations are also available. To register for any Webinar.
Case Studies to Assess Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources
On July 30, 2013, EPA hosted a Hydraulic Fracturing Study Technical Workshop on Case Studies to Assess Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources. This one-hour webinar will provide a summary of the workshop and cover workshop themes.
Sep 12, 2013
11:00AM-12:00PM EDT
15:00-16:00 GMT
Hazard System Labeling System – 6 Modules
The Hazard Ranking System (HRS) webinar series is an intermediate-level course designed for personnel who are required to compile, draft and review preliminary assessments (PA), site inspections (SI), and HRS documentation records/packages submitted for proposal to the National Priorities List (NPL). The course is intended for EPA Regional, state, tribal and contractor personnel, who support EPA in the Superfund site assessment/NPL listing process.
This course assumes a basic understanding of the HRS and its context within the site assessment process. The training course is intended to enable staff to prepare HRS packages for the NPL and to plan PAs and SIs to address future HRS scoring issues. This training course provides details of the structure and application of the revised HRS and information related to the preparation of HRS packages, including HRS scoresheets, documentation records and site summaries. The course will incorporate an interactive case study to provide practical application of the HRS.
The webinar series consists of six two-hour sessions over three weeks. In order to receive credit for taking the course, participants must participate in each session. If you are unable to make one of the sessions, archived versions will be made available at www.clu-in.org that you can take to receive credit for the missed live session. In order to receive credit for a missed session, you must complete the missed session within 2 months of the originally scheduled date and submit an evaluation form from that archived module.
This introductory module will provide an overview of the regulatory context of the HRS, the site assessment process and the HRS structure. It will also include a presentation of documentation requirements under the HRS and a discussion of preparing HRS packages.
Oct 15, 2013
1:00PM-3:00PM EDT
17:00-19:00 GMT
CEC Training for OSCs…Pipeline Emergencies
Approximately 327,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines, 1.8 million miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 161,000 miles of liquid pipelines safely transport natural gas and a range of liquid petroleum products daily. Like any industry that deals with hazardous materials, there are potential risks in the manufacturing and transportation processes. Pipeline Emergencies is a 3-hour webinar training course that provides practical information on how to respond safely and effectively to pipeline incidents and emergencies.
The purpose of the course is to provide participants with the knowledge and understanding of the EPA’s regulatory authority regarding pipeline emergency planning and response operations, how pipelines operate, the common products that may be transported through both transmission and distribution pipeline systems, the various roles and responsibilities among emergency responders and government and industry when responding to an incident and pipeline emergency response operations.
The target audience for this webinar course is new and mid-career On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) with an interest in learning about pipeline emergencies. This webinar does not address tactics and field methodology as that information is better suited for face-to-face or field demonstration training.
Oct 2, 2013
1:00PM-4:00PM EDT
17:00-20:00 GMT
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.. Unsolicited donations are appreciated.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization).
Hydraulic Fracturing https://www.online-training-courses.info/search-courses-geology
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