Well-regulated gas extraction won’t harm water supplies. But it will create Pa. jobs.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100409_Shale_concerns_overblown.html

Posted on Fri, Apr. 9, 2010

Shale concerns overblown
Well-regulated gas extraction won’t harm water supplies. But it will create Pa. jobs.

Commentary By Lou D’Amico
(Lou D’Amico is president of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) and an adviser to EnergyInDepth.org. For more information, see www.pioga.org.)

The Marcellus Shale, which according to some geologists is the world’s second-largest natural-gas field, holds the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for Pennsylvanians – while reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign energy resources.

We’ve known about the Marcellus Shale for years. But advances – specifically, horizontal drilling techniques coupled with a 60-year-old technology called hydraulic fracturing, in which fluid is forced underground – have finally enabled us to reach its enormous stores of clean-burning fuel.

While Marcellus Shale production in Pennsylvania is still in its infancy, the results so far have been very good. According to Penn State, shale gas exploration in this state has already created 48,000 jobs, along with billions of dollars in economic output and millions of dollars in state and local government revenue. Over the next 10 years, shale gas production is expected to create more than 200,000 jobs directly and indirectly, as well as $13 billion in economic activity.

And every cubic foot of natural gas produced here in the Keystone State represents one less cubic foot that America is forced to import from gas giants such as Russia and Iran. That’s good news, right?

Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Last month, Philadelphia’s City Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a de facto moratorium on shale-gas development on privately owned land throughout the eastern sixth of the state.

The resolution says that the fluids used in the fracturing process, which are more than 99.5 percent water and sand, “are currently not required by law” to be disclosed, and that fracturing has caused “private well contamination.” One councilwoman said that gas development “should not occur without an environmental impact statement.”

Here are the facts: Hydraulic fracturing, which has been safely employed more than 1.1 million times in America, and is used today in 9 out of 10 wells nationwide, has never been found to contaminate groundwater – not once in 60 years. The Environmental Protection Agency’s top water official confirmed this just weeks ago. And the state Department of Environmental Protection has found that hydraulic fracturing “has not impacted local wells” and “is not a threat to water supplies.”

As for disclosure, federal law mandates that the fluids used in the fracturing process be identified and available at every well site. The DEP even lists the fracturing fluid’s composition on its Web site.

The states have always been the most effective energy regulators. And to help ensure Pennsylvania’s environment is protected, Gov. Rendell recently assigned an additional 68 state regulators to monitor Marcellus Shale production.

Unfortunately, by trying to bring the process under EPA oversight, Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) is among those working to strip Pennsylvania and other energy-producing states of their ability to effectively regulate fracturing, which has never been regulated by the federal government.

Council’s recent endorsement of such misguided efforts is unfortunate. Higher taxes and layers of unnecessary, duplicative regulations will not produce jobs or environmental benefits for the commonwealth.

Incidents where hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause of drinking water contamination

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/incidents_where_hydraulic_frac.html

Incidents where hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause of drinking water contamination

Amy Mall

Senior Policy Analyst, Boulder, Colorado

NRDC supports federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act. We believe this is a sensible approach that would ensure a minimum federal floor of drinking water protection in the more than 30 states where oil and gas production occurs.

Opponents of such regulation claim that hydraulic fracturing has never caused any drinking water contamination. They say this because incidents of drinking water contamination where hydraulic fracturing is considered as a suspected cause have not been sufficiently investigated, either because scientists and regulators could not properly investigate (did not have the information or technology needed) or because they chose not to, even where signs clearly point to hydraulic fracturing. Some cases where groundwater was contaminated during hydraulic fracturing operations have been attributed to other causes, such as faulty well structure, even if a well failed during the hydraulic fracturing process.

Below is a list of incidents where drinking water has been contaminated and hydraulic fracturing is a suspected cause. I can’t emphasize enough that there are many more cases of drinking water contamination around the country related to oil and gas production; those listed below are cases where a homeowner had enough detailed knowledge to know that a nearby well was recently fractured and specifically included that information in reports. In many cases of drinking water contamination where hydraulic fracturing has not been mentioned as  the cause, it may be because the homeowner does not know if the nearby gas well was recently fractured. It does not mean that hydraulic fracturing is completely absolved. As you will see, these cases are not limited to just one company or one state. The stories from around the country are unfortunately familiar.

Please send me other incidents of which you are aware, and I will add them to this list.

Arkansas: In 2008, Charlene Parish of Bee Branch reported contamination of drinking water during hydraulic fracturing of a nearby natural gas well owned by Southwestern Energy Company. Her water smelled bad, turned yellow, and filled with silt.

Arkansas: In 2007, the Graetz family in Pangburn reported contamination of drinking water during hydraulic fracturing of a nearby natural gas well owned by Southwestern Energy Company. The water turned muddy and contained particles that were “very light and kind of slick” and resembled pieces of leather.

Colorado: In 2001, two families in Silt reported a water well blow-out and contamination of their drinking water during hydraulic fracturing of four nearby natural gas wells owned by Ballard Petroleum, now Encana Corporation. Their drinking water turned gray, had strong smells, bubbled, and lost pressure. One family reported health symptoms they believe are linked to the groundwater contamination.

Colorado: In 2007, the Bounds family in Huerfano County reported a pump house exploded and contamination of drinking water during hydraulic fracturing of nearby wells owned by Petroglyph Energy.

New Mexico: A 2004 investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found two residents who reported that the quality of their water was affected by hydraulic fracturing.

New York: In 2007, the Lytle family in Seneca County reported contamination of drinking water the morning after hydraulic fracturing of a nearby natural gas well owned by Chesapeake Energy Corporation. The water turned gray and was full of sediment.

New York: In 2009, the Eddy family in Allegany County reported contamination of drinking water during hydraulic fracturing of a nearby well owned by U.S. Energy Development Corporation. The water turned “foamy, chocolate-brown.”

Ohio: In 2007, there was an explosion of a water well and contamination of at least 22 other drinking water wells in Bainbridge Township after hydraulic fracturing of a nearby natural gas well owned by Ohio Valley Energy Systems. More than two years later, over forty families are still without clean drinking water and are waiting to be connected to a town water system.

Pennsylvania:  In 2009, the Zimmerman family of Washington County reported contamination of drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of nearby natural gas wells owned by Atlas Energy. Water testing on their farm found arsenic at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits, naphthalene at five times the federal standard, and mercury and selenium levels above official limits.

Pennsylvania: In 2008, two families in Gibbs Hill reported contamination of drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of a nearby natural gas well owned by Seneca Resources Corporation. Their water had strong fumes, caused burning in lungs and sinuses after showering, and caused burning in the mouth immediately upon drinking.

Pennsylvania: In 2009, families in Bradford Township reported contamination of drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of nearby natural gas wells owned by Schreiner Oil & Gas. The drinking water of at least seven families has been contaminated.

Pennyslvania: In 2009, the Smitsky family in Hickory reported contamination of their drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of nearby natural gas wells owned by Range Resources. Their water became cloudy and foul-smelling. Testing found acrylonitrile, a chemical that may be used in hydraulic fracturing. The EPA is now investigating this incident.

Texas: In 2007, three families who share an aquifer in Grandview reported contamination of drinking water after hydraulic fracturing of a nearby well owned by Williams. They experienced strong odors in their water, changes in water pressure, skin irritation, and dead livestock. Water testing found toluene and other contaminants.

Virginia: Citizens reported drinking water contamination after hydraulic fracturing. Water was murky and had oily films, black sediments, methane, and diesel odors. Individuals experienced rashes from showering. The Buchanan Citizens Action Group reported over 100 documented complaints of adverse effects of hydraulic fracturing and the Dickenson County Citizens Committee reported ground water quality deteriorated throughout the county as a result of the large number of hydraulic fracturing events.

Wyoming: Families in the small town of Pavillion have been reporting contamination of their drinking water for at least ten years. Hydraulic fracturing has been used in the many wells in the area owned by Encana Corporation. Drinking water has turned black, smelled bad, and tasted bad. Individuals report medical symptoms they believe are related to water contamination. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investigating and has found contamination in 11 water wells, including toxic chemicals that may be from hydraulic fracturing fluids. Further tests are needed to determine the source of contamination.