Penn State Professor Discusses Marcellus Shale and Water Quality
Bryan Swistock, Ph.D., spoke at the Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference at Lehigh University March 11.
Bryan Swistock, Ph.D.
Although the Lehigh Valley does not sit atop the Marcellus Shale, the extraction of natural gas from this geological formation in other parts of Pennsylvania was a hot topic at the recent Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference.
The conference, held at Lehigh University’s Packard Lab March 11, attracted dozens of environmentalists, naturalists, elected officials, fishermen, academics and businesspeople to hear speakers like Bruce Swistock, Ph.D., who delivered a “Report on Marcellus Shale and Water Quality Across Pennsylvania.”
Introduced by Lehigh professor of earth and environmental science Frank Pazzaglia, Ph.D., Swistock is a professor with Penn State University’s Water Resources Extension and a leading authority on the impact of fracking on water quality in the Keystone State.
That impact has grown as the number of gas wells has grown exponentially since 2007, he pointed out.
In 2007, there were just 27 wells in Pennsylvania. In 2008, there were 161 wells; in 2009, there were 785 wells; and in 2010, there were 1,213 wells, primarily throughout rural central and northern Pennsylvania.
“It’s really our old gas drilling on steroids,” he said. “Everything is much, much bigger.”
In some parts of the state, where the Marcellus Shale formation is very thick, some residents have literally become “overnight millionaires” from selling drilling rights to natural gas extraction companies, with lease rates of $6,000 to $7,000 per acre and royalties of 20 to 25 percent, Swistock said.
Along with the direct impacts from drilling, emotion over the benefits versus the environmental consequences of natural gas drilling has increased dramatically, Swistock told his audience.
“In the last three years I’ve done dozens of programs where there are police,” he said, adding that in areas where drilling isn’t permitted people tend to be angry that they’re forbidden from tapping into the voluminous natural gas reserves 5,000 to 10,000 feet beneath their properties. In areas where gas drilling is permitted, people tend to be angrier over the prevalence and impact of drilling, he said.
“People who have their own water supplies are very concerned about what Marcellus might do to their groundwater,” he said. “Nobody knows exactly how many wells will be drilled when this is all said and done.”
In terms of regulations, Pennsylvania lags behind, with many of its regulations for Marcellus Shale drilling dating from 1984, Swistock said.
For example, the bonds required to cover the cost of water supply replacement are only equal to $2,500, he said.
There are no regulations on seismic testing in Pennsylvania and 3D seismic testing with dynamite is allowed without setbacks, he added.
When it comes to water quality in the areas surrounding where drilling is occurring, the issues related to Marcellus Shale are numerous, he continued.
Sediments and detergents may be used in the fracking process–a process which can result in waste fluids containing “very high” levels of radionuclides, including radium and uranium, being brought to the surface, Swistock said.
Benzine–a carcinogen–has also been found in waste fluids associated with fracking, with an average of four to five million gallons of fresh water needed for each horizontal well drilled, Swistock said.
In many cases access to the water needed for fracking is under landowner control, and although property owners can’t legally sell their water in Pennsylvania, they can charge a trespass fee to individuals accessing it, Swistock explained.
Of the 50 states, Alaska and Pennsylvania “are the only two states that don’t regulate private water systems at all,” Swistock said, referencing the wells from which most people in rural parts of the state obtain their drinking water. “We find that only about 5 percent of the water wells we tested have sanitary construction that would be required in 48 other states.”
For residents whose private wells are located near fracking sites “the only way you can really prove a water supply problem is if you have pre-drilling and post-drilling data,” he added.
This is especially true because many wells were never tested before Marcellus Shale drilling began and may have had “pre-existing” problems such as methane contamination, making it difficult to know if the methane in them is the result of methane gas migration from nearby fracking operations, he said.
For wells located within 1,000 feet of a gas well and tested within six months of drilling, there is a “presumed responsibility” on the part of those drilling for gas, he said.
Swistock cautioned against pulling YouTube-type stunts such as lighting a faucet on fire, which he said can be done if high levels of methane are contaminating the water supply.
“It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” he commented.
For homeowners who want to test and monitor their wells there are devices available, but they can be expensive, he added.
“I’ve had a lot of people at programs crying because they want to protect their water but they can’t afford testing,” he said. “They feel very helpless.”
“There are no easy answers,” he concluded, before answering questions from audience members.
Among the entities sponsoring the watershed conference were the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, the Northampton County Conservation District, Wildlands Conservancy the Lehigh County Conservation District, the Saucon Creek Watershed Association, Lower Macungie Township and Lower Saucon Township.
By Josh Popichak
March 21, 2011
http://hellertown.patch.com/articles/penn-state-professor-discusses-marcellus-shale-and-water-quality
Devastating appropriation cut advanced for Penn State
Penn State Ag Sciences Newswire – 3.8.2011
Penn State and other Pennsylvania public universities are slated for the most dramatic appropriation cut in the history of American higher education, based on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget proposal released today (March 8) by Gov. Tom Corbett.
The budget cuts Penn State’s appropriation by 52.4 percent, a devastating reduction of $182 million. This includes a 50 percent cut in Penn State’s educational appropriation, a 50 percent cut in its Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension appropriations, the loss of all federal stimulus dollars, a reduction for the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and the total elimination of medical assistance funding for the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
The proposed appropriation represents the most severe funding cut in Penn State’s 157-year history and suggests a redefinition of Penn State’s role as Pennsylvanias land-grant institution.
“A funding gap this large is going to fundamentally change the way we operate, from the number of students we can educate, to the tuition we must charge, to the programs we offer and the services we can provide, to the number of employees and the research we undertake,” said President Graham Spanier.
According to university officials, a cut of this magnitude jeopardizes the University’s mission of providing access and opportunity to students at 24 campuses. It would undermine support of the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry and force a complete redefinition of the state’s Cooperative Extension Service and the agricultural research upon which it depends. It would affect the University’s ability to sustain dozens of programs that support economic development in the Commonwealth.
The University currently receives less than 8 percent of its annual operating budget from the state, a figure that has eroded significantly over the last two decades. Under the governor’s proposal, that figure will fall to 4 percent.
This budget proposal comes on the heels of a decade of stagnant state appropriations that in some years also were reduced again through mid-year rescissions.
Cuts in higher education budgets are being proposed in many states, but never has a single institution’s budget been slated for a reduction of more than 50 percent in a given year. The University would have a matter of only a few weeks to manage such a catastrophic cut.
“A reduction of this magnitude would necessitate massive budget cuts, layoffs and tuition increases, with a devastating effect on many students, employees and their families,” said Al Horvath, senior vice president for Finance and Business. “While we have for many months been planning for a potential state funding cut, we could not have envisioned one so damaging to the future of the University and the Commonwealth.”
University officials report that no one in state government reached out to them with any advance notice of such a possibility, nor was there any prior discussion about the potential impact of such a cut.
Penn State has mobilized a team of University leaders to look at operational cuts. “We must consider the welfare of our students and the quality of their education, not to mention our long-term funding stability,” said Steve Garban, chairman of Penn State’s Board of Trustees. “As we work to handle a potential funding cut, we’ll be guided by our goals of quality and access, and we’ll seek to avoid having our students and their families shoulder this entire burden through increased tuition — although tuition will rise.”
“We are eager to explore with elected officials whether they support this proposal and whether they see this as the first step toward the complete elimination of public higher education in Pennsylvania,” said John Surma, CEO of US Steel, who serves as vice chair of Penn State’s Board of Trustees and chair of its Budget Subcommittee.
Administrators plan to deal with the cuts as equitably as possible, but significant downsizing in academic and administrative units will be under consideration. Scaling back plans for critical facility needs, such as major maintenance and capital improvements, will be undertaken; changes to the University’s health care programs will be revisited to create additional savings; salary increases for employees will likely again be frozen; and more across-the-board budget reductions for academic and administrative units will have to be instituted.
“We are committed to finding every possible way to reduce expenses and maintain quality,â added Spanier. “We face difficult choices and this will be an extremely challenging year — one that quite possibly will change the face of higher education in the Commonwealth.”
The governor’s budget proposal is the first step in the appropriation process. Penn State will continue to press its case for support with the General Assembly and the governor over the next several weeks.
“I want to thank Penn Staters for their continued support and for all of their efforts that allow Penn State to be the most student-centered research university in the nation,” added Spanier. “I deeply appreciate the commitment we feel from our 96,000 students, our 47,000 faculty and staff, and our 514,000 alumni. I vow to challenge the level of this reduction aggressively and welcome the support that is already pouring in.”
Webinar next Wednesday on Household Water Treatment Systems
The Water Resources Extension Webinar series will continue next week with a presentation on Household Water Treatment Systems on February 23 from noon to 1 PM by Dr. Tom McCarty. Tom is an Extension Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County.
Webinar Summary
If you have seen one of those fiberglass “missile” tanks in a basement and wondered “what is that for?” or have been curious about the extra sink spout that supplies “RO” water, please come and join the discussion at noon on February 23rd. The webinar will discuss the need for household water treatment and various approaches to treatment. We’ll discuss disinfection, softening, iron removal, rotten-egg odor (hydrogen sulfide) treatment, corrosion control, chlorine removal, and other devices to provide small amounts of high purity water for drinking and cooking. You won’t be an expert by the end of lunch but the tips we’ll provide will allow you to ask some pretty good questions of the next water treatment salesman. And for sure you will have some insight into whether or not there should be some treatment equipment on your drinking water supply.
How to Partcipate
The live webinar will occur from noon to 1 PM and is accessible at: https://breeze.psu.edu/water1
To participate in the live webinar you will need to have registered and received a “Friend of Penn State” ID and password. To learn more about registration and additional details about the webinar series, go to:
http://extension.psu.edu/water/webinar-series/schedule/registration
Taped versions of each webinar in the series are available to anyone. A link to the presentation video along with a PDF copy of the presentation slides, links to relevant publications, and a copy of the question/answer session are posted at:
http://extension.psu.edu/water/webinar-series/past-webinars
Addional Upcoming Webinars
March 30, 2011 – Management of Nuisance Aquatic Plants and Algae in Ponds and Lakes
April 27, 2011 – Using Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens to Manage Household Stormwater
Program set on safe drinking water
http://www.neagle.com/news/x167304228/Program-set-on-safe-drinking-water
Posted Feb 09, 2011 @ 05:13 PM
Homeowners and business people often take it for granted that the water coming out of their tap is safe for drinking. There are a number of potentially harmful substances that can harm your family or customers. These include bacteria, nitrates, iron and manganese. Some of these substances have health effects and others can cause unwanted stains and odors.
If you depend on your own well or spring for your drinking water, it is your responsibility to have your water tested periodically at a certified water testing lab. NO government agency is going to require you to have your water tested.
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Pike County will be conducting a Safe Drinking Water program on Saturday, February 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pike County Conservation District office on 556 Route 402 in Blooming Grove. There is a registration fee of $7/person or couple for handouts.
In addition, Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering water testing for a discounted fee through Prosser Labs on March 2, 9 and 16. In order to participate in the water testing, you must attend the Safe Drinking Water program to receive your test bottles. Four different sets of water tests will be offered ranging from coliform bacteria/e coli bacteria to a test of 7 other parameters including coliform bacteria. Test bottles need to be returned by 12 noon on March 2, 9 or 16.
Pre-registration, including payment, is required by February 22, 2011. Make checks payable to: PSCE Program Account and mail to Pike County Cooperative Extension, 514 Broad St., Milford, PA 18337.
Visit http://tinyurl.com/yycbns3
<http://pike.extension.psu.edu/Community/2011/Water022611.pdf>
to download a program brochure.
For more information on the Safe Drinking Water program or water testing, contact Peter Wulfhorst at the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at (570)296-3400.
Analysis of Marcellus Shale gas tax issues offered in Feb. 16 webinar
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An online seminar offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16 will cover what Pennsylvania residents who benefit financially from natural-gas wells on their properties need to know about tax implications.
In his presentation, “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know,” Associate Professor of Forest Resources Mike Jacobson will address primarily landowners who want to understand the basic issues. However, he also will provide financial advisers, accountants and tax preparers with some useful information.
“Landowners who lease gas rights will receive an up-front bonus payment and then receive royalty payments when production begins,” Jacobson said. “Dealing with this new-found wealth requires careful financial and tax planning.
“The tax law surrounding gas leases and royalties is complex with its own specific rules,” he said. “By understanding these rules, landowners possibly can save money by avoiding unnecessary taxes.”
The webinar will address mainly the tax consequences of gas income, Jacobson noted. It will cover issues such as types of income, how to report income, depletion and expensing opportunities, wealth and family planning, and property and severance taxes.
The tax-issues webinar is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing circumstances related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural gas impacts website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.
Another one-hour webinar, “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management,” will be held at 1 p.m. on March 17.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the Extension natural-gas impacts website (http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas).
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
http://live.psu.edu/story/51221#nw69
Friday, February 4, 2011
Heinz Endowments awards Marcellus Shale research grant to Penn State
University Park, Pa. — The Heinz Endowments recently awarded a team of Penn State researchers a $412,000, three-year, grant to identify and mitigate the effects of Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration and development on the forest ecosystem. The interdisciplinary research team, led by Margaret Brittingham, professor of wildlife resources, and Patrick Drohan, assistant professor of pedology, both faculty members in the College of Agricultural Sciences, also will develop land management practices and a monitoring program to reduce the Marcellus disturbance footprint.
Focusing on the north-central region of Pennsylvania, the research incorporates four broad components. First, researchers will use a database to evaluate landscape change as a result of gas exploration disturbances. Second, they will assess local and landscape-scale changes to the forest ecosystem utilizing birds, invasive plant species, and soils as indicators of broader environmental effects. The team will also develop an electronic field guide for onsite remediation and wildlife habitat enhancement at Marcellus drilling sites and pilot a long-term citizen-science based monitoring program to track changes to the physical landscape and biotic communities across the Marcellus shale formation in Pennsylvania.
“Exploration and development of natural gas within the Marcellus Shale formation is occurring at an accelerating rate across much of Pennsylvania and has the potential for large-scale ecological change,” said Brittingham. “There is a critical need among public and private landowners for information on how to develop drilling sites, and their associate infrastructure, in a way that minimizes ecological damage and that can restore sites to pre-drilling conditions.”
The project addresses a central goal of the endowments’ Environment Program, to support sustainable communities within a sustainable region by promoting environmentally responsible land use and by protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.
“We are grateful to The Heinz Endowments for funding this research, which was initiated with a seed grant from the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research (MCOR),” said Brittingham. “The funds from Heinz will enable us to begin to document and monitor how Marcellus-related exploration and development is changing the landscape of Pennsylvania and to develop mitigation and remediation strategies to minimize negative environmental impacts.”
The University has been at the forefront of research and outreach efforts since advances in horizontal drilling technology sparked interest in unconventional gas shales. Through MCOR, Penn State scholars and researchers are working on many of the most critical technical aspects of Marcellus Shale development, providing science-based programming on the Marcellus and other unconventional gas shales, and protecting the Commonwealth’s water and forest resources. Penn State researchers also are exploring community, family, health and population impacts of Marcellus development; effects on the transportation infrastructure; and labor issues such as the housing, job creation and training needed to develop and sustain a local workforce.
The Heinz Endowments’ mission is to promote progress in economic opportunity, arts and culture; education; children, youth and families; and the environment. The Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.
http://live.psu.edu/story/50857#nw69
Monday, January 31, 2011
Analysis of Marcellus Shale natural-gas legislation offered in webinar
http://live.psu.edu/story/50593#nw69
Friday, January 7, 2011
Analysis of Marcellus Shale natural-gas legislation offered in webinar
University Park, Pa. — An online seminar offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 will provide expert analysis of state legislation enacted and considered related to the exploration and production of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation.
Although the General Assembly was active during the 2009-10 legislative session in discussing and considering legislation, many issues remain unresolved regarding development of the Marcellus Shale, according to Ross Pifer, clinical professor and director of the Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center at Penn State. The center is a collaboration between the University’s Dickinson School of Law and College of Agricultural Sciences.
In the webinar, titled “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed,” Pifer will review the legislative session that ended Dec. 31 and preview the current session.
“I will discuss the details of natural-gas legislation enacted during the most recent legislative session as well as the various topics that were the subject of legislation introduced in, but not enacted by, the General Assembly,” he said. “I will then look forward to the legislative session that has just begun and discuss issues that are likely to be the subject of further legislative debate.”
In the 2009-10 session, legislation was enacted to provide for greater public accessibility to production data from Marcellus Shale wells. Legislation also was enacted to address the impact of natural-gas development on land that is enrolled in the Clean and Green preferential tax-assessment program.
“Through this legislation, counties across the state will be addressing this issue in a uniform fashion,” Pifer said. “Prior to the enactment of this legislation, counties across the commonwealth were treating this issue in a disparate manner.”
The topic that received the most attention throughout the conclusion of the last legislative session was whether or not Pennsylvania would implement a severance tax on natural gas. Ultimately, the General Assembly did not enact legislation providing for this tax, but the subject may be revisited.
“One issue that likely will be discussed in the new session is compulsory pooling,” Pifer said. “This has been a controversial topic as many landowners are concerned about the impact that such a law would have on their property rights. On the other hand, the state has a legitimate policy interest in ensuring that development occurs as efficiently as possible.”
The webinar is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Cooperative Extension’s natural-gas impacts website.
Additional one-hour webinars will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
— Feb. 16: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.”
— March 17: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.”
Previous webinars, publications and other information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the Cooperative Extension natural-gas impacts website.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
Penn State Extension offering natural gas taxation, finance workshops
http://live.psu.edu/story/50501#nw69
Friday, December 17, 201
Penn State Extension offering natural gas taxation, finance workshops
Marcellus shale natural-gas drilling rigs dot the northcentral part of the state.
University Park, Pa. — Penn State Cooperative Extension will be holding three Natural Gas Taxation and Finance Workshops across the state in January 2011.
The first will be Jan. 12, at the Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension office, 214 Donohue Road, Greensburg; the second will be Jan. 19 at the Genetti Hotel and Suites, 200 West 4th Street, Williamsport; and the third will be Jan. 26 at the Riverstone Inn on Route 6 in Towanda.
The programs will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be geared for financial advisers, such as attorneys, accountants, financial planners, tax preparers and small-business owners. Landowners also are welcome.
“Gas taxation is extremely complicated, and it’s important for landowners to get the best advice possible to save money and avoid unnecessary taxes,” said Michael Jacobson, Penn State associate professor of forest resources. “But these programs are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice — if you need that, consult a tax professional or an attorney.”
Besides Jacobson, instructors will include Tim Gooch with the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and ParenteBeard LLC; Dale Tice, attorney with Marshall, Parker and Associates; Jeffrey Kern, president of Resource Technologies Corporation; and Ross Pifer, director of the Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law.
The registration fee is $120 if paid a week or more prior to the programs; registration will cost $150 after that. The fee will cover breaks, lunch and all course materials. The workshop will provide eight hours of continuing-education credits for attorneys, accountants and professional foresters.
Additional information and registration may be found online at http://guest.cvent.com/d/wdqt61. Questions related to course content may be directed to Mike Jacobson at 814-865-3994 or mgj2@psu.edu.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Those who anticipate needing special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided should contact Jacobson in advance of their participation or visit.
A primer on Marcellus Shale geology and technology offered in webinar
http://live.psu.edu/story/50263#nw69
Monday, December 6, 2010
A primer on Marcellus Shale geology and technology offered in webinar
University Park, Pa. — By now, many are aware of the huge volume of natural gas held in the deeply buried Marcellus Shale formation and its enormous economic potential for Pennsylvania and neighboring states.
For those who want to learn more about the Marcellus “play,” Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering a free, Web-based seminar at 1 p.m. on Dec. 16, titled, “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology.”
During the one-hour webinar, Michael Arthur, professor of geosciences, will focus on the geology of the Marcellus Shale and technology for extraction as they influence exploration and development of the natural-gas resource. Co-director of the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, Arthur will answer questions from online participants during the session.
“The middle Devonian Marcellus Formation in the Appalachian Basin of Pennsylvania and New York is estimated to contain in excess of 486 trillion cubic feet of extractable natural gas,” he said. “That is sufficient for more than 20 years supply at the United States’ current rate of consumption.”
Arthur pointed out that there also is the possibility of additional significant shale gas deposits that may be targeted within the same basin — Devonian black shale units above the Marcellus Shale and the Ordovician Utica Shale below.
“In my presentation, I will discuss the geologic characteristics of the Marcellus Shale formation, the estimated volume of gas deposits at various points, and the process and effect of hydraulic fracturing,” Arthur said. “I also will address the continuing concern that drilling operations could allow gas migration into shallow, fresh-water aquifers, which is now being studied intensively.”
The webinar, “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology,” is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Cooperative Extension’s “Natural Gas” website. .
Additional one-hour webinars will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
— Jan. 20, 2011: “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed.”
— Feb. 16, 2011: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.”
— March 17, 2011: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.”
Previous webinars, publications and other information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the “Natural Gas” website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or by e-mail at jdt15@psu.edu.
Publication addresses water withdrawals for Marcellus gas drilling
http://live.psu.edu/story/50172#nw69
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Publication addresses water withdrawals for Marcellus gas drilling
University Park, Pa. — Penn State Cooperative Extension < http://extension.psu.edu/ > has released an updated version of a publication that addresses the rapidly changing topic of water withdrawals for Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Originally published in September 2009, “Water Withdrawals for Development of Marcellus Shale Gas in Pennsylvania” reflects the latest Marcellus-related regulatory changes enacted by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Water is a critical component in the process of extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. Public policies for managing and protecting water resources are common concerns of Pennsylvania residents, according to a water-policy expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. < http://agsci.psu.edu/ >
“Development of the Marcellus Shale could have major economic and environmental effects for Pennsylvanians and residents of neighboring states,” said Charles Abdalla, professor of agricultural and environmental economics. “Individuals, businesses and communities will be affected well into the future as this energy resource is fully developed.
“Citizens need to become aware of their stake in water-resource issues and policies and effectively participate in public policy-making,” he said. “Public policies for water management and protection will be improved if the affected parties — which include almost everyone — are well-informed about likely impacts and take advantage of opportunities to participate in decisions.”
Seeking to engage residents, landowners, federal and state agency personnel, environmental organizations, economic development groups and others, the publication discusses the fast-evolving issues and public policies related to water resources and Marcellus Shale gas exploration.
While adequate supplies of water are one of several essential inputs needed to extract gas from the shale, wastewater is an output from the process that must be treated or disposed of properly.
“Through this publication, we hope to increase the public’s understanding of water use and management related to Marcellus Shale gas development and help people understand how and where they can offer input into public decisions about water use and wastewater treatment,” said Abdalla, the publication’s lead author.
“Now is the time for people to learn about and help shape public policies that will guide development of the Marcellus Shale,” he said. “These policies will play a large part in determining the economic well-being and quality of life for residents of the commonwealth for a long time — perhaps generations — to come.”
Funding for the updated publication comes from the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center
< http://www.pawatercenter.psu.edu/ > at Penn State. To obtain a free copy, contact the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Publication Distribution Center < http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/ >, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802-2602; telephone: 814-865-6713; fax: 814-863-5560; or send an e-mail to AgPubsDist@psu.edu.
This publication also is available online in PDF format. < http://extension.psu.edu/water/resources/publications/consumption-and-usage/marcelluswater.pdf/view >
The publication is the latest in a series initiated by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension to address issues related to Marcellus Shale gas exploration and development. Other publications in the series, along with related webinars, presentations and events, can be viewed at Cooperative Extension’s “Natural Gas” website. < http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas >