Saturday NewsClips

Wyoming Valley Authority May Treat Wastewater From Gas Drilling
Rain Barrels Overflow With Ecological Benefits
Sen. White, Secretary Hanger React To Budget Cut Stories
Opinion- The Marcellus Shale Play-What's In Store For PA's Natural Resources?
Ohio River Watershed Celebration Attracts Over 800 People
Colleges Can Sign up for EPA's 2010 RecycleMania

Nov. 9 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The Nov. 9 PA Environment Digest is now available. Click here to print this Digest.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. have executed a consent order and agreement that will provide a long-term solution for migrating gas that has affected 13 water supplies in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County. The affected area covers nine square miles around Carter Road. Click here for full story...

Shawn M. Garvin Named EPA Region 3 Administrator

President Barack Obama this week selected Shawn M. Garvin to be the agency’s new Regional Administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region (Region 3). This region encompasses Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
"I look forward to working closely with Shawn on the range of urgent environmental issues we face, in region 3 and across the nation," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "At this moment of great challenge and even greater opportunity, I'm thrilled that Shawn will be part of our leadership team at EPA. He will certainly play an instrumental role in our agency's mission to protect our health and the environment."
Shawn M. Garvin has worked for EPA Region 3 for more than 10 years and currently serves as EPA Region 3’s Senior State and Congressional Liaison. In that position he serves as the primary contact to Congressional delegations and state and local officials throughout the region. He joined EPA in 1997, serving as Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator.
Prior to that, Garvin worked for then-Senator Joe Biden and County Executive Dennis Greenhouse. Garvin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware.

December 3 Workshop On Dam Removal For Watershed Groups

American Rivers and the Fish and Boat Commission are sponsoring a workshop for watershed groups, local conservation organizations, land trusts and municipal environmental planners for dam removal project managers on December 3 in Harrisburg.
The workshop will be held at the Fish and Boat Commission headquarters on Elmerton Avenue. Space will be limited to 40 participants and reservations are required.
For more information send email to Sara Strassman, American Rivers at sstrassman@amrivers.org.

DCNR Proposes 4,248 Acre Land Exchange In Northwest, Public Meetings Scheduled

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of a proposed exchange of 4,248 acres of land in Crawford, Jefferson, Clarion, McKean and Elk counties.
The Department is proposing to convey 4,248 acres in North Shenango, Sadsbury and Pine Townships, Crawford County and 2 acres in Heath Township, Jefferson County to the Commission. In return, the Commission proposes to convey 4,573 acres in Highland and Mill Creek Townships, Clarion County, 181 acres in Heath Township, Jefferson County, 10 acres in Hamlin Township, McKean County and 52 acres in Spring Creek Township, Elk County to the Department. All acreages are approximate.
Two public informational meetings have been scheduled to respond to any questions or concerns the general public may have regarding this exchange of lands.
A meeting in Crawford County has been scheduled for November 17 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Linesville High School Library, 302 West School Drive, Linesville, PA. For more information, call 724-932-3142.
A meeting in Clarion County has been scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2009, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Clarion Holiday Inn, 45 Holiday Inn Road, Clarion, PA. For more information, call 814-744-8407.
There will be a 30-day period for public inquiry and/or comment starting November 14 and ending December 14.
Oral or written comments or questions concerning this proposed exchange may be addressed to John Norbeck, Director, Bureau of State Parks, P. O. Box 8551, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551, telephone 717-787-6640. These oral and/or written comments will become part of the official document used in the final decision process.

Friday NewsClips

Marcellus Wastewater Treatment Bids Sought
Cabot OKs Remedies For Contamination
Drilling Company Vows It's Cautious
Water Quality Issues Surface At Conference
Bushkill Creek Trail Work to Begin Soon
Open Space Panel Needs Members In Upper Saucon
Get $35 From PPL For Junking Old Refrigerator, Freezer
Editorial: Appalachian Trail Could Be In Jeopardy
Hearing On PPL Rate Plan Draws Few
Blow Wind, Blow - Home Windmills
Op-Ed: Cap And Trade Vs. PA, Pat Toomey
Harrisburg Authority Lawsuit Blamed Barlow For Botched Retrofit
New Store Opens To Meet Demands Of Natural Gas Industry
Renovation Begins On Solar House In Delaware Water Gap
Editorial: Climate Changes Brings PA New Opportunities
Gas Company Slapped With Environmental Violations
Wyoming Valley Authority Eyes Treatment Of Marcellus Shale Wastewater
EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region Gets New Administrator
Borough Has Chance To Make Green History

Susquehanna Commission Seeks Real-Time Monitoring Partners In Marcellus Shale Areas

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is seeking partners to help start up a monitoring network that will constantly record water quality conditions of smaller rivers and streams in areas where Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling is taking place in Pennsylvania and New York.
SRBC, state and federal water management officials and others would receive the real-time data electronically. The network would also help local public water suppliers, local watershed groups and communities stay informed.
“As the demand for water from smaller rivers and streams increases, particularly from the natural gas industry, so does the amount of wastewater that is generated,” said Paul Swartz, SRBC Executive Director. “It is important to monitor these smaller, remote waterways to verify whether or not they are being impacted by certain pollutants.”
Swartz said, “The proposed network would essentially be an early warning mechanism to help environmental protection officials respond more rapidly if streams are polluted. The Commission is well qualified to lead this effort as we have operated and maintained a real-time monitoring network on the mainstem Susquehanna River for about six years. The Commission also has extensive experience conducting various types of monitoring throughout the Susquehanna watershed.”
SRBC’s objectives for this proposed network are:
1. To establish a real-time monitoring network at areas of concern in the Susquehanna River Basin in order to provide monitoring data to resource agencies, the regulated community and the public and monitoring to allow timely response in the case of pollution incidents;
2. To establish baseline water quality conditions in targeted areas of the basin;
3. To verify whether or not the natural gas well industry and/or other activities with the potential to cause pollution incidents are causing adverse impacts on local water quality;
4. To reduce the cost of data collection through the utilization of advanced technologies; to form collaborative partnerships to improve monitoring technology and provide educational opportunities;
5. To enhance protection for water supplies through source water monitoring; and
6. To be responsive to public concerns.
SRBC’s proposal calls for 30 monitoring stations in the targeted regions where drilling in the Marcellus shale for natural gas is most active. In these targeted, remote areas, the terrain is mostly forested and lacks easy access for routine monitoring. This network would provide constant monitoring through instruments sensitive enough to detect subtle changes in water quality.
Each of the 30 monitoring stations would be equipped with a datasonde and data platform powered by a solar panel. The equipment would continuously monitor water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductance (ability to conduct electricity) and turbidity (water clarity). The water depth also would be recorded to establish a relationship with stream flows.
“While the Commission has confidence in the value and benefits of this remote monitoring network, we can not do it alone; nor do we assume our proposal is final at this point. We welcome partners from all sectors, private and public, for their financial support and for their feedback and involvement.”
SRBC has been reaching out to and engaging governmental and non-governmental organizations in this effort through meetings and other forms of communication.
For more information on SRBC’s proposed water quality monitoring network, go to SRBC’s website. This webpage contains a project information sheet, power point presentations and other information.

Thursday NewsClips

PA's Projected Deficit Climbs
Gas Firm Cabot Agrees To Reforms, Will Restore Water Supplies
DEP Fines Texas Drilling Firm
In Northern Counties, Marcellus Shale Brings Wealth, Worry
Findlay Mine Drainage Treatment Facility Dedicated
Sewer Overflow Series Begins In McKees Rocks
Loyalhanna Group To Charge For E-Cycling
Mine Owner, Foreman, sentenced In Miner's Death
Plans Moving For $1.5 Million Biomass Boiler In Penns Valley
PPL Customers Can Have Old Appliances Picked Up For Free
Editorial: Energy, A Reason To Come Home
Marcellus Shale, Climate Change, Money, Politics And The Environment
Lycoming Water/Sewer Customers: No Rate Increase In 2010
Resolutions Found For Damaged Creeks

DEP/Cabot Agreement To Prevent Natural Gas Migration, Restore Water Over 9 Square Miles

The Department of Environmental Protection and Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. have executed a consent order and agreement that will provide a long-term solution for migrating gas that has affected 13 water supplies in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County.
The affected area covers nine square miles around Carter Road.
The consent order and agreement outlines a process that will give DEP more oversight of Cabot’s new well construction work in the affected area. Prior to drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or hydro fracking, the company will submit well casing and cementing plans to DEP. Once DEP provides written approval, Cabot may proceed.
“The goal of the consent order and agreement is to ensure a long-term resolution to issues that have emerged in Dimock,” said DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch. “The company will focus on the integrity of the wells in the affected area in an attempt to determine the source of the migrating gas.”
This past week, Cabot has provided an interim solution for all of the homes where water supplies have been affected. Cabot must develop a plan by March 31 to restore or replace the affected water supplies permanently.
Under the consent order and agreement, Cabot must additionally submit to DEP:
-- Information on all parties who have contacted the company about water quantity or quality issues; and
-- A plan that specifically identifies how the company intends to prove the integrity of the casing and cementing on existing wells and fix defective casing and cementing by March 31.
If Cabot fails to fix the defective casing and cementing by the March deadline, the company must plug defective wells or implement another alternative as approved by DEP.
In addition, Cabot paid a $120,000 civil penalty for violations of the Oil and Gas Act, the Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Streams Law.
The consent order and agreement caps a DEP investigation that began early this year when numerous Dimock area residents reported evidence of natural gas in their water supplies. DEP inspectors discovered that the well casings on some of Cabot’s natural gas wells were cemented improperly or insufficiently, allowing natural gas to migrate to groundwater.
On September 25, following a series of wastewater spills, DEP ordered Cabot to cease hydro fracking natural gas wells throughout Susquehanna County. The prohibition was removed after the company completed a number of important engineering and safety tasks.