Monday, December 18, 2023

CNX Resources Begins Disclosing General Information On Fracking Chemicals, Air Monitoring Results Online At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads

On December 18, the Shapiro Administration announced CNX Resources has begun to disclose general information on the chemicals it uses in fracking shale gas wells and some air monitoring results at two of its well pads.

The announcement is a follow up to the November 2 “Statement of Mutual Interests” signed between the Shapiro Administration and CNX.  Read more here.

Under the Statement of Mutual Interests, CNX will implement a temporary program to definitively measure emissions and heighten chemical disclosure, while temporarily enhancing safety zone setbacks for new wells near homes, schools and hospitals during the data collection phase.

CNX now operates more than 500 shale gas wells in Pennsylvania, plus conventional oil and gas wells.

The two shale gas well pads involved in the release of information are the MOR9 well pad in Morris Township, Greene County [seven completed wells, four additional wells are being drilled] and the NV110 well pad in East Finley Township, Washington County [seven completed wells].

CNX installed two Particulate Matter 2.5 monitors at each location-- one upwind and one downwind-- and one volatile organic compound (BTEX) monitor on each of the four sides of the well pads.

Meaningful Air Monitoring Results Difficult

DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality did regional air quality sampling around shale gas facilities between 2010 and 2013 in Southwest, Northcentral and Northeast parts of the state.  Read more hereRead more here.

Each study had a limitation statement like this, “Due to the limited scope and duration of the sampling and the limited number of sources and facilities sampled, the findings only represent conditions at the time of the sampling and do not represent a comprehensive study of emissions.”

In 2018, the state Department of Health and DEP, with assistance from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, released a public health evaluation of long-term air sampling data in the vicinity of natural gas operations in Washington County.   Read more here.

The intent of the study was to determine if air quality data collected by DEP from 2012 to 2013 could help assess community exposures to chemicals emitted by the oil and gas industry and if that exposure could have an impact on public health.

In spite of having lots of air data to work with, the study had a disclaimer saying it was “limited for assessing specific emissions impacts from natural gas sources.” [page 2]  

The data was also limited because it did not consider EPA hazardous air pollutants that oil and gas industry reporting shows is “ubiquitous” in gas infrastructure.  Read more here.

Air sampling programs must be robust, within several different kinds of air samplers ringing a target facility sampling for a broad range of pollutants, including hazardous air pollutants, to glean any useful information.

And then the data must be compared to an epidemiological study of the community to determine what health impacts are being felt by people around the facility.

It is a challenging project.

Reporting Air Emissions Since 2012

Unconventional shale gas facility operators have been self-reporting air emissions from their facilities since 2012 and do so regularly under Title V and other Air Quality permits issued by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Data collected by DEP is summarized by the Bureau of Air Quality on their Visuals and Trends webpage.

Data can be broken out by facility-- conventional and unconventional gas wells, compressor stations, gas storage wells-- pollutant, company, facility and more.

There have been disagreements on how accurate this self-reporting is.

General Fracking Chemicals Reporting

CNX has also posted more information on chemicals used generally in fracking shale gas wells. 

In the original November announcement, CNX said it would publicly disclose all chemicals intended to be used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before they are used on site-- “subject to trade secret claims by chemical manufactures.”

Trade secret chemicals have been the sticking point in reporting the chemicals used in fracking since they are not available outside the industry.

CNX also noted, “We can confirm that drilling and hydraulic fracturing additives do not contain intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS).”

In April, DEP disclosed the  “widespread presence” of PFAS “forever chemicals” in freshwater may lead shale gas drillers to “inadvertently” use PFAS-contaminated water to frack their shale gas wells.  

While CNX may not add PFAS to chemicals used in fracking, DEP does not require operators to test for the presence of PFAS chemicals in the water they are using to determine if they are spreading PFAS contamination to previously uncontaminated areas..   Read more here.

Other Steps

“Gov. Shapiro has also directed the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take immediate action to pursue formal rulemakings and policy changes mirroring the collaboration, including: new requirements for the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling, improved control of methane emissions aligned with the EPA’s recently announced performance standards for emission sources in the oil and natural gas sector, stronger drilling waste protections, including inspection of secondary containment, and corrosion protections for gathering lines that transport natural gas.”  

“As part of this collaboration, DEP will also conduct the most intensive independent study of unconventional natural gas wells in the nation.  

“CNX will provide DEP with unprecedented access to two future CNX well sites, allowing for in-depth independent monitoring of the air emissions at both locations before, during, and after development of the new wells.

“This will make it possible for communities to understand the facts about natural gas development with more transparency than ever before.”

[DEP Already Has Access By Law

  [Note: Access to well sites is not something CNX or any other company regulated by DEP can limit or deny.

[State law-- the Oil and Gas Act, Air Pollution Control Act, Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Streams Law and others-- provide DEP the authority to access well sites, records, people and any information they need to determine compliance with those laws or whether pollution has occurred.]

             CNX - Prove What We Already Know

During the November 2 announcement, Nick Deiuliis, CEO of CNX Resources, said the purpose was “To definitively confirm, for all stakeholders, that there are no adverse human health issues related to responsible natural gas development, and to confirm what we already know, that the natural gas industry is essential, it's responsible, and it's inherently good for society.”  Read more here.

Click Here for the complete announcement by Gov. Shapiro and CNX.

Statement Of Mutual Interests Provisions

The Statement of Mutual Interests announced November 2, included these other provisions--

-- Air & Water Quality Monitoring: CNX will engage in intensive air and water quality monitoring to accurately assess environmental impacts. The Administration will follow the facts and data provided through this air and water quality monitoring, along with all other relevant facts and data, to inform the necessity of any additional setbacks or other future policy changes.

-- Disclose Fracking Chemicals: CNX will publicly disclose all chemicals intended to be used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before they are used on site [“subject to trade secret claims by chemical manufactures”];

-- Regulating Natural Gas Gathering Pipelines: Supporting the regulation of any gathering lines, as sought by DEP to inspect for corrosion; 

-- Waste Transport Safety Measures: Supporting, in conjunction with third party waste haulers, additional safety measures for the transport of waste from unconventional well sites;

-- Provide Real-Time Emission Facts: CNX will provide open-sourced, real-time emissions facts and data to all stakeholders including industry workers, community members, state and local government, and other interested parties informing a comprehensive health response regarding natural gas development in Pennsylvania;

-- Refrain From Hiring DEP Employees: CNX will refrain from hiring Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees from regional offices covering CNX operational areas for two years after those employees leave the Department.

Grand Jury Report Recommendations

The Grand Jury Report was released by then Attorney General Shapiro in June 2020 after what he said then was a two-year investigation uncovered systematic failure by government agencies in overseeing the fracking industry and fulfilling their responsibility to protect Pennsylvanians from the inherent risks of industry operations.   Read more here.

The Grand Jury recommendations included--

-- Expanding No-Drill Zones: Expanding no-drill zones in Pennsylvania from the required 500 feet to 2,500 feet;

-- Chemical Disclosure: Requiring fracking companies to publicly disclose all chemicals used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before they are used on-site;

-- Gathering Pipelines: Requiring the regulation of gathering lines, used to transport unconventional gas hundreds of miles;

-- Assess Air Quality: Adding up all sources of air pollution in a given area to accurately assess air quality;

-- Safe Transport Of Waste: Requiring safer transport of the contaminated waste created from fracking sites;

-- Comprehensive Health Response: Conducting a comprehensive health response to the effects of living near unconventional drilling sites;

-- Limit Revolving Door: Limiting the ability of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees to be employed in the private sector immediately after leaving the Department;

-- Direct Criminal Jurisdiction: Allowing the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General original criminal jurisdiction over unconventional oil and gas companies.

In April, an Inside Climate News article quoted a spokesperson for now Gov. Shapiro as saying the Governor’s Office supports the key recommendations in the Grand Jury Report.  Read more here.

Click Here for a copy of the Grand Jury Report.   Read more here.

October House Hearing On Setbacks

On October 30 the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held its first-ever hearing on the health and environmental impacts of the shale gas industry and legislation increasing safety zone setbacks around gas infrastructure.

The legislation being considered is House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) increasing setback safety zones from shale natural gas drilling sites and infrastructure from 500 to 2,500 feet or more, based on the recommendations in the Grand Jury report and the latest science.  Read more here.

Sen. Yaw: Bill Expanding Setbacks ‘Stupid’

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, issued this statement in reaction to the House hearing--

“Earlier today, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 170, which would expand setback requirements for natural gas wells in Pennsylvania to between 2,500 – 5,000 feet.

“It is often said that we cannot legislate against stupidity. That is true but we can stop stupid legislation from becoming law.  

“Should House Bill 170 or any similar legislation pass the House of Representatives, it will not be considered in the Senate.”  Read more here.

NewsClips:

-- The Allegheny Front: Environmental Groups Pressure Gov. Shapiro To Crack Down On Shale Gas Industry

-- ABC27: PA Environmental Groups Hold Press Conferences Asking Shapiro To Take Action On Fracking

-- PA Capital-Star: CNX Gas Company Begins Self-Reporting Air Quality Data As Part Of Shapiro Partnership

-- Fox News Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Radical Plan To Produce Energy And Protect Our Environment - By Gov. Josh Shapiro & Nick Deiuliis, CEO CNX Resources

Articles Related To CNX:

-- CNX Ends Coordination On West Virginia Adams Fork Ammonia Energy Project, Anchor Of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Application  [PaEN]

-- CNX Natural Gas Pipeline Pigging Facility Malfunction Dec. 27 Released 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas; Same Facility Plagued Community With Blowdowns 3 Times A Day, 7 Days A Week For Nearly 10 Years Until Criminal Charges Brought Against CNX  [PaEN]

--  DEP: CNX Gas Pays $310,000 Penalty For Violations During, After Pipeline Construction In Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses $200,000 In Penalties For Drilling Wastewater Spills By CNX In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP Settlement With CNX For E&S Violations In Greene, Washington Counties Yields $180,000 Streambank, Fish Habitat Project [PaEN]

-- DEP: CNX Gas Company Agrees To Pay $175,000 Penalty For Uncontrolled Methane Leaks At The Shaw Well In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- CNX Gas Company Pays $250,000 Penalty For Marchland 3 Pipeline Violations In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses CNX Gas Drilling $433,500 For Violations In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- CNX Gas Pays $450K In Penalties For Washington County Water Withdrawal Violations  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reaches Settlement With CNX On Well Plugging Violations At 141 Conventional Coalbed Methane & Gas Wells, 5 Unconventional Gas Wells In 4 Southwest Counties [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Violation To CNX Gas Company For Unauthorized Water Withdrawals For 17 Days From Beaver Run Reservoir In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

Articles Related To Statement Of Mutual Interests:

-- Gov. Shapiro: We Need Stronger Laws To Deal With The ‘Corporate Greed’ That Let Oil & Gas Operators Get Away With Abandoning Wells For Far Too Long [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts  [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’  [PaEN] 

-- House Environmental Committee To Hold Oct. 30 Hearing On Bill Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Shale Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Infrastructure Based On Latest Science, Grand Jury Report  [PaEN]

-- AG Shapiro: Grand Jury Finds Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Citizens During Natural Gas Fracking Boom  [PaEN]

Related Articles - Oil & Gas Health Impacts:

-- New Penn State Study Finds Runoff From Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Dumped On Unpaved Roads Contains Pollutants That Exceed Human-Health, Environmental Standards  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project - Part 1: Personal Narrative Of Environmental, Health Impacts From Oil & Gas Drilling On Siri Lawson, Warren County [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project - Part II: Personal Narrative Of Environmental, Health Impacts From Oil & Gas Drilling On Siri Lawson, Warren County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reports Shale Gas Operations Sent Over 138,000 Cubic Feet Of Radioactive TENORM Waste To Low-Level Radioactive Waste Facilities For Disposal In 2022 - Over  911,000 Cubic Feet Since 2017  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts From Natural Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights  [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project Finds Results ‘Very Concerning’ From University Of Pittsburgh Studies Showing Links Between Natural Gas Development And Lymphoma Cancer, Worsening Asthma Conditions, Lower Birth Weights  [PaEN]

-- Between The Lines Podcast: Pediatrician Dr. Ned Ketyer Explains The Results Of New Studies Of The Health Impacts Of Natural Gas Development On Children And Adults  [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Gov. Shapiro Must Acknowledge Health Risks Of Natural Gas Development And Take Meaningful Action To Protect The Public  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act  [PaEN]

-- 9th Compendium Of Studies On Health & Environmental Harms From Natural Gas Development Released - ‘The Rapidly Expanding Body Of Evidence Compiled Here Is Massive, Troubling And Cries Out For Decisive Action’  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: PA’s Natural Gas Boom - What Went Wrong? Why Does It Matter?  What Can We Do Better To Protect Public Health?  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Setback Distances And The Regulations We Need To Protect Public Health From Oil & Gas Facilities  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: How DEP Issues Permits For Shale Gas Facilities Without Considering Cumulative Impacts - How New Facilities Will Add To Existing Pollution Loads And Impact The Area  PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 16 to 22 - 46% More Conventional NOVs; More Abandoned Wells; Conventional Well Fire; Venting Gas, Spills, Plugging Mess  [PaEN]  

-- Conventional Oil Well Storage Tanks Burn In McKean County, 6 Local Fire Companies Respond  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance So Far In 2023 - It Isn’t Pretty   [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - December 23 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Dec. 23 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- AP: Drilling Under Pennsylvania's 'Gasland' Town Has Been Banned Since 2010, It's Coming Back  [PaEN]

-- CNX Resources Begins Disclosing General Information On Fracking Chemicals, Air Monitoring Results Online At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads  [PaEN]

-- Oil & Gas Facilities Self-Reported 13,432,713 Tons Of Air Pollution In PA In 2022; 101,741,616 Tons Total Since 2012  [PaEN]

-- US DOE, Treasury Release Proposed Regulations Implementing Clean Hydrogen Production Credit Setting A Sliding Scale For Credits  [PaEN]

-- CNX Ends Coordination On West Virginia Adams Fork Ammonia Energy Project, Anchor Of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Application  [PaEN]

-- HEI Energy, Penn State Study Uses 28,500 Water Sample Results To Help Identify Oil & Gas Industry Groundwater Pollution  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Water Withdrawal Requests For Shale Gas Drilling In Loyalsock, Pine Creek Exceptional Value Watersheds  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 32 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wyoming Counties  [PaEN]

-- FERC Approves PJM $1.25 Billion Winter Storm Elliot Settlement With Non-Performing Natural Gas, Other Electricity Generators  [PaEN]

-- Project InnerSpace Launches Cross-Collaborative Future of Oil/Gas Well-Based Geothermal In Pennsylvania Study  [PaEN]

-- PUC Update On Investigation Of Dec. 12 Home Explosion In Sewickley Heights, Allegheny County  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- WNEP: Residents Awaiting Water React To Return Of Shale Gas Drilling In Dimock, Susquehanna County: ‘Stab In The Back’

-- The Allegheny Front: Environmental Groups Pressure Gov. Shapiro To Crack Down On Shale Gas Industry 

-- ABC27: PA Environmental Groups Hold Press Conferences Asking Shapiro To Take Action On Fracking 

-- Fox News Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Radical Plan To Produce Energy And Protect Our Environment - By Gov. Josh Shapiro & Nick Deiuliis, CEO CNX Resources

-- PA Capital-Star: CNX Gas Company Begins Self-Reporting Air Quality Data As Part Of Shapiro Partnership

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Oil & Gas Industry Air Pollution In Pennsylvania

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Oil & Gas Industry Groundwater Pollution

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Industry Coalition: All We Want For Christmas Is - Permit Reform; More Energy Infrastructure

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Shale Gas Drilling Activity, Gas Prices Fall, Report Says  [406 new shale gas wells drilled in 2023 increasing DEP’s workload]

-- Bloomberg: Congressional House Democrats Investigate Diversified Energy Oil/Gas Producer Methane Emissions, Business Practices  [PA Largest Conventional Well Operators] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Diversified Energy Oil & Gas Well Company Share Drop Sharply After Congressional Democrats Start Well Probe

-- Tribune-Democrat: CPV Fairview Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Gets $900,000 School District Tax Repayment After Reassessment Settlement

-- TribLive: Home For Holidays Has Different Meaning For Victims Of Natural Gas Explosion In Plum Boro, Allegheny County 

-- AP: 1 Dead After Propane Gas Hotel Explosion In Lancaster County

-- WPXI: Major Natural Gas Leak At Ross Twp., Allegheny County Business Forced Road Closures, Evacuations

-- KDKA: Explosion, Fire At AmeriGas Propane Gas Facility In Beaver County, No Injuries

-- Bloomberg: LNG Natural Gas Shipping Rates Slump On Lower Demand Despite Red Sea Chaos

-- Inside Climate News: Thousands Of Oil/Gas Wastewater Spills Threaten Property, Groundwater, Wildlife, Livestock Across Texas

-- Reuters: Texas Grid Over Relies On Natural Gas To Restore Power After Blackouts, Study

-- The Guardian: How US Utilities Keep Fossil Fuels In New Homes 

[Posted: December 18, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

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