July 22 Declared Air Quality Action Day Across PA

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast an air quality action day for Friday, July 22, in all areas of Pennsylvania. Click Here for more.

Computers Back In Operation At DEP After Shutdown

Computers are back and operating at the state Department of Environmental Protection after a problem caused by a contractor error during scheduled maintenance forced workers to stay off their computers throughout the morning.

NewsClip: Computers Back In Operation At DEP After Shutdown

DEP Hit With Significant Computer Problems

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported Workers at the state Department of Environmental Protection were greeted this morning with a warning not to turn on their computers. Those who got that word after they had already logged on found whatever was on their hard drives seemingly disappear, a worker said.
NewsClip: Computer Problem At DEP Brings Workers To Virtual Standstill

Penn State: New Farm Mapping Website To Aid In Nutrient Management

Pennsylvania farmers looking to meet the state's regulatory requirements for erosion and sediment control and nutrient-management planning can find help at PaOneStop, an online service from Penn State Extension that enables farmers to produce required maps of their farms.

Developed in cooperation with the State Conservation Commission, the state departments of agriculture and environmental protection, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the National Consortium for Rural Innovations in America, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service, the service is a suite of online tools being developed for nutrient management and erosion and sedimentation-control planning.

The first module of PaOneStop, currently available for use, enables farmers to create maps required for completion of nutrient balance sheets for imported manure, and nutrient- management plans as required by Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act. Additional modules, now under development, will provide conservation tools to help farmers develop or update their own erosion and sedimentation plans.

"Recently, state environmental regulations have been revised, increasing the number of Pennsylvania farmers who need to complete nutrient-management plans, erosion and sedimentation plans, and nutrient balance sheets for manure transfers," said Rick Day, associate professor of soil science and environmental information systems.

"State regulations require completion of nutrient balance sheets for manure transfers to protect water quality," he said. "The state conservation commission estimates that more than 50,000 nutrient balance sheets are completed annually.

"The balance sheets require maps as part of the submission process, and that's difficult for most farmers -- the maps and plans should include field boundaries, acreages, stream and water features, wells, application setbacks and buffers, soils, aerial images and more."

PaOneStop users can access color aerial images of their farm; outline boundaries and calculate acreages of their fields; access Natural Resource Conservation Service soils maps and data for fields; and record such farm features as wells, sinkholes, ponds and streams. They also can access topographic maps, determine manure setbacks and buffers, and produce hardcopy maps needed for regulatory compliance.

There is no charge for use of PaOneStop and no special software required. All farm information entered into the system is kept confidential and consultants or managers of multiple farms can map as many farms as needed under a single log-in.

A PaOneStop module is currently under development to help farmers develop erosion and sedimentation plans, which are meant to minimize soil loss and thereby protect rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. The new module will estimate annual soil loss for each field under its current management system and provide tools to evaluate alternative management practices if soil losses are too high.

It will use many of the mapping features in the current system, so fields only need to be mapped once.

An erosion and sedimentation plan, Day explained, is like a "mini" conservation plan and is required in the Department of Environmental Protection's Chapter 102 requirements. He says of Pennsylvania's approximately 59,000 farms, up to 40,000 lack current plans in compliance with DEP's Chapter 102 regulation.

"The current rate of plan development is much too slow, partially because farmers lack tools to develop and modify their own erosion and sedimentation plans," he said. "PaOneStop will increase the rate of plan development and bring more farms into regulatory compliance."

For many farmers, current management systems may be acceptable and no changes will be required. However, current regulations state that an erosion and sedimentation plan must be completed even if current management is acceptable, so this procedure must be done for all farms to be legally compliant with regulations.

Penn State Extension will be conducting training sessions on the use of PaOneStop in the near future.

"Currently there are more than 350 users of the system who have mapped more than 1,000 different farms," Day said. "We also will have numerous training events coming up."

To get started, visit the PaOneStop website, create a user name and password and start mapping. For online assistance or additional information, call toll-free 1-877-722-4724, or send email to Rick Day at: rday@psu.edu or Bob Neiderer at: rjn11@psu.edu.

Thursday NewsClips

Stray Marcellus Gas Plagues Wells
Editorial: Shale Drillers, Pay Impact Fees
Cancer Patients' Urine Suspected In Wissahickon Iodine-131 Levels
Editorial: Shine Some Light On Corbett's Gas Drilling Panel
Fracking At Drinking Water Source For 80,000 Raises Alarms
Report: Marcellus Gas Production Could Triple By 2020
Marcellus Study Shows More Growth, Critics Question Results
Shale Jobs Windfall Debated
Industry Study: Marcellus Economic Impact Dramatic
Expert: Gas Facility Would Pose Little Risk To Dallas Twp
Nutrient Cleaning Technology Getting Test In Lancaster
Study Knocks Pollution From PA Coal, Oil Power Plants
PA Marks High Again In Power Plant Pollution
Solar Power Project Dedicated
Volunteers Help Presque Isle Gardens Grow
Quecreek Mine Rescue Anniversary: Museum To Open (Video)
Work Being Done On Quecreek Visitors Center
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

July 21 Declared Air Quality Action Day In All Areas Of PA

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast an air quality action day for Thursday, July 21, in all areas of Pennsylvania. Click Here for more.

9th Anniversary Of The Quecreek Mine Rescue To Be Remembered On July 23

On July 23 the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation will host the 9th Anniversary of the July 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue at the rescue site on the Arnold Farm in Somerset County beginning at 10:00 a.m.

This year Keith Newlin from the Families of Flight 93, Inc. will be attending to accept a flag from the special flag raising ceremony in honor of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

“The rescue was a miracle, there’s no other way to describe it,” said Arnold. “People from all over the world have come to learn about the rescue, what coal mining is all about and how everyone worked together to save the lives of the miners.”

On July 24, 2002 miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 150 million gallons of water. Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water filled mine. They were rescued four days later through the combined efforts of state and federal mine rescue agencies and hundreds of workers and volunteers.

“The first year after the rescue we were overwhelmed by all the interest—we just ran a dairy farm before all this,” said Arnold. “We are grateful for all the help we receive from the public, our community and many public and private agencies to present the site to the public.”

Now more than 10,000 visitors a year visit the rescue site looking to learn more about the "Quecreek Miracle." The site became part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historical Marker Program in 2006.

Contact the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation or make a donation by writing: 151 Haupt Road, Somerset, PA 15501, calling 814-445-4876 or by visiting www.9for9.org.

For more background, visit the DEP Quecreek Mine Rescue webpage.

Marcellus Industry Study: PA Could Lead Nation In Natural Gas Production By 2020

At current rates, the Marcellus Shale formation could become the leading supplier of natural gas in the United States within a decade, according to an analysis released today entitled “The Pennsylvania Marcellus Natural Gas Industry: Status, Economic Impact, and Future Potential.”

Taken in tandem with projections released earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Energy, the report shows that the Pennsylvania Marcellus could produce approximately a quarter of America’s natural gas by 2020.

Conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and commissioned by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the new study analyzes production data and industry investments, as well as the overall economic impact natural gas development from the Marcellus Shale is having Pennsylvania.

“Just a few years ago, Pennsylvania relied heavily on other states for natural gas to fuel our economy. That dependence is no longer, though, as Pennsylvania is now a net natural gas exporting state,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC. “And soon, the natural gas produced in Pennsylvania can help meet a quarter of our nation’s demands. This is a truly remarkable milestone; one made possible by the dedicated efforts of the men and women who work each day to responsibly develop the Marcellus’ clean-burning natural gas resources.”

The study projects that Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale has the potential to produce 17.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (6.4 trillion cubic feet annually) – representing nearly one-quarter of America’s annual natural gas production in 2020, according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates.

In 2011, Pennsylvania could produce nearly 3.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, making the Commonwealth a net exporter of natural gas right now. This development could support more than 156,000 jobs and generate $12.8 billion in economic activity in Pennsylvania alone.

By 2020, according to the study, Marcellus development could support 256,420 jobs and generate $20 billion in added value to Pennsylvania’s economy.

“The responsible development of the Marcellus Shale’s abundant resources continues to fundamentally reshape regional and global energy markets,” said Ray Walker, MSC chairman and senior vice president of Range Resources. “The volume of natural gas that our industry is producing here in Pennsylvania, with a limited number of wells on line, is something that no one could have predicted a decade ago. And while this development is creating tens of thousands of jobs, we understand that our greatest responsibility is continued environmental stewardship, transparency and providing a safe workplace for our employees and the community.”

In addition to analyzing the broad economic impacts of Marcellus development, the study also evaluates the effect shale gas production is having on energy costs for Pennsylvania consumers. The researchers determined that natural gas prices dropped 12.6 percent in 2010 – attributed largely to expanded Marcellus development – saving consumers in Pennsylvania nearly $633 million on their utility bills.

“Large-scale development of the Marcellus is reshaping the economic landscape of Pennsylvania,” concluded Drs. Timothy J. Considine, Robert Watson, and Seth Blumsack, authors of the study. “Strategies and policies that encourage growth of the Marcellus gas industry will generate significant economic and environmental benefits for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, transforming Pennsylvania to a net natural gas exporter while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in additional output, income, and tax revenues.”

Key Findings

-- During 2010, the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale natural gas industry triggered $11.2 billion in economic activity, generated $1.1 billion in state and local taxes, and supported nearly 140,000 jobs.

-- The Pennsylvania Marcellus industry is projected to generate more than $12.8 billion in economic activity in 2011, leading to more than $1.2 billion in state and local taxes and supporting more than 156,000 jobs.

-- As a result of Pennsylvania Marcellus production, residential electricity and natural gas bills across the Commonwealth are $245.1 million lower [$217.4 million from lower natural gas bills and another $27.7 million from lower electricity bills].

-- In 2010 alone, natural gas companies paid over $1.6 billion in lease and bonus payments to Pennsylvania landowners.

-- By 2015, Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale could produce more than 12 billion cubic feet per day, second only to Texas in natural gas production.

-- Marcellus Shale natural gas production could reach 17 billion cubic feet per day in 2020, potentially allowing the Marcellus to become the single largest producing gas field in the United States, if real natural gas prices do not fall significantly.

The complete study is available online. An executive summary of the study is also available.

Wednesday NewsClips

Low Stream Flows Put Gas Drilling Water Withdrawals On Hold
SRBC Suspends Drilling Water Withdrawal Permits
Drought Comes To Marcellus
State To Craft Gas Drilling Fee Policy
Helpful Impact Fee Hints From Norquist's Group
McKeesport Authority Sued To Stop Accepting Drilling Water
Lawsuit Targets Wastewater From Drilling
Editorial: Marcellus Shale, Responsible Benefits
Editorial: No Forced Pooling
Drillers Sue To Operate In Allegheny National Forest
Oil, Gas Industry Wants Water Ban Overturned
New Penn State Report Even More Bullish On Marcellus Shale
Marcellus Industry To Release New Economic Report
Seeking A Gas Pipeline Route Thru Pike County
Williams, Dallas Twp Reach Stalemate In Pipeline, Metering Station
Pittsburgh Drilling Ban May Be On November Ballot
Editorial: Watch How Pipeline Grows
Op-Ed: Fracking Moratorium Protects Environment
Op-Ed: Don't Halt Fracking While Rules Discussed
Range Expects To Replace Barnett Shale Production
Rep. Baker Opens Towanda Office In Support Of Marcellus Shale
Campaign To Protect Schuylkill River From Storm Drainage
Countryside Conservancy: An Eye To The Future
Column: Air Products Solar Farm Math Does Not Add Up
Liberty Tire Recycling Sponsors Clinton, Lycoming Cleanups
Haycock Looking To Go Wild
Wright's Fallingwater Among 11 Proposed For Honor
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest