Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Low Streamflow Conditions Prompt Susquehanna River Basin Commission To Advise Shale Gas Drillers, Water Systems, Companies With Water Withdrawal Approvals To Plan For Alternative Operations

On November 8, the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission sent an advisory to shale gas drillers, water systems and companies with water withdrawal approvals to begin "investigating or planning for alternative operation options" in the current low streamflow conditions, according to Stacey Hanrahan, SRBC Communications and Outreach Specialist.

The Commission advisory said, "Currently, low flow conditions are being observed throughout most of the basin. See the following link for details.

"Streamflow at numerous locations are significantly below normal for this time of year.

"In addition, there is negligible rainfall in the 7-day precipitation forecast for the basin.

"Please review your project’s approval(s) to make sure you are aware how sustained dry conditions may impact your operational requirements and mitigation plan (if applicable). 

"If your project is subject to water withdrawal limitations, we strongly encourage you to begin investigating or planning for alternative operation options. 

"In some limited circumstances, deviations from conditions dictated in your approval may be allowable under an emergency certificate, provided the situation meets rigorous criteria.”

"The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s Water Application and Approval Viewer (WAAV) and Hydrologic Conditions Monitor (HCM) may be helpful tools in assessing low flow conditions and associated operational requirements.

"The WAAV provides access to water use projects regulated by the Commission. The HCM shows the status of water use projects regulated by the Commission that have passby flow or consumptive use mitigation requirements.”

Contact the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to report suspected violations of these requirements.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

(Photo:  Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County near a shale gas development water withdrawal point (courtesy of Barbara Jarmoska, on the banks of the Loyalsock Creek, Lycoming County); Map of red dots showing water withdrawal restrictions.)

Resource Links:

 -- 66 [Now 56]  Water Withdrawals Now Restricted In Susquehanna River Basin Due To Low-Flow Water Conditions, Most Shale Gas-related  [PaEN]  

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Calls For Efficient Water Use; Sets Nov. 19 Hearing On Declaring A Water Supply Emergency  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Declares Drought Conditions In 35 Counties -- Berks, Schuylkill Counties In Drought Warning, 33 In Drought Watch  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 9 to 15 - Failed Well Pluggings; Leaking Gas Storage Area Wells; More Abandoned Conventional, Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 16  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 16 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles This Week:

-- Moms Clean Air Force: Pennsylvanians Call On State Leaders For Protection From Fossil Fuel And Plastic Industry Expansion  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: Our Children’s Health Isn’t Partisan, Pennsylvania Needs Strong Pollution Protections From Fracking Now - By Rachel Sica Meyer, Beaver County Resident, Moms Clean Air Force  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Volunteer Laurie Barr Leads Hunt For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Pennsylvania - By Ad Crable  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Announces 2024 Community Sentinel Award Recipients To Be Honored Dec. 4  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Hearing Board Issues Temporary Supersedeas To Stop The Opening Of Catalyst Energy, Inc. Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County Until Hearing On Full Supersedeas [PaEN]

-- Low Streamflow Conditions Prompt Susquehanna River Basin Commission To Advise Shale Gas Drillers, Water Systems, Companies With Water Withdrawal Approvals To Plan For Alternative Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Natural Gas Electric Generation Is Threatened This Winter By Ongoing Concerns About Gas Production, Delivery In Extreme Weather Conditions  [PaEN]

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Up 1 From Last Week To 15; Aug. 23 Was 21

-- DEP Extends General Permits: Oil & Gas Erosion & Sedimentation [ESCGP-3]; Beneficial Use Of Biosolids By Land Application [PAG-07 + PAG-08]; Beneficial Use Of Residential Septage [PAG-09]  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Will No Longer Accept New Chapter 102 Erosion & Sedimentation ePermit Applications During ‘Pause’; Oil & Gas E&S Applications Not Affected  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- ABCNews: Pennsylvania Residents In Cecil Township, Washington County Fight Fracking In Their Backyard  (Video) 

-- FracTracker, Clean Air Council, Earthworks: New StoryMap On Expanding Shale Gas Safety Zones

-- TribLive: Environmental Groups Appeal CNX Slickville Pipelines Permits  

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvanians Will Not Be Happy About Double-Digit Hikes In Their Electricity Bills Next Year - By Scott Bomboy, Bucks County Township Supervisor 

-- National Academies Of Science: Practices, Standards For Plugging Orphaned And Abandoned Hydrocarbon Wells White Paper, Workshop

-- NPR: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum To Lead US Dept. Of The Interior

-- WBOY: EPA Officials Share Findings After Radiation Found At Fairmont, WV Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing Site

-- JD Supra: Federal District Court Sends PA Oil & Gas Royalty Dispute To Trial 

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Democrats’ Disregard For Americans’ Fears Of Inflation Caused By Unaffordable Energy Policies Frustrating [International Oil, Natural Gas Prices Propelled Inflation In US]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Plan For Massive 3,5 GW Gas-Fired Power Plant, Data Center In Virginia Slashed 91% In Face Of Local Opposition  [PDF of Article]

-- EPA Finalizes Rule Setting Fee On Wasteful Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Industry  

-- KDKA: EPA To Hit Oil & Gas Companies With Waste Methane Fee, But Will It Last?

-- Financial Times: How Oil & Gas Companies Disguise Their Methane Emissions 

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Jump As Russia Halts Supplies To Austria

-- Bloomberg: Biden To Stand Fast On Not Issuing Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities; New Leadership Will Reverse That In January

-- Financial Times: US LNG Gas Exports Could Prove Crucial Bargaining Chip In US-EU Trade Talks

-- Reuters: Biden Officials Ask EU To Align Methane Rules With US To Ease LNG Gas Exports

[Posted: November 12, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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