Penn State Extension Hosts Aug. 20 Webinar On Oil & Gas Development Impacts On Groundwater Quality, Public Health

The Penn State Extension holds another in its Wednesday Water Series Webinars August 20 on oil and gas development impacts on groundwater quality and public health from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The webinar will share findings from a 2024 field study examining how unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) may impact groundwater quality and public health in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

During the summer and fall, researchers collected water samples from 97 private wells, springs, and streams to evaluate potential contamination linked to shale gas development. 

Sampling focused on areas near previously identified chloride hotspots, wastewater impoundments cited for removal by regulatory agencies, and sites of wellpad spills and brownfield cleanups. 

The presentation will highlight key results and discuss their implications for groundwater protection and environmental health in UOGD-affected regions.

Who is this for?

-- Individuals interested in energy–water–health relationships

-- Energy and environmental policymakers and practitioners

What will you learn?

-- How unconventional energy development affects groundwater and health in Southwestern Pennsylvania, one of the state’s most extensively drilled regions

-- How energy–water–health relationships are studied and how this research contributes to existing findings

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 7 to 27 - Finding 27,000 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Not Tracking Water/Wastewater Pipelines; Failure To Comply With DEP Orders; Inadvertent Pipeline Construction Returns - Again  [PaEN]  

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 28 [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Publishes Notices On Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company Northeast Supply Enhancement Quarryville Pipeline Loop, Compressor Station Permits/Approval In Chester, Lancaster Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 81 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 28 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles This Week:

-- 5 Years Later: A Progress Report On PA’s Grand Jury Recommendations For Protecting Public Health, Communities From Shale Gas Industry Impacts - A Long Way To Go   [PaEN] 

-- DEP Reports It Has No Idea How Many Shale Gas Water/Wastewater Pipelines There Are, The Spills They’ve Had Or Their Impacts  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: 768 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells May Be Plugged In Next Year; Over 27,000 New Abandoned Wells May Have Been Found; Alternatives To Well Plugging Bonds [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts July 23 Webinar On Understanding Pennsylvania's Legacy Conventional Oil & Gas Well Problem  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Moves Bill To Restore Authority For Setting Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Bond Amounts To Help Protect Taxpayers From Billions In Plugging Costs; Republicans Oppose  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Sets 8th Hearing July 22 On State Plan To Implement Federal Rule Requiring Methane Emissions Reductions From Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Facilities  [PaEN]

-- Range Resources Proposes To Drill 2 New Shale Gas Wells In Cecil Township, Challenging Its 2,500 Foot Setback Ordinance In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- PUC Distributes $164.5 Million In CY 2024 Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Fees To Communities, Statewide Programs; $15 Million Less Than Last Year  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Aug. 20 Webinar On Oil & Gas Development Impacts On Groundwater Quality, Public Health  [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Integrated Lithium Production Plant Coming To PA In 2026 Using Oil & Gas Production Wastewater  [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Avonlea Lithium Corp. Completes Successful Lithium Extraction From Shale Gas Wastewater At Susquehanna County Pilot Plant   [PaEN]  

-- DEP Seeking New Member Of Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board  [PaEN]

-- Westmoreland-Based WATT Fuel Cell, Hope Gas In WV Launch Home Natural Gas Fuel Cell Backup Power Program To Strengthen Electric Grid Resiliency  [PaEN]   

-- Environmental Council Of The States Reports US Senate Budget Bill Removes Repeal Of 23 Inflation Reduction Act Climate/Energy Programs; But Still Rescinds Unobligated Oil & Gas Well Plugging Funds [PaEN]  

NewsClips:

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: A State Grand Jury Report On Fracking Had 8 Recommendations, 5 Years Later, Few Have Been Implemented

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: 5 Years After Landmark PA Grand Jury Report On Fracking, Public Health Goals Remain Largely Unmet, Groups Say   

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Boots And Drones Deployed In Hunt For Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Southwest PA 

-- Inside Climate News: Kiley Bense: Truckers Say Oil & Gas Companies Are Violating Hazardous Materials Transport Regulations, Fracking Industry Says No

-- Post-Gazette - Brandon McGinley: July 15 PA Energy & Innovation Summit Will Be The Biggest Day For Pittsburgh In Decades

-- Public News Services: Congress Could Delay Oil & Gas Facility Methane Emission Reduction Program In PA 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Largest Fuel Cell Backup Program In US Rolling Out In WV Marcellus  [PDF of Article]

-- PA Lawmakers, Labor, Natural Gas Companies Sent Letter To Governor, House/Senate Members To Celebrate Natural Gas & Oil Day To Prioritize Oil, Gas Resources

-- Observer-Reporter: Decreasing Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Money Squeezing Municipal Budgets; 2nd Lowest Revenue Generated Since Program Began In 2012  [PDF of Article]

-- Uniontown Herald-Standard Editorial: Jeers - Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Dropped To 2nd Lowest Amount Since Distribution Began - Municipalities Can’t Rely On It   [PDF of Article] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Act 13 Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenue Drops 

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Receives $6.9 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees; $25.1 Million In Sen. Yaw’s Senate District 

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Just Part Of Gas Industry’s Success 

-- PA Lawmakers, Labor, Natural Gas Companies Sent Letter To Governor, House/Senate Members To Celebrate Natural Gas & Oil Day To Prioritize Oil, Gas Resources

-- Range Resources Reports It Achieved Net Zero In Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions In 2024 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Shale Gas Company Achieved Net Zero Scope 1 & 2 Emissions In Its Assets Owned In 2024

-- The Allegheny Front/WV Public Broadcasting: Residents Near Mountain Valley Natural Gas Pipeline Are Still Uneasy

[Posted: June 24, 2025]  PA Environment Digest