Strong Rules on Fracking in Wyoming Seen as Model
Kate Galbraith The New York Times November 22, 2013
In energy-friendly Wyoming, oil and gas companies are getting a clear message: Drill, baby, drill — but carefully.
Last week, state regulators approved one of the nation’s strongest requirements for testing water wells near drilling sites. The measure is intended to address concerns that groundwater can become contaminated from drilling activities.
It is the latest of several groundbreaking regulations related to energy production issued by Wyoming, which in 2010 became the first
DEP Secretary: Regulating Radiation May Be “Next Frontier” of Drilling Oversight
Marie Cusick StateImpact PA/NPR November 11, 2013 | 11:38 AM
The state Department of Environmental Protection’s acting Secretary Chris Abruzzo says regulating the radioactive materials associated with gas drilling could be the “next frontier” of the agency’s oversight of the industry.
In an interview with the Scranton Times-Tribune, Abruzzo says the DEP is still in the midst of its year-long study into naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and technologically enhanced material (TENORM).
“It will depend largely on what the results
Locations of Pipelines of Concern
Mike Reuther Williamsport Sun-Gazette November 10, 2013
Lycoming County has been among the states busiest areas for natural gas activity in recent years, leading to the construction of pipelines, including more than 100 miles of gathering lines.
But some people are concerned that there has not been adequate oversight for how the infrastructure is regulated.
The issue, some say, raises plenty of red flags in a rural area where a pipeline failure could have a devastating effect on the environment
Marcellus Gas Facilities, Near To One Another Or Even Linked, Are Evaluated Individually For Pollution
Don Hopey Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 6, 2013
More than 450 natural gas compressor stations and processing plants have been built in Pennsylvania since 2008, when Marcellus Shale gas development kicked into another, higher gear.
Collectively, the rapidly multiplying facilities emit tens of thousands of tons of pollutants a year. And the growing emissions load may eventually lead to poorer air quality, according to environmental organizations.
Despite that emissions load, none of those Marcellus gas facilities are grouped together for permitting
Gas Industry: Change PA Endangered Species Laws
Kevin Begos Associated Press September 10, 2013
PMEnvironmental group warns against modifying existing law
PITTSBURGH — As gas drilling booms in Pennsylvania, major industry groups are backing efforts to change the state’s endangered and threatened species laws, alterations that environmentalists say could have far-reaching effects on wildlife.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association, and the Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania outlined their support in an Aug. 26 letter obtained by The Associated Press.
PA Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against XTO For Waste Water Spill
Marie Cusick StateImpact PA September 10, 2013
State Attorney General Kathleen Kane has filed criminal charges against XTO Energy, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, for a 2010 gas drilling waste water spill in Lycoming County.
From the Associated Press:
XTO says Tuesday that it will challenge the criminal charges, which the company calls baseless, unprecedented and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.
Kane says that a grand jury recommended the charges for the spill of more than 50,000 gallons of toxic
DEP: Nat Gas Operators Must Submit Air Quality Plans
Katie Colaneri StateImpact PA August 8, 2013
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released final criteria for its new, stricter air quality permit rules for natural gas production sites.
All well operators must now submit air quality plans for approval by the DEP before constructing new well sites, unless their practices and standards are stricter than federal rules and regulations. “Oil and gas well sites in Pennsylvania had been granted blanket exemptions from obtaining approvals since 1996,” according to
Oil, Gas Firms Scrutinized to Monitor Labor Practice
Anya Litvak Pittsburgh Post-Gazette August 4, 2013
Its amazing how many times Rodney Bean has heard the phrase but everyones doing it from oil and gas companies, big and small.
Everyone hires independent contractors instead of employees. Everyone pays a flat day rate instead of a salary or hourly wage.
When these companies get a notice from the U.S. Department of Labor, they call Mr. Bean, an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, and he tells them,
Corbett Signs Controversial Bill Giving Drillers Power To Pool Leases
Marie Cusick StateImpact PA July 9, 2013
Governor Corbett signed a controversial bill into law today, giving drillers the power to combine or “pool” leases for horizontal oil and gas drilling.
The legislation was originally promoted as an effort to bring more transparency to the deductions companies take out of royalty payments. Complaints over those deductions lead to a recent Senate hearing on the issue.
An organization representing Pennsylvania’s mineral owners was angered over language added later on, which allows
Legislation Introduced to Eliminate Fracking Industry Loophole
EcoWatch July 25, 2013
Fracking is now responsible for 90 percent of domestic oil and gas production, with thousands of wells popping up across the nation. The number of wells is expected to skyrocket during the next two decades.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 requires the safe disposal of solid waste and hazardous materials. In 1980, RCRA was amended to exempt waste from the production and development of oil and natural gas (“exploration & production” waste),
