Are you ready for a struggle to halt drilling? (fracking)

[deminks]

http://www.timesleader.com/opinion/columnists/blaum/Are_you_ready_for_a_struggle_to_halt_drilling__Kevin_Blaum_In_the_Arena_08-15-2010.html

LARRY NEWMAN, William Harris and Anthony Palischak, aka the Luzerne County Zoning Hearing Board, gave swift approval this month for Encana Oil & Gas to drill 10 gas wells in Fairmont and Lake townships.

Ten.

Before they finished, Newman, vice president for Planning, Policy and Community Development at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, Harris and Palischak went even further, giving Encana their blessing to install a natural gas processor in our area.

These three marionettes, Newman, Harris and Palischak, concluded their shameful performance having said yes to Encana (Canada) and no to the people who live here. Worse, they did it in a meeting room packed with people, just like you, pleading and voicing their opposition to this degradation of our region.

The next morning The Times Leader’s article said it best, “The Luzerne County Zoning Hearing Board approved everything Encana Oil & Gas asked for … ” Well scripted, they did it repeatedly, unanimously and in front of all of us who read the paper and watched the nightly news.

The following evening, while out to dinner with my family, I looked on as a representative of Encana Oil & Gas was escorted around the restaurant and introduced as if she were a conquering hero. It was a wonderfully absurd moment as I thought of the question readers probably most often ask: “How do we stop them?”

(end snip)

'A fool and his money are soon parted.'

Who will buy their gas and oil when we are all homeless and dead?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Horrendous, dangerous practice. I was thirlled when the move to

do this in upstate NY..right next to the source for NYC water...was brought to a grinding halt. I hope nothing happens to change that decision.

http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2010/01/fractured-logic-the-peril-in-%E2%80%9Cfracking%E2%80%9D-chemicals/

<snip>

The risks of fracking aren’t just theoretical. Drinking water contamination and property damage have been linked to hydraulic fracturing in four states – Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. In one incident that polluted a Colorado creek, the drilling company is still trying to clean it up – four years later.

The conclusion is inescapable: the petroleum distillates used in hydraulic fracturing pose a serious threat to the nation’s water supplies, but those risks have been largely ignored by federal and state regulators. So EWG is making several important recommendations for action by Congress and federal agencies, before disaster strikes:

1. Congress must reverse itself and require companies to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act when using hydraulic fracturing.
2. Congress should require drilling companies to disclose publicly the chemicals they use hydraulic fracturing in every well.
3. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees drilling on public land, must use its authority to require such disclosures.
4. Congress should investigate federal and state oversight of hydraulic fracturing and insist that federal and state personnel be properly informed about existing law.
5. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should use its powers to find out whether companies are using diesel and enforce the existing permit requirements.

<snip>

http://peakoil.com/enviroment/gasland-talks-about-the-potential-dangers-of-fracking/

Gasland, talks about the potential dangers of fracking

[maryf]

3. still need a vote from the assembly

on a moratorium that passed the state senate, but moratoriums are only a stop gap, and the way folks get bored quickly, might be deceitfully used...stop all hydrofracking now. period.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Damn. I thought it was settled!!!

I agree..it is a practice that must be topped..BEFORE the ultimate disaster makes it the basis of another national catastrophe.

[maryf]

6. I think the NYC watershed

is safe for longer than the rest of the state, but that's in question because the Marcellus shale is so huge, and the water network so complicated. The Marcellus shale could impact the Delaware, which is part of the Chesapeake watershed...it's all very far reaching. Parts of Northern PA are higher than parts of southern NYS, so river runs north, further impacting the state. Borders are man made, we should be up in arms regarding all water sources...peak water is on its way...

[maryf]

2. from my email contact info

on edit, K&R

The epa meetings were moved from Binghamton NY to Syracuse NY with 3 days notice, then postponed until further notice, this email supposedly gave an explanation. I have heard that the industry supporters really got both places very concerned about civil actions and the need for security. Hope more people make it in September, but I fear very short notice will be given...

Good evening -

After months of work organizing the Hydraulic Fracturing Study public meeting in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, August 12 at Binghamton University and subsequently moved to the Syracuse Oncenter Complex Convention Center has been canceled. The Agency now intends to hold the public meeting in upstate New York in September and will announce the date and location as soon as it is confirmed.

EPA was forced to cancel the August 12th meeting following a conversation this morning with the Onondaga County Executive’s office, during which concerns were raised about the ability to complete security preparations for the meeting on such short notice. The last minute change to Syracuse was caused by Binghamton University taking several actions to dissuade EPA from holding the meetings at their campus including increasing the cost from $6,000 to almost $40,000. As plans for the Binghamton meeting unraveled, EPA explored opportunities with Broome County officials in Binghamton, including the convening of the meeting at the Arena. They suddenly and inexplicably pulled out of negotiations with EPA. The Agency searched a 40 mile radius from Corning to Ithaca to Cortland to Oneonta but no options were available for Thursday. The Oncenter was the only viable choice, but Onondaga County officials did not feel they could arrange the necessary security for protecting people and property with ongoing rallies outside the meeting site. EPA respects and understands their decision.

We are extremely disappointed that the cancellation will leave thousands of people on both sides of the issue who had planned to attend this meeting in this inconvenient and difficult position. EPA and its contractors have left no stone unturned in finding a suitable location and we did everything within our control to make the meeting scheduled for August 12 a successful one.

From the beginning, EPA has been committed to ensuring that the public has an opportunity to express their opinions on the study. There are serious concerns about whether the process of hydraulic fracturing impacts drinking water, human health and the environment. To address those concerns and strengthen our clean energy future, EPA announced in March that it will study the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water and would be seeking input from people across the country. EPA has held had three successful meetings in Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where more than 1200 participants attended, and the Agency is committed to holding a similar meeting in upstate New York.

Meeting Registration

The registration website and toll-free phone line are now closed. Registration will begin again when meeting location and date have been decided. Because you registered for the Binghamton and/or Syracuse meeting scheduled for August 12, you will receive an email notification when the new meeting details have been decided and registration begins again. EPA will also be releasing press advisories and updating the Hydraulic Fracturing Study website (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_hydroout.html) with information on the September meeting when details are known.

All those who have registered to speak at or attend the New York meeting should re-register to attend or speak at the September meeting when details of the meeting are announced. Registration for the Binghamton or Syracuse meetings will not be carried over for the September meeting.

The September meeting will continue to be held in three sessions and 100 pre-registered speaking slots will be opened for each session. Pre-registered speaking slots will be assigned to individuals on a first come, first served basis as with the previous public meetings held to discuss the Hydraulic Fracturing Study. Walk-in registration for attendees and those who wish to give verbal comments will also be available on-site beginning one hour prior to the meeting session.

Comments on the Study

EPA continues to accept written comments via e-mail at [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]> through September 15, 2010. Please write "Hydraulic Fracturing Study - Comments" in the subject line of the message. Written comments may also be hand-delivered at the September public meeting or sent to EPA at the following postal address by September 15, 2010:

Jill Dean
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Mailcode 4606M
Washington, DC 20460.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

4. Here's another stoty about EnCana that won't make anyone feel better.

This is from last year in Colorado. Pennsylvania's going to pay a heavy price for allowing this BS to continue and expand.

http://www.journeyoftheforsaken.com/week86.htm

I guess that they figure that there are plenty of "Water Buffalo" tankers to supply all of the people with contaminated water supplies.

BTW... I am getting way beyond pissed off that this is being allowed to take place. People in this state better wise the **** up before it's too late.