NYT "Obama's Enthusiasm for Gas Drilling Raises Eyebrows" plus more frack stuff

maryf

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Sun Nov-07-10 10:14 AM
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NYT "Obama's Enthusiasm for Gas Drilling Raises Eyebrows" plus more frack stuff

Edited on Sun Nov-07-10 10:27 AM by maryf

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/11/04/04greenwire-obamas-enthusiasm-for-gas-drilling-raises-eyeb-33483.html

Obama's Enthusiasm for Gas Drilling Raises Eyebrows
By MIKE SORAGHAN of Greenwire

"President Obama's newfound interest in expanded natural gas drilling yesterday surprised many on all sides of the drilling debate, from environmentalists to drillers and even the coal industry. Representatives of drilling groups said they had no idea that Obama would make natural gas his lead olive branch to the newly empowered Capitol Hill Republicans. But they were pleased that he did.

"I was surprised by the venue," said Chris Tucker, spokesman for Energy In Depth, a drilling industry group formed to fight off federal regulation of shale gas drilling. Obama's remarks seemed to refer to vast new sources of shale gas in Pennsylvania, Texas and their neighboring states. Improvements in "hydraulic fracturing" technology have allowed production from formations under those states previously thought to be too expensive to exploit (E&ENews PM, Nov. 3).

<snip>
But not everyone sees gas drilling as so "terrific." Environmentalists are worried that the "hydraulic fracturing" technology used to pry loose the gas could contaminate drinking water.

<snip>
Environmentalists are careful to say they do not flat-out oppose drilling for natural gas, *** which burns twice as cleanly as coal. Some see it as a "bridge fuel" to replace coal and oil while the nation transitions to renewable sources of energy. But they are leery of the environmental damage caused by drilling, and they want to see substantially more regulation to protect drinking water supplies. "If we're going to have more natural gas development, it has to be done very carefully," said Dave Alberswerth of the Wilderness Society. "We have to have full public disclosure of the chemicals used, and we have to protect our groundwater from those chemicals by regulating them under the Safe Drinking Water Act."

Hinchey, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) have introduced legislation called the "FRAC Act" that calls for federal regulation of fracturing and increased public disclosure of the chemicals used."

***editorial comment from maryf: they should say SOME environmentalists, many oppose the practice of hydraulic fracturing totally, with good reason.

The evidence is huge that hydraulic fracturing destroys water's potability etc. While some say "Gasland" is not realistic, on seeing it I realized it is a very clear documentary on what has happened from this dangerous practice. Having gone to EPA hearings, NYS DEC hearings, and local discussions; I am extremely concerned about this practice.

Deep within a a second NYT article, after seeming to promote the financial benefits it mentions some disturbing info:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/business/energy-environment/07frack.html?pagewanted=3&sq=when%20rigs%20move%20in%20next%20door&st=cse&scp=1&src=tp

"In May, an industry-financed study conducted by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Pennsylvania State University estimated that gas companies had spent $4.5 billion developing the Marcellus in Pennsylvania, generating $389 million in state and local tax revenue and more than 44,000 jobs. Mrs. Dean, for one, received $500 for the mineral rights under her one acre of land, and signed another deal to collect a 12.5 percent cut of royalties arising from the well across the road, whenever it started production.

Rowena Shager of South Gibson was another beneficiary. By 2007, she had negotiated a nearly $20,000 deal to lease her 57 acres. �I was going through a divorce at the time, and I really needed the money,� she said.

But by the fall of 2008, homes around the well began producing muddy water at the faucet, she said. Mrs. Shager, Mrs. Dean and a dozen other nearby residents contended, among other things, that Southwestern � through sloppy operations � somehow managed to pollute their water with drilling or fracking fluids.

�If I thought I was putting my family�s life in jeopardy, or taking away from the value of my property, I never would have signed,� Mrs. Shager says."

I will never forget the big burley farmer from PA who came to Binghamton, NY to speak against the practice to the EPA: It was the worst decision I ever made", his friend, another farmer said "hydrofracking is bad, it's poison" this after giving a patriotic spiel on how much he loves this country and our troops.

Some links for further research and consideration:

http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm

figure it might be a good page to keep an eye on...

http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/02ad90b136fc21ef85256eba00436459/D3483AB445AE61418525775900603E79/$File/List+of+Candidates-Hydraulic+Fracturing+Study+Plan-9-10-10+Final.pdf

http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/02ad90b136fc21ef85256eba00436459/D3483AB445AE61418525775900603E79/$File/List+of+Candidates-Hydraulic+Fracturing+Study+Plan-2nd+List-11-1-2010.pdf

http://www.waterandhealth.org/news_center/in_news110510.php3

The major aspect of many of the msm articles on hydro-fracking that bothers me is the lack of discussion about the frack fluid composition which has been shown to contain benzene, toluene, and dioxins, all serious toxins and carcinogens...the waste water from the process is unusable, and the quantities of good water that get destroyed is very concerning.

editted to add second NYT link...