PA. finally releases info. on 243 cases of wells contaminated by gas drilling

[JPZenger]

http://wivb.com/2014/08/28/243-cases-in-pa-where-fracking-contaminated-wells/

In response to Right to Know Act requests, pressure from environmental groups, and a critical report by the PA. Auditor General, the PA. Dept. of Env. Protection finally and quietly released its records about water wells that were found to be contaminated or damaged by gas drilling operations.

There were 243 cases. Each case may have involved more than one well.

In the past, many of the problems were from improper installation of casing.

Excerpts:

" The 243 cases, from 2008 to 2014, include some where a single drilling operation impacted multiple water wells. The problems listed in the documents include methane gas contamination, spills of wastewater and other pollutants, and wells that went dry or were otherwise undrinkable. Some of the problems were temporary, but the names of landowners were redacted, so it wasn’t clear if the problems were resolved to their satisfaction. Other complaints are still being investigated.

Extracting fuel from shale formations requires pumping millions of gallons of water, along with sand and chemicals, into the ground to break apart rock and free the gas. Some of that water, along with other heavy metals and contaminants, returns to the surface.

The documents released Thursday listed drilling-related water well problems in 22 counties, with most of the cases in Susquehanna, Tioga, Lycoming, and Bradford counties in the northeast portion of the state."

[Enthusiast]

1. Kicked and recommended!

"The problems listed in the documents include methane gas contamination, spills of wastewater and other pollutants, and wells that went dry or were otherwise undrinkable."

[a kennedy]

2. This is just great isn't it?? D*mn.

and fracking is the net big thing around here.....

[riqster]

3. Fracking was bad enough. When they added horizontal drilling, it got worse.

Momsers.

[Divernan]

4. Under Corbett, PA does NOT have a Dept. of Environmental Protection

You could call it Department of Environmental Pollution

or you could call it Department of Fracking Protection

or you could call it Dept. of Environmental Exploitation.

It's like that old comedy schtick, "You doesn't has to call me johnson"
http://mediafunhouse.blogspot.com/2008/05/you-still-doesnt-hasta-call-him-johnson.html

Pennsylvania's Auditor General DePasquale (independently elected, not appointed by Frack Ho Gov. Corbett) issued a 145 page report calling the DEP "woefully" unprepared to monitor and regulate the shale oil and gas drilling boom, and presenting 29 recommendations.

The DEP's response? DEP Secretary Abruzzo (appointed by the aforesaid Frack Ho Gov. Corbett) told the press that DePasquale's audit "validates" DEP's performance.

Abruzzo obviously does not know the meaning of the word "validates"said Karen Feridun, founder of Berks Gas Truth. A scathing 145 page report that cites numerous, significant deficiencies and
and makes no fewer than 29 recommendations for overhauling the DEP's record keeping systems and addressing its completely inadequate process of conducting inspections is hardly validation of the
agency's clearly skewed self perception. It certainly provides no validation of matters that
were outside of the scope of the audit, namely the DEP's ability to protect public health,
safety, or the environment."

http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/resources/PressReleases/Press%20Release-%20Solution%20Challenge%20final%208.28.14.pdf

[valerief]

5. Clean Fracking, just as clean as Clean Coal.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Does this mean

that they will no longer be able to claim that "there are no confirmed cases of water contamination".

[JPZenger]

7. List is impossible to find on DEP site, posted in random order, and incomplete

From an activist on these issues: DEP "arranged it in no particular order in an unsearchable format and buried it on their site. Oh, and it's not complete."

She challenged her friends to try to find the list. Most people gave up after 15 solid minutes of searching.

(The general rule on most PA. govt. sites is to use google, instead of the search functions or key word organization on the state websites.)

[blue neen]

8. Maybe this link would be helpful?:

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2014/08/28/DEP-publishes-official-determinations-of-damaged-water-supplies-related-to-oil-and-gas-operations/stories/201408280306