Air Pollution is Regulatory Blind Spot

October 16, 2011

Joe Osbourne answered some questions that have been rattling around in my mind for a while.  Osbourne is the legal director for a Pittsburgh-based environment/public health advocacy nonprofit called GASP (Group Against Smog and Pollution) and also serves on the Pennsylvania DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee.  He gave a presentation on the topic of air pollution [...]

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UPDATE: Progress for WV Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale

October 14, 2011

After a long meeting at the Capitol on Thursday morning, only four matters remain for the committee, as shown below. Senator Facemire said he and Delegate Manchin hope to have all work wrapped up in a  final meeting in Clarksburg on October 22nd. Then they can forward a bill to acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and [...]

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In Fish-Kill Mystery, EPA Scientist Points at Shale Drilling

October 13, 2011

Dunkard Creek in WV and PA What killed Dunkard Creek in September of 2009? Was it dissolved inorganic solids from mining operations or was it different dissolved inorganic solids from drilling operations, or from mine methane degassing? Was it golden algae from Texas or Oklahoma? These questions are discussed in a recent New York Times [...]

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WVU College of Law Symposium: “Drilling Down on Regulatory Challenges”

October 12, 2011

Drilling Down on Regulatory Challenges: Balancing Preservation and Profitability in the Development of Shale Gas Resources October 27-28, 2011 This symposium presented by the WVU College of Law’s Center for Energy and Sustainable Development promises an unbiased and informative exploration of key topics that face the public, industry and policy makers across the nation regarding [...]

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Water Testing Can Protect Gas Companies and/or Residents or Landowners

October 11, 2011

It is important to test local water supplies before gas well drilling is started on any given property. But, who should take the samples, what laboratory should conduct the water analysis, what parameters should be measured, who gets the results, and who pays the bill(s). The State Journal has a recent article that may help [...]

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Delaware River Basin Commission to Vote on Drilling Rules on November 21st to Replace Moratorium

October 11, 2011

Delaware River Basin The Delaware River Basin Commission has postponed the October 21 special meeting until November 21 to vote on a new rulebook for gas and oil companies who want to drill for natural gas along the Delaware River watershed. The special meeting will include a presentation of changes made to the draft regulations, originally [...]

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Fall Edition of Surface Owners’ News Discusses 3D Seismic Surveys

October 10, 2011

WVSORO working session WVSORO first was asked about 3D seismic surveys in early 2010 when Chesapeake Energy hired Dawson Geophysical to do seismic testing there. It has been a learning process. What we learned during that process is now described on the WVSORO web-site. The experience of one owner who signed a permit for Dawson is [...]

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Auction for Mineral Leases in Wayne National Forest Upsets Local Ohio Governments

October 8, 2011

Drilling on state-owned land has been a topic of discussion recently, and now the federal government is cashing in on its piece of the shale gas play as well.  Oil and gas rights for more than 3,000 acres of the Wayne National Forest in Ohio will be placed on the auction block on December 7th. [...]

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First Annual Oil and Gas Expo Offers Public a Chance to See for Themselves

October 6, 2011

If you missed the Oil and Natural Gas Expo in Morgantown yesterday and you want to imagine what it was like, combine a career fair, a PR campaign, a press conference, and a trade fair.  Throw in a little carnival food, some heavy industrial equipment, and the image in your mind should come close to [...]

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PA ONG Regulator Attacks Duke Study

October 6, 2011

It’s pretty interesting to see such a strong bias in favor of an industry in a person who is employed to regulate that industry.  In fact, it’s scary.  ”Fox guarding the henhouse” pops into mind.   But that appears to be the case with Scott Perry, director of the Bureau of Oil and Gas Management [...]

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