Report Warns Boom and Bust Cycle Likely to Repeat; Advises Creation of Fund

July 22, 2011

A report issue by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization, points out that the economic benefits from coal mining were not sustainable and that the boom and bust cycle is poised to be repeated with Marcellus shale gas production.  The report is entitled Boom and Busts, The Impact [...]

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Industry Executives and WV Residents Speak at Wheeling Legislative Hearing

July 22, 2011

Some 150 people, including state legislators, natural gas industry representatives, property owners and concerned residents, assembled at the WV Northern Community College  in Wheeling on Thursday for a hearing by the Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale. Deletate Tim Manchin of Marion County conducted the hearing.  He said mineral owners have rights to see their [...]

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Environment/Public Health Advocates Find Flaws in NY Regulatory Plan

July 21, 2011

On June 30, 2011, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the release of preliminary  revised regulations on hydraulic fracturing.  I was initially impressed with the scope and depth of the regulation, particularly since the regulations included banning fracking on public lands and air pollution regulations. However, the New York Water Rangers Campaign, a [...]

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Air Quality Legislation Proposed by the Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition

July 20, 2011

Air emissions from drilling and completing natural gas wells in the Marcellus shale and similar formations are not on the radar screen for most West Virginians. The US-EPA found that air emissions from such operations are considerable, are under estimated, and are under reported by the industry. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that [...]

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Marcellus Drilling Hearings set for Wheeling, Morgantown and Clarksburg

July 19, 2011

Public hearings sponsored by the House members of the legislature’s Select Committee on Marcellus Shale begin this week. You can tell the Legislature in person what you would like to see in a bill regulating natural gas drilling in West Virginia!  The first hearing is this Thursday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium [...]

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The FORT Frack-Water Recycle Process under Study for Northern WV

July 18, 2011

Sweetwater Resources of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is still seeking to establish a frack-water recycling facility in northern West Virginia, as reported in the Morgantown Dominion Post on July 17th. At least three possible sites have been mentioned, in the northern panhandle, in Wetzel county and in Monongalia county, for the Flowback On-Site Recycling Technology (FORT) process. [...]

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Is Strong Regulation an Acceptable Cost for Natural Gas via Shale Fracking?

July 18, 2011

David Zetland has recently written an article published in the Petroleum Economist on July 11th that explores the issue of whether fracking companies should accept the costs of strong regulation.  If so, this could lay the foundation for a viable gas and oil industry world-wide, for the long-term.  The French government has banned fracking and [...]

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WV ONGA Publicity Campaign Takes to the Radio

July 17, 2011

The West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association is launching a 6-12 month radio campaign that includes a 30 minute talk show and one minute promotional ads on 49 West Virginia MetroNews radio stations. WAJR out of Morgantown will host the 30 minute talk show called “Inside Shale.” Every Tuesday from 8:35am-9am, listeners can call [...]

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Also This Week (Including: DEP Reconsidering Land Application??)

July 16, 2011

Date Set for Marcellus Hearings The House Members of the Select Committee on Marcellus Shale announced the dates and locations for three public hearings: Wheeling on July 21, Morgantown on July 25, and Clarksburg on July 27.  Check our calendar early next week for times and exact locations.  Please attend with suggestions on legislation. Small [...]

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Threats from Air Pollution near Drilling Documented by Citizens Report

July 15, 2011

The Colorado Independent (July 13) reported that a new study was released that documents the presence of toxic chemicals in the air near natural gas drilling operations.  Issued by the Global Community Monitor, the July 2011 report entitled  “GASSED! Citizen Investigation of Natural Gas Development (pdf),” details how the air samples, taken near homes, playgrounds, schools [...]

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