Two New Marcellus Drilling Permits Issued Near Blacksville in Dunkard Creek Watershed

May 29, 2011

Northeast Natural Energy said Friday that two new permits were issued to them for Marcellus wells near Blacksville, permits that have special conditions added to them by WV-DEP because the wells will sit in the Dunkard Creek watershed. These conditions, which are specific provisions not normally required in such permits, were developed with the cooperation [...]

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Office of Oil and Gas Adds MUB Conditions to NNE Drill Permits for Morgantown Industrial Park

May 28, 2011

The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) has negotiated with the Northeast Natural Energy LLC (NNE) to update the two permits for Marcellus horizontal gas wells in or near the Morgantown Industrial Park.  These updates have been accepted by the WV Office of Oil and Gas, and they have been incorporated into the two permits, as of [...]

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New York State Moratorium Continues until the Environmental Assessment is Completed

May 27, 2011

The fracking moratorium in New York state will not be lifted on July 1st, although this is the planned date for release of the 2nd version of the draft environmental assessment being prepared by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional time will be needed for the public, and for private industry, to review the draft [...]

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New IOGA Publicity Campaign Masks Reality

May 26, 2011

This week Dominion hired a company based in Texas to work on new pipelines in Wetzel County. Instead of using local labor, workers will be imported from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.  In reaction, the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation has organized four protests in front of Dominion Transmission facilities.  Commenting on the matter, Larry Young of [...]

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Public Meeting in Morgantown Re: Adverse Impacts of Marcellus Gas Industry

May 24, 2011

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011. Time:  6:15 PM SHARP. [Doors Open at 6:00 PM] Location: Skyview Elementary School (near Marcellus well site) [Off River Road just South of DuPont Road, South of Westover] SPONSORS: WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact  and the League of Women Voters For the agenda, go to this page on the UMRA (Upper [...]

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Morgantown Protests Over Marcellus Wells May Continue Until Regulations and Inspectors Are In Place

May 22, 2011

The Morgantown Dominion Post on Sunday, May 22nd had a front page article on “Expert touts drilling’s merits”, a page 3 article on the Wellsburg moratorium on drilling, an editorial on the growing public protest activity in Morgantown and a letter to the editor about Chesapeake Energy.  The “expert” is a Professor in Geology and Geography, [...]

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Wetzel County Residents Say Marcellus Gas Wells Cause Air Pollution Problems

May 21, 2011

Some residents of Wetzel County are asking the state to regulate the fumes coming off certain natural gas drilling sites into the Marcellus shale. Bill Hughes with the Wetzel County Action Group says the Division of Air Quality places some limits on emissions from compressor stations, but not enough and none on the wells that [...]

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Frac Water Recycling Facility to go in Morgantown Industrial Park

May 20, 2011

A new site for recycling waste water from Marcellus Shale gas drilling will be based in Morgantown Industrial Park at the American Environmental Services (AES) facility.  Slated to begin accepting water in July, the waste water recycling  facility will be able to process 210,000 gallons of waste water per day and three tankers at a time.  The [...]

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WV-DEP Chief Fears Problems as Employees Retire

May 19, 2011

The WV-DEP Secretary Randy Huffman told legislators Tuesday he fears a brain drain at the regulatory agency, as many longtime employees are reaching retirement age. Many of those employees joined the DEP in the 1970s and early 1980s, as environmental regulations were being enacted, and devoted themselves to careers in public service.  However, Huffman told [...]

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Drilling Protesters Spur City Council and County Commission to Action

May 19, 2011

Concerned citizens showed up in force at the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening in Morgantown, WV.   About 20 people addressed the council members with concerns regarding a permitted Marcellus shale well near the Monongahela River within 3,000 feet of a public water intake that serves 100,000 people.   Many inquired about getting an [...]

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