CONSOL Energy now drilling under Greater Pittsburgh Airport

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation Renews Support for CSSD in SW PA & WV

Pittsburgh, PA —  4/22/15 (PRNewswire) – The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD), a collaborative of environmental organizations and energy companies that encourages responsible practices in the development of shale gas resources in the Appalachian region, announced today that the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation renewed its support for the Center with a 2015 grant.

The Foundation first awarded a grant to the Center in December 2013. “The Benedum Foundation’s continued support strengthens our commitment to achieve the highest level of environmental responsibility in shale development in the Appalachian Basin,” said Susan LeGros, President and Executive Director at CSSD. “In particular, this grant will support our outreach to increase community awareness of the benefits of leading performance standards and voluntary certification.”

The Benedum Foundation focuses its investments in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania.  The foundation encourages projects that cross state lines and supports initiatives that benefit the multi-state economy centered in Pittsburgh.

About The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation was established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum, natives of West Virginia, as a memorial to their only child, Claude Worthington Benedum, who died in 1918 at the age of 20.  The Foundation is a regional foundation focusing primarily on West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania.  For more information on the Foundation, please see:  www.benedum.org.

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CSSD Expands Its Wastewater Treatment Standard, Fulfilling Initial Plans

• News Release
• Background

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD) has developed 15 initial performance standards for operators that are protective of air quality, water resources and climate. These standards represent consensus on what is achievable and protective of human health and the environment.

As these standards are put into practice, CSSD will learn from these adaptations and is committed to adopting further innovations of value, which will be incorporated into revised standards as appropriate.

The “wastewater treatment standard” has been expanded, as announced by CSSD on February 27, 2015. (Some new standards are in the works as well.)

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CONSOL Energy now certified with CSSD, joining Chevron and Shell

Pittsburgh, Pa — April 7, 2015 (PRNewswire) — CONSOL Energy Inc. has announced certification of its operational practices by the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD).  The certification, independently validated by Bureau Veritas, confirms CONSOL’s compliance with all 15 CSSD performance standards related to environmental stewardship of air and water.  These performance standards have been designed to exceed the regulatory minimums established by state and federal regulatory bodies.

CONSOL Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Nick DeIuliis commented, “Our core values of safety and environmental compliance are the foundation of our business model and part of our DNA as a company.  We constantly strive to push the envelope in terms of innovation, and to go above and beyond the regulatory baseline that governs our operations.  This CSSD certification is clear recognition of that commitment, and of our commitment to being a good neighbor and true partner in the communities where we live and work.”

The company also released its fourth annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which details execution against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and outlines activities and new initiatives undertaken during the past year toward the company’s comprehensive corporate responsibility goals.

“Our fourth annual report continues to build on goals and objectives aimed at our commitment to responsible business practices across all operational and support functions within the Company.  Our commitment to these concepts is reinforced by the belief that such practices are not only the right thing to do, but that they also provide CONSOL Energy and our customers with competitive advantages in today’s global marketplace,” said Katharine Fredriksen, CONSOL Energy Senior Vice President of Environmental Strategy and Regulatory Affairs.

CONSOL Energy, Shell and Chevron are now certified on the 15 criteria with CSSD.

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Perspective Commentary – Considering how super fast production from these gas wells drops off, they will have to stay on “the drilling treadmill” as Deborah (Rogers) Lawrence so accurately describes it in several videos. Her comments 3 years ago sound prophetic in this “Drilling for Dollars” video when you consider the recent shale bust:

See this: https://youtu.be/5SzO1UJuduw See also:  www.Marcellus-Shale.us

The Morgantown Dominion Post today reports that the algae found a few weeks ago in a pond near the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border is not golden algae, an algae that led to a massive fish kill in Dunkard Creek in 2009.    Frank Jernejcic, District 1 fisheries biologist for the Division of Natural Resources, revealed the news yesterday. A final resolution has not been issued because those involved want to understand why there was disagreement in initial findings.
   
CONSOL has monitored the Dunkard watershed area after elevated levels of total dissolved solids caused an algae bloom that released a toxin killing most of the aquatic life in Dunkard Creek. Mine discharges from Blacksville No. 2 included possible wastewater from coal mine degassing and fracking flowback water. 

In addition to paying $200 million to construct water treatment facilities, violations of the federal Clean Water Act at six West Virginia coal mines has resulted in CONSOL Energy paying $500,000 to restore the fish population in Dunkard Creek. The order entered this week by U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp Jr. finalizes the litigation against CONSOL by both federal and the WV-DEP for violations, some of which apparently took place at mines on Monongalia, Marion, Marshall and Brooke counties.