Politicians are fond of saying “let the science  decide” when it comes to fracking.   OK.  Let’s give that a shot. 

The scientists at the USGS were the first to debunk the grandiose overestimates of recoverable reserves in the Marcellus. Taking  ”400 Tcf Terry” Engelder’s gaseous fantasy down a notch.  About an 80% notch. . . 

Now they have weighed in on the DEC’s proposed guidelines (not regulations) via a letter. The scientists at the USGS are typically even-handed in their analysis. Their letter to the DEC is no exception. Here’s a link to their letter to the DEC regarding the SGEIS:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/83492110/USGS-Comments-to-DEC

Note that they have flagged many of the same concerns that other scientists have identified. Such as the migration of methane, citing the definitive peer reviewed study. 

“Methane contamination of domestic water wells has occurred near selected shale-gas  development sites in north-central Pennsylvania presumably due to inadequate casing seals (Osborn and others, 2011). Given this methane migration issue, the revised  dSGEIS’s requirement of the installation and cementing of an intermediate casing, in addition to the surface casing, is prudent.  However, the design, installation, and ultimate success of casing and cementing prthe shallow geohydrologic system. The revised dSGEIS does not require the detailed mud logging and geophysical logging of the upper part of gas wells needed to determine the distribution of freshwater, saltwater, and gas and to properly design the casing and cementing program.”

In layman’s language what happens is that when the well is drilled, if it hits a shallow gas bearing formation, it is apt to release gas.

Such released gas goes up the well bore into groundwater. As the casing in the well bore ages it enables more gas to leak up the bore.  Gasssing your water well. 

The USGS understands this. Schlumberger understands this, they sell products and services to try to fix the problem. The DEC understates or denys the problem in order to avoid having to regulate a solution.  So they propose a one-size-fits-none approach, which the USGS says won’t work:

“Methane contamination of domestic water wells has occurred near selected shale-gas development sites in north-central Pennsylvania presumably due to inadequate casing seals (Osborn and others, 2011). Given this methane migration issue, the revised dSGEIS’s requirement of the installation and cementing of an intermediate casing, in addition to the surface casing, is prudent. However, the design, installation, and ultimate success of casing and cementing programs are dependent on effective characterization of  the shallow geohydrologic system.”

http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/hydrofracking/Osborn%20et%20al%20%20Hydrofracking%202011.pdf

The problem of gas migration is well-known to the industry, as the USGS points out. For instance :

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76316348/Gas-Wellbore-Leaks 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/65704543/Casing-Leaks

http://www.scribd.com/doc/65577477/How-Gas-Wells-Leak

The industry sells services to attempt to avoid leaks that fracking apologists says never happen :

http://www.scribd.com/doc/80574646/Well-Failures

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76174462/Schlumberger-Gas-Leak-Study

http://www.slb.com/resources/case_studies/cementing/futur_suncor_central.aspx

The DEC does not address the problem in its regulations, because it would then have to enforce the regs. which it’s loath to do – and has never adequately done:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76085928/Worst-Practices-at-the-DEC

The USGS points out that the SGEIS “one-size-fits-none” approach to gas well setbacks to water sources is inadequate :

“The revised dSEIS affords limited protection to domestic well owners with a proposed 500 ft buffer around domestic wells and springs unless waived by the homeowner. The 500 ft buffer around domestic wells does not take local geohydrologic conditions and  topographic setting into account.  Nearly all domestic wells in upland areas tap the fractured bedrock aquifer.  The low storage in these aquifers relative to a sand and gravel  aquifer means that changes brought about by drilling, including water quality changes,  can be felt rapidly at significant distance from a disturbance –especially if a domestic well is down-gradient of a well pad. “ 

No surprises there. The DEC’s setbacks are the worst in the USA. 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/72545747/Worst-Fracking-Regs

The protections are transparently political, not based on science  - much less local conditions, as pointed out by the USGS.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/66390117/The-Political-Science-of-the-SGEIS

They also note that the fault maps used by the DEC understates the amount of faulting in the state. The SGEIS uses a faulting map that is out of date and that fails to adequately address seismic risk.

“The revised dSGEIS references the State-wide map of faults and lineaments by Isachsen  and McKendree (1977).  A more detailed mapping of lineaments in New York’s Appalachian basin was completed by EarthSat (1997) for the New York Energy Research and Development Authority.   Through an integrated analysis of lineament, geologic, geophysical, and seismic epicenter data, Jacobi (2002) concluded that there are more faults in New York’s Appalachian Basin than previously suspected, and that many of these faults are seismically active. ”

The USGS confirms all the other studies and commentaries on the subject of faulting and seismic probability.

http://data.fractracker.org/cbi/snapshot/page?concept=~01757925a6591811e19aa688dac2873f23

http://www.scribd.com/doc/81397215/Fracking-New-York-Faults

Although the USGS studiously avoids drawing broad conclusions, we can infer one in particular. The political dodge in New York has been “let the scientists” decide.

Scientists don’t “decide” regulatory matters. They inform those responsible.  Regulators that work for elected officials do that. And the voters decide who gets to be an elected official.

If your town supervisor or state senator ignores the scientists much longer . . .Keep the science and get new elected officials. 

James “Chip” Northrup

Cooperstown 

http://www.scribd.com/northrup49

Background :

Range Resources was fined by the EPA for gassing some Parker County, Texas water wells: 

“In December 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency charged that gas drilling by the company in Texas had contributed to the methane contamination of at least two residential drinking water wells in Parker County, Texas. Range Resources denied the EPA’s findings and is fighting the charges.[29] Bloomberg reported that “the EPA said Range allowed methane from natural-gas wells in Parker County, west of Fort Worth, to seep into two families’ water wells. The order requires Range to provide safe drinking water for landowners and fix the wells. The company could face a fine of as much as $16,000 a day, David Gray, an EPA spokesman, said.”

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Range_Resources

You know, that thing that the fracking apologists say never happens, anywhere . . 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/65577477/How-Gas-Wells-Leak

Range now alleges in a letter they are deposing Texas Sharon because “she provided misleading information to the EPA”  which got Range fined. 

As a blogger – 4 big Texas counties away from the scene of the crime .. . . because she is clairvoyant . . . and a likely FOO – “Friend of Obama” 

http://www.texassharon.com/

Range Resources –  ”The kind of fracking fracker that gives fracking frackers a bad fracking name. “

Tell them how much you appreciate their boosting Texas Sharon’s ratings nationwide :

 Send an email to their general counsel, who masterminded the Texas Sharon Media Martyrdom 

 “David P. Poole” <dpoole@rangeresources.com>

Here’s a sample letter : 

“Dear Mr Poole 

Want to thank you for helping to make a martyr out of Sharon Wilson in the anti-fracking movement in Upstate New York

Your legal action against her has done much to energize resistance at the state and local level in New York. 

Range Resources has been invaluable to those efforts.  Congratulations. 

Without companies like Range, Sharon wouldn’t have much to write about. She might even get boring.

 Bravo ! 

Freddy Frackfighter

Upstate, New York “

From the NY Times:
New York Judge Rules Town Can Ban Gas Hydrofracking
By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: February 21, 2012

In a victory for opponents of the drilling process known as hydrofracking, a New York State judge ruled on Tuesday that the upstate town of Dryden in Tompkins County can ban natural gas drilling within its boundaries.

Connect with us on Twitter for breaking news and headlines in New York.

In August, Dryden’s Town Board used its zoning laws to pass a drilling ban, one salvo in a battle that is playing out nationwide as energy companies move to drill in densely populated areas. A month after the ban’s passage, Anschutz Exploration Corporation, a Colorado driller with 22,200 acres under lease in the town, filed a lawsuit arguing that the town’s authority did not extend to regulating or prohibiting gas drilling.

In a decision issued on Tuesday, Justice Phillip R. Rumsey of State Supreme Court said that state law does not preclude a municipality from using its power to regulate land use to ban oil and natural gas production. The ruling is the first in New York to affirm local powers in the controversy over drilling in the Marcellus Shale, a gas deposit under a large area of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

It is a victory for hydrofracking opponents as New York State regulators revise an environmental impact document and propose drilling regulations to decide whether to allow the drilling and under what conditions. Dozens of other municipalities in New York have also adopted drilling bans and limits.

“The communities targeted for drilling need the power to determine for themselves when, where and if fracking is permitted,” Katherine Nadeau, the water and natural resources program director for Environmental Advocates of New York, said in a statement. She said the ruling would energize “the dozens, if not hundreds, of cities and towns concerned with industrial gas drilling.”

The Dryden case, however, is sure to prompt further litigation. Thomas West, the Albany lawyer representing Anschutz, said the company might appeal or instead pursue a “takings” claim against the town — based on the principle that private property should not be taken without just compensation. Mr. West said the company had spent more than $5 million securing land leases from Dryden property owners and could claim the lost value of its assets, including any profits it would have derived from exploiting the mineral rights under the land.

“It could be a very large claim,” he said.

Efforts on Tuesday night to reach lawyers for the town of Dryden, with a population of about 14,000, were not immediately successful.
A version of this article appeared in print on February 22, 2012, on page A21 of the New York edition with the headline: New York Judge Rules Town Can Ban Gas Hydrofracking.

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GDACC/ Shaleshock CNY Sponsor Release of Anti-Fracking CD

Contacts: Colleen Kattau (CD creator) 607 745-3192 colleenkattau@gmail.com
Jim Weiss (GDACC) 607 849-3687 jandjweiss@frontiernet.net
Lindsay Speer (Shaleshock CNY/NOON) 315 475-2559 lspeer@mrss.com

Central New York—Shaleshock CNY, Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County (GDACC) and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON) announce the release of “Singing Clear: Clean earth, air, water ‘round here”, the first CD that features songs about hydrofracking as well as other topics about energy and the environment. The songs are written and performed by numerous local musicians and groups including Driftwood, The Horseflies, Thousands of One, national touring artist Marie Burns of the Burns Sisters, Bev Grant, and Colleen Kattau.

“Music has been one of the most powerful forces in social justice movements throughout American history. This CD continues that inspiring tradition,” said GDACC member Jim Weiss.”

The CD is professionally produced and was mastered in kind by Jocko Randall at More Sound Studio, Syracuse. The 14 cuts on the CD are of diverse musical and performance styles with moods ranging from reflection to outrage to humor. Approximately half of the songs deal directly with hydrofracking while the remaining ones speak to fossil fuels, clean energy, and social justice, underscoring the connections between environmental issues throughout the Americas.

“We are thankful for all of the artists who have contributed to this project,” stated Lindsay Speer, a community organizer with Shaleshock CNY and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation. “Now we can dance as we work to protect NY from hydrofracking and shale gas drilling!”

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to support these three groups, working together to protect NY from hydrofracking. In Syracuse the CD is available for sale at the Syracuse Cultural Workers at 400 Lodi St. in Syracuse and the Syracuse Peace Council.

In Cortland, this disc may be purchased at The Blue Frog, Oh My Goodness Health Food Store, and other locations Up-to-date information about purchasing a copy of the CD can be also found on the Shaleshock CNY website at shaleshockcny.org or GDACC at gdacc.wordpress.com. Songs can also be downloaded online at http://bit.ly/SingingClear .

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Shaleshock CNY aims to bring together the variety of people and groups working on the issue of hydrofracking so that we can share information and work to protect our communities.
Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation is a grassroots organization of Central New Yorkers which recognizes and supports the sovereignty of the traditional government of the Onondaga Nation. It is a program of the Syracuse Peace Council. NOON collaborates with the Onondaga Nation in their initiatives to promote environmental healing and restore respectful relationships between the governments of our Nations.

GDACC is a group of residents who are concerned about gas drilling and its potential impacts on our community, health and environment. Our goal is to educate ourselves and the community about gas drilling, and to promote a safe and clean environment.