|
|
By arimoore, on January 13th, 2010%
The Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a seminar on Natural Gas Exploration and the Geology of Cortland County. William M. Kappel, Hydrologist and Section Chief with the U.S. Geological Survey, will be on hand giving a presentation entitled “Marcellus Shale Gas 101”.
Topics to be addressed include:
- Where black shales are found in New York (their formation and properties) and the mechanics of drilling in the Marcellus and Utica formations.
- An in-depth look at the controversial technique of “slickwater” hydrofracking including the quantities of water needed and the possible
means of treatment, and quality of flowback and formation waters.
- A look into the potential impacts of gas exploration and extraction activities in relation to our regions water resources. Recognizing the concerns of habitat fragmentation and pipeline construction throughout the region.
Monday, February 1st, 2010 – 6pm to 8pm
Seminar will be held in the auditorium of the New York State Grange Headquarters building located at 100 Grange Place off of Clinton Avenue in Cortland, New York (Map)
By arimoore, on August 25th, 2009%
Read Ithaca council raises natural gas-drilling concerns by Krisy Gashler:
Raising concerns about drinking water, roads and safety for emergency responders, Ithaca’s Common Council is getting involved in the discussion about gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
The majority of the city’s watershed for its Six Mile Creek drinking water source is outside the city in the Towns of Ithaca and Caroline. Roughly 38 percent of the total land area in Tompkins County has already been leased for oil and gas drilling, including 12 percent in the Town of Ithaca and 49 percent in Caroline, according to gas lease deed information compiled by the citizen’s action group Shaleshock.
Common Council Planning Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Dotson, I-1st, said city officials have concerns in four major areas: water use and wastewater disposal; impact on roads and infrastructure; safety, especially for firefighters who may have to respond to fires or accidents at drilling sites; and the tax structure for oil and gas revenue.
The planning committee this week discussed strategies they could use to protect the city, including identifying critical natural areas, adopting road preservation laws, and demanding disclosure of all chemicals in hydro-fracturing (fracking) fluid before considering whether to accept it at the wastewater treatment plant, which discharges into Cayuga Lake. (Read more)
By shirari, on July 15th, 2009%
 Experts question treated gas-drilling fluid: Problems noted in Pennsylvania by Krisy Gashler:
The consultant overseeing testing at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant cautioned plant operators Wednesday to think carefully before accepting gas drilling fracking fluid, saying some Pennsylvania plants that have accepted the material have created problems for downstream drinking water plants. One plant also reportedly discovered radioactivity in the fracking waste, said Jimmie Joe Carl, an engineer with Pennfield-based MRB Group.
Read more…
By shirari, on March 28th, 2009%
Lisa Ann Wright of Ithaca wrote to the Ithaca Journal,
While I am very pleased The Ithaca Journal headlined with reporter Krisy Gashler’s story last week “Cayuga Heights plant accepts drilling wastewater” on March 12, I have sadly come to expect the sort of collective shrug of Ithacans as to the full meaning of what is happening all around us. Gashler reported that “Erik Whitney, assistant superintendent of public works for water and sewer in the City of Ithaca, said the Ithaca wastewater treatment plant does not accept any gas drilling water, from vertical, horizontal or hydraulic fracture drilling.” So why is Cayuga Heights accepting it? What’s happening to the brine? Is that being spread on our roads as it is in other states? What did Cayuga Heights test the fluids for? Which specific tests did they run? Which certified test methods were used? What were the concentrations in the waste fluids? Would Cayuga Heights be willing to allow an independent lab to test this stuff for the kinds of things that are known to be present in most gas well waste fluids? In Van Etten, Fortuna Energy wants to dispose of produced water from drilling into old gas wells – and now this.
What is it going to take for the people of this community to see how these things are connected, like our water is?
Comment on her letter or write your own opinion »
By shirari, on January 6th, 2009%
Check out Emma Wright’s November 25, 2008 report on WENY-TV News:
Drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale could bring upstate New York fame and Fortuna.
But, the horizontal drilling method is tapping into plenty of enviromental concerns. The process will generate millions of gallons of waste water. The Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant has been approached by natural gas companies to treat the water, but they’re not so sure.
Plant operators say they’re not making any deals just yet. They want to know what chemicals are n the water, because all treated water goes right back into Cayuga Lake.
City enviromental engineers want to know what is in the water. But natural gas companies say the chemicals they use are a “trade secret” Enviromental officials say millions of gallons of water can’t flow through the plant pipes and into Cayuga Lake without extensive testing.
New York State is in the process of regulating what natural gas companies have to disclose. Plan operators say standards will be good for everyone.
Visit the original article to view the video:
http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9139383
|
About Us Shaleshock is an information hub connecting people to regional groups and projects working to stop exploitative drilling in the Marcellus Shale.(more)
2009 Signs of Sustainability
|
Recent Comments