Marcellus shale violations of clean stream act

[Bob K.]

This from today's Wilkes Barre Citizen's Voice. Page 8.

Report: Marcellus Drillers record 1500 violations since 2008.

100 were for violations of the Clean Stream Act, 154 were for spills of brine, oil, cuttings or other waste, 277 for improper erosion control and sedimentation plans, and 267 for faulty wastewater pits.

Read it all here:

Report: Marcellus Shale drillers record 1,500 violations since start of 2008 - News - Citizens Voice

Bob K.

 

[Trouser Trout]

What's the big deal, they are only averaging more than 1.5 violations per day.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Yep, they can be trusted to police their own. No need to worry or add additional oversight...:smokelots:

Where's FF or Kilgour Farms? I'm sure they'll weigh in with a bunch of excuses. Let's hear from our pro-drilling folks.

 

[Kilgour Farms]

I see two major points in the artricle the first one is the the DEP is doing its job. They are letting the gasco know that they will be held to the BMP, after all thats what their there for.

The second point might not be as obvious but it is something I have advocated all along, that a closed loop system should be required in any gas drilling operation.

Without data it hard to draw any conclusions other then the above. The permitting fees have been raised and are covering the costs of the extra people the DEP has hired to enforce these regulations.

 

[catskill dick]

I see two major points in the artricle the first one is the the DEP is doing its job. They are letting the gasco know that they will be held to the BMP, after all thats what their there for.

I think that it also illustrates that the applicable fines/enforcement structure does not provide negative incentives that are strong enough to change the way that the gas companies do business. It looks like they have chosen to do business as usual, violate the rules, and treat the fines as a cost of doing business.

The leasing landowners should have responsibility/liability for the activities that the gas companies conduct on their lands. The fines would mean something to the landowners, and give them an incentive to negotiate appropriate leases (or, better yet, decide not to lease at all).

 

[Bob K.]

New York State Legislators criticize Pennsylvania's State Drilling
Regulations!

PA DEP Secretary responds:

DEP secretary blasts back after N.Y. senators attack Pa. drilling - News - Citizens Voice

QUOTES BY PA DEP SECRETARY: "You cannot have drilling, even done well, and get zero impact."

"If New York demands to have no impacts from drilling, then they better have a moratorium that extends not just through May 2011 but forever,.."

Bob K.

 

[Stonefly]

I think what the articile says, is that the state doesn't have enough inspectors, and if they had the number violations and fines would be a hell of a lot more. What they need is the same thing that the USDA has; an inspector assigned to each site every day, and make the oil companies responsible for the inspectors cost. It works at the USDA at meat packing plants.

 

[Bob K.]

It is a little bit different, but every Whiskey Distillery in the United States has a Revenue Agent who lives at the distillery. I remember this from the days when the old Michter's Distillery was still open in Schafferstown, Pa. near Lebanon and you could take a tour of it.

It would not be hard for DEP to assign individual inspectors to specific geographical territories. These inspectors would, as part of their job descriptions, be required to visit each site in their territory on a regular basis and report on them. The state does this routinely with Nursing Homes, Personal Care Homes and any other businesses which require licensing. They may have a personnel shortage but they can still work at it in a professional manner. There are plenty of Administrators in other agencies of the state that can show them how to do it.

Meanwhile, if nothing is being done, contact the PA Office of Inspector General with a complaint. They are required to investigate and respond to any complaint they receive.

 

[Bob K.]

Newest update for violations in Pennsylvania.

Marcellus Shale news in brief - News - Citizens Voice

This is in Bradford Country close to the New York border.

Bob K.