AJ News

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

In the wake of several accidents as a result of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale belt, one environmental advocacy group is taking action against what it says is a potential environmental hazard. On Dec. 1, Penn Environment released a policy document outlining proposed solutions to issues caused by Marcellus Shale gas drilling. The document was announcement via a press teleconference with Penn Environment Clean Water Advocate Erika Staaf and Brady Russell of Clean Water Action group.

According to Staaf, the proposal was prompted by several recent incidents, including a spillage in September of approximate 8,000 gallons of hydraulic fracturing fluid in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, which has allegedly resulted in the contamination of the local water supply. That incident is one of seven that impelled 15 local families to sue Cabot Oil and Gas Corp., the company cited by the DEP for all seven spills. Staaf cited other incidents statewide, including the discharge of poorly treated natural gas drilling wastewater into the Monongahela River, which, according to Staaf, resulted in a drinking water advisory for 325,000 residents of the area.

“Elected officials are going to have to make a decision,” said Staaf. “Are they going to protect the public’s health, or are they going to put polluter profits ahead of the health of the commonwealth’s citizens and environment."

The document, titled “Preserving Forests, Protecting Waterways,” calls for a five-step approach to the natural gas drilling process, said Staaf. The recommendations include more transparency about the drilling process, the banning of drilling in areas that supply drinking water and house critical ecosystems, the passage of penalties for those who violate existing environmental laws, an increase of funding to the Department of Environmental protection and the strengthening of existing clean water laws. Staaf told journalists that PennEnvironment was not looking for an all-out ban on natural gas drilling, but was aiming specifically for the protection of the state’s waterways and water supply. Additionally, the report also asked that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources stop natural gas leasing on state forest land until the effects of drilling can be studied more closely.

Tuesday’s teleconference was also attended by Rep. Gregory Vitali, D.-Havertown, who said he felt a key solution would be to impose a severance tax on natural gas production. Such a tax, said Vitali, would help municipalities and families impacted by Marcellus Shale drilling. Vitali added that a severance tax would help fund revenues to study the impact of drilling on state forest land.

“I think we have leased out too much state forest land,” said Vitali, “and we shouldn’t lease out one acre more until we find another source of revenue.” Currently, approximately 660,000 acres of Pennsylvania state forest land has been leased to natural gas drilling companies.

A proposed severance tax was shot down during the state’s last budget cycle because lawmakers were concerned that it would impact the fledgling industry too greatly; however, Russell disagreed. “We could probably tax these companies at 50 percent and they would still drill,” Russell said, adding that the Marcellus Shale region could prove to be one of the richest natural gas resources in the world. “It’s just much too profitable.”

The Marcellus Shale region stretches out approximately 54,000 New York to Maryland, with approximately 60 percent of gas reserves located under Pennsylvania. Natural gas runs 5,000 to 8,000 feet below the ground surface in pockets of the shale formation.

Staaf said that she hoped the policy document would serve as a blueprint for the state’s elected officials. “If the legislature implements the policies, the state will be on its way toward allowing safe drilling while protecting public health and preserving our natural heritage,” she said.