Group: Drillers' Violations Rampant
Washington PA Observer Reporter
4 August 2010
More than 1,400 violations to Pennsylvania's oil and gas laws occurred
during a 21/2-year period by natural gas drillers in the Marcellus
Shale and many have an environmental impact, according to a state
conservancy group.
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has reviewed the violations
through records obtained from the state Department of Environmental
Protection. The association is made up of 80 state conservation
organizations including the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
DEP records show 1,435 violations of state laws caused by gas drilling
or other earth-disturbance activities related to gas extraction from
the Marcellus Shale. Of those, 952 violations were identified as having
or likely to have an impact on the environment. They included such
things as improper construction of a wastewater impoundment, violations
of the state's Clean Stream law and improper well casing.
The remaining 483 were identified as likely being administrative or
safety violations and not likely to impact the environment.
Elana Richman, project coordinator for the association, said it was
decided to undertake the study after hearing about drilling concerns
throughout the state. There had been requests from the DEP for similar
information, but most of that had been for specific areas.
The violations studied were between January 2008 and June 25 and were
obtained through a Right to Know request.
In a letter dated June 30 to state Sen. Mary Jo White, chairman of the
Senate's Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, DEP Secretary
John Hanger noted that there have been 565 drilling violations in the
first six months of this year.
Hanger noted the department is hiring an additional 68 people for its
oil and gas staff to allow additional focus on compliance and
enforcement.
As a result of Monday's report from the association, environmental
groups called on the Legislature for action.
Jeff Schmidt, director of the Sierra Club's state chapter, said lack of
mandatory inspections has hampered environmental protection. He noted
the proposed House Bill 2213 would make DEP inspection of each well
mandatory, rather than leave it to the department's discretion.
Myron Arnowitt, state director for Clean Water Action, also called on
state legislators to pass proposed amendments to the outdated Oil and
Gas Act before the fall recess.
HB 2213 adds protections to the Oil and Gas Act requiring that the DEP
inspect all wells both before and after drilling, prevents gas drilling
within 1,000 feet of a water well used for drinking and requires full
disclosure of all hazardous chemicals used in the gas drilling process.
HB 2213 passed the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
earlier this year but has yet to come to the House floor for a vote.
PALTA's report is available at http://www.conserveland.org/violationsrpt