The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is the only governing body standing between fracking pollution and the fresh drinking water for 15.6 million people living in the Mid-Atlantic megapolis – a full 5% of the US population. So what is the DRBC doing to protect this precious, highly productive watershed from volatile shale gas pipelines and extreme fossil fuel extraction? Lately, not much.
The DRBC is an interstate commission, which is not a common thing. It’s comprised of the governors of PA, NY, NJ and DE (or their representatives), plus a representative of the Federal Government from The Army Corps of Engineers. It was created because the citizens in these states deemed the protection of their shared freshwater resources important enough to warrant utmost oversight and protection. That was 1961.
Today, DRBC commissioners act like children with mouths full of candy. It’s difficult to get a straight answer out of them, even at their own public meetings. Read the rest of this entry »
On Friday evening, a strip club in Springfield, Massachusetts exploded. Thankfully, no one was killed though several people were injured.
According to 22News in Springfield, “Glass flew everywhere…” Unbelievably, the explosion was captured on video:
Did you know there is a city or town named “Springfield” in every one of the fifty United States? The Simpsons live in Springfield, too. And it turns out, the more natural gas is used in buildings, offices and homes, the more likely you are to find a gas leak or explosion in a Springfield near you. Read the rest of this entry »
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has held out long enough.
It’s time for the state to release the full test results from a Washington County, PA water well near a Range Resources fracking operation. It is, after all, the taxpayers who pay for such testing, and these taxpayers ought to know what pollutants have been identified in their drinking water. It’s perfectly reasonable to want to know to which toxic chemicals you have been exposed, especially when those chemicals have been intentionally omitted from your well water report by the DEP.
Now that the infamous “Suite Code 942” has been revealed, the jig is up. Am loathe to moralize, but it sure seems like the right thing to do.
“Critics suggest the purported ‘filtering’ of testing data is just one of the ways people are left in the dark about the assortment of heavy metals and other toxic contaminants that may be in their air and water as a result of drilling, hydraulic fracturing and other phases of natural gas production. Recent studies have identified more than 600 chemicals used throughout the process of natural gas production, and often left undisclosed by companies. Additionally, natural but equally hazardous substances can be released from the wells.”
Doesn’t DEP get it yet? Dismissing the drumbeats of concerned citizens only makes them louder.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Networkis asking people to please send this letter via the link on their site, or write you own, to those directly responsible for keeping this vital health information a secret. Addresses below. Read the rest of this entry »
Bill Moyers talks about Climate Change and Capitalism with Shock Doctrine author, Naomi Klein.
“I believe it’s the biggest challenge humanity has faced, and we’ve been kidding ourselves about what it’s going to take to get our emmissions down to the extent that they need to go down,” Naomi Klein.
PA DEP Secretary Krancer was in Pittsburgh last week, marshaling his forces at the Drilling Unconventional Gas (DUG East) Conference, and peppering his pro-gas speech with an unnerving number of Civil War references. According to Don Hopey in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Krancer “referred to several dozen protesters outside as less imposing than opposition he sees as a Civil War re-enactor.”
Lest we forget, the Mason-Dixon line once divided The Marcellus Shale, too.
Access to the Pittsburgh conference was limited to those who meet DUG’s self-prescribed “press pass policy.” Indeed, it’s only getting more difficult to gain entry to big gas shows, even if you are willing to pony up nearly a grand to register, even if you are a legitimately credentialed member of the press, like Buck Quigley of ArtVoice. Read the rest of this entry »
The true story of the Marcellus Shale Gas Boom is stranger than fiction, full of polemic twists, shocking revelations and methane geysers. Here, an aggregation of the aggravation caused by the gas industry in Pennsylvania in the past week alone. Look out, David Hess, I’ve been taking notes.
SkyTruth.org and FracTracker.orghave teamed up to build the most comprehensive – and functional – database of fracking chemicals on the planet. The new SkyTruthFracking Chemical Database is a powerful research tool, enhanced by FracTracker‘s stellar mapping technology. Been looking for something a little more practical than the smattering of 27,000 pdfs found on FracFocus.org, the gas industry’s chemicals registry of choice? Look no further. Read the rest of this entry »
This statement was debated in early November by Bill McKibben, author and founder of 350.org, and Alex Epstein, Founder and President of the Center For Industrial Progress and former Junior Fellow of The Ayn Rand Institute. The debate was ably mediated by Duke University Law Professor, Bill Brown.
Bill McKibben and Alex Epstein square off on fossil fuels — do they make the planet a worse place to live or a better place to live?
Full Audio Version provided by ImproveThePlanet, Center For Industrial Progress.
“My daughter and I were outraged that Epstein is capable of taking such a humanistic, anthropocentric position on the issues regarding the health of our planet,” reports Spear. Her article (which was the most media coverage I could find) and the accompanying comments make for a great debate primer.
Opposing arguments lasted over an hour and a half, but McKibben took the win in the first ten minutes, in his opening statement no less, when he laid out thirteen very good reasons to phase out fossil fuels on the planet, citing references galore:
Energy Evolution Is Required: We should be grateful for Fossil Fuels, even as the transition beyond them has become the “task of our times.”
Risk to Oceans: Coral reefs – the lungs of the ocean – are disappearing. The oceans have become 40% more acidic in recent years.
Risk to Cryosphere: The loss of polar ice caps diminishes the earth’s ability to reflect sunlight.
Risk to Hydrology: A fundamental change in the way water moves around the earth increases destructive deluges and storms.
Risk to Agriculture: We are already seeing dramatic decreases in crop yields, and significant increases in grain prices, as a result of increased global drought. Record numbers of families must now have regular foodless days.
Risk to Other Species: Conservative estimates predict a 70% species reduction as a result of global warming.
Risk to Coastal Cities: Storm surges are expected to rise several feet along with sea-levels, making coastal storms more dangerous.
Risk to Forests: Forests, which are like the lungs of our atmosphere as they absorb CO2 and produce Oxygen, are rapidly disappearing.
Grave Risk to Public Health: 400,000 deaths are already attributed to Global Warming, and 4.5 million to Air Pollution.
Risk to Economies and Development: Numerous studies demonstrate how Global Warming damages GDP.
Risk To National Security: Climate change, and the scarcity it brings, has the potential to de-stabilize governments.
Jeopardizes Political Freedom and Liberty: Climate Change challenges the fundamental beliefs ingrained in the American Conservative Agenda as more victims of extreme weather events turn to a centralized authority for aid and relief.
Risk to Democracy: The fossil fuel industry contributes mightily to political campaigns, with Chevron having made the single largest contribution to a political Super PAC since Citizens United. The result is over $409,000,000,000 in Oil& Gas subsidies.
Serious issues to face! Luckily, some of the best minds are on it. Later in the debate, McKibben shares the good news: “We have the tools we need in order to adapt.“
Pennsylvania’s municipal water treatment plants were designed to handle the bio solids of sewage, not the radioactive compounds contained in shale gas drilling waste. They can’t handle the massive volumes of frack flowback produced in our state.
It takes 4.5 to 9 million gallons of fresh water to hydro-frack a single natural gas well. There are more than 30,000 permits awaiting approval in Pennsylvania over the next 10 years. In addition to the 8,982 frack wells currently operating in Pennsylvania, that equals 165 billion gallons of fresh water, largely from the Special Protection Waters of the Delaware River Watershed and the Susquehanna River Basin. Once removed, this water is destined to become toxic, radioactive frack “flowback.” And, by the way, that’s way more water than we actually have.
At first blush, recycling frack flowback – both onsite and at regional treatment plants – seems like the perfect solution. There’s now a long list of companies who want to sell or lease their services to drillers, along with their glorified mobile distillation units. But this, too, poses new problems and raises even more questions about shale gas waste regulation and oversight. Ultimately, waste recyclers still have to deal with the disposal of the super salty waste bi-product known as brine.
So now, recycled frack brine is to be sold – at around $.05 a gallon – to PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) to spray on our roads for deicing in winter, and something called “dust suppression.”
Seriously, dust suppression.
Untreated frack brine has been shown to include barium, radium, strontium and a range of radionuclides. Sometimes, there’s even uranium. (Yes, there’s uranium down there, too.) Flowback may also contain sodium and calcium salts, iron, oil, numerous heavy metals, diesel fuel and industrial soaps. And now this stuff might be on my running shoes, and the wheels of my kids’ bikes. Heavy snows and spring rains will carry these compounds into our rivers and streams, lacing our waterways with toxins. Are you kidding me?
How is it, though they’re using taxpayer dollars to buy this supposedly “clean” brine, that there was no public input?
Everyday, I see an ANGA ad, or I read a slop-ed from a Marcellus Shale Coalition minion, and I wonder how can they say shale gas is “safe” when ALL their triple cement well-bore seals will fail within 70-100 years? How can the U.S. president say it’s safe?
Cement isn’t magical. It won’t last forever.
Is ANGA, or the Marcellus Shale Coalition, or EPA for that matter, planning to replug all the frack wells in every last watershed and aquifer by 2112? In reality, it’s more like “safe for now” or maybe “safe for a few generations” but down the road, the population in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware will have to deal with toxic drinking water.
Are you getting the message, Harrisburg? Don’t frack with Philly!
While these newly elected officials aren’t all for a ban on fracking (yet) many have taken very pro-environment positions on shale gas drilling. It’s safe to say, they’re all fractivist friendly.
State Senator Daylin Leach Wins Re-ElectionWith nearly all precincts reporting, incumbent Democrat Daylin Leach defeated GOP challenger Charles Gehret by James Meyers, Patch.com
Republicans and Fossil Fuel Phanatics rest assured, fractivists are taking names, determined to hold ALL elected officials accountable to their campaign promises. Clean fracking is pure fantasy, but bi-partisanship is always within reach.
Far be it for me to tell people how to vote, except when there’s more at stake for Pennsylvania’s natural environment than any general election in our history, ever. But don’t take my word for it. You’ll find the most eco-friendly candidates in the race listed on Clean Water Action’s Endorsements and Key Races pages. For the very latest links and news, visit Marcellus at the Polls.
Where Do Our Candidates Stand On The Important Environmental Issues Facing Pennsylvania?
If you’re interested in supporting eco-friendly candidates in Pennsylvania, you might need more information about their voting records, endorsements, contributors and, of course, their campaign promises. And you’ll want to be sure to exercise your franchise on Tuesday, November 6th.
It’s Time To Mother Earth
Visit Marcellus At The Pollsto learn where your candidates stand on issues related to shale gas drilling. A note from Marcellus at The Polls: It’s an all-volunteer effort. We have information on candidates running in PA who are ‘fracktivist friendly’. They are running for various offices, they are of varying political parties. We list the ones who have made strong statements against the wanton fracking of PA. We’re all volunteers & accept no $ from anyone/any political party/PAC.
Who Got What
Campaign contributions from the Oil & Gas Industry to Pennsylvania Politicians are tallied up at MarcellusMoney.org
Promised Land, filmed on location, starring Matt Damon… This is the trailer you’ve been trolling for!
Matt Damon is Steve, a charismatic Marcellus landman having a drastic change of heart. “I’m selling them the only way they have to get back.” John Kraskinski is the farmer whose land has been destroyed by the gas industry. “We’re not fighting for land, Steve, we’re fighting for people.” And Frances McDormand is the sassy voice of reason… Has Oscar written all over it. Can’t wait.
A few days ago, Joanne Fiorito announced on facebook that she had “justchased a gashole off my land who was idling his diesel engine while he chatted on his cell because the reception is good there….he rolled his window down and asked me what I called him, and I told him I asked you to leave, and proceeded to tell me he isn’t a gashole he’s a local….I said gashole it is then, now LEAVE! and he left! TIRED OF THEIR BULLSHIT…..not taking it anymore!”
I could sense her frustration. Joanne is fractivist and prolific fb poster from a once quiet corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her environs have been systematically invaded by gas drilling interests. That day, her wit lacked the usual wry twist. I offered some solidarity from SEPA: “from the Philly suburbs, it sounds like the wild west up there. you’re a good neighbor, Joanne!”
Joanne replied: “if locals don’t want to be lumped in with those who are destroying our lands-air-water, then they best disguise their trucks better by placing a company logo on their vehicles…..until then – if your vehicle looks the same as the other industry pickup trucks with that box in the back bed that has a lube tube sticking out of the middle, then take a hint….”
According to Global Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing, a facebook page administered by Luke Ashley of Wrexam, England, “Understanding how fracking and repeated fracking can result in failing well integrity. Gaps and cracks in the annular casing cement allow unwanted contaminates to migrate between formation layers and aquifers. After a well has been repeatedly fracked and is no longer economically viable, it is plugged and abandoned but nothing is or can be done to ensure adequate well integrity between the casing and drilled well bore.”
Cement Isn’t Magic. All Frack Wellbore Seals Fail Eventually.
A little more than halfway through the The Delaware Riverkeeper Network‘s Virtual Canoe Race, and I’m happy to say that our boat, The Green Zombies, is not in last place. Currently, Adirondacker and Pampitus have a commanding lead, with Howler paddling hard through Port Jervis and gaining fast. Shout out to Sojourn 5, in position 27 – they know it ain’t over! There’s plenty of river miles left, and we’re having a blast despite our virtual blisters. Read the rest of this entry »
Act 13 of 2012 stole municipalities’ rights to control zoning of oil and gas operations and it forces gas drilling, pipelines, toxic frack pits and more into neighborhoods and up against community resources like schools, day care centers, and parks. Read the rest of this entry »
England, Canada, United States, Ireland, Czech Republic, France, Denmark, South Africa… On Saturday, September 22, 2012, energetic yet peaceful protests sprouted up around the globe as many thousands gathered to demonstrate their concern over fracking for shale gas.
Images of The Global Frackdown from nearly every continent depict the growing outrage over this dangerous and polluting form of extreme fossil fuel extraction. They’ve been gloriously collected on the Global Frackdownfacebook page.
According to EcoWatch.org in Thousands Rally Around The World To Ban Fracking: “Major actions overseas included a rally on the steps of the European Parliament; demonstrations in front of Parliament buildings in South Africa, Bulgaria and the Czech republic; marches in Argentina; grassroots activities in Paris and the south of France, and screenings of the film Gasland in Spain.”
Keep Tap Water Safe 