Last night, Ashley and I caught a screening of Gasland, a film that explores natural gas drilling and its effect on water quality, air quality and human and animal health. As we’ve written about before, natural gas drilling is done through a controversial process called hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” — the Gasland website explains fracking here with a cool visual.
The film is thought-provoking and at times, quite disturbing. For example, some people who live near natural gas drilling sites are suddenly able to light their water on fire, straight from the tap. Nearby residents and pets are getting sick, losing their hair and losing weight. The chemicals used in the fracking process don’t have to be disclosed due to an exemption in the law — and this means that hundreds of unknown (and some well-known and proven unsafe!) chemicals end up in our waterways.
After the screening, filmmaker Josh Fox stayed for a Q-and-A session. In it, he noted that “the culture of convenience is leading us down this path.” It was heartbreaking to hear that we are sacrificing our water quality and air quality in large part to manufacture disposable plastic products.
You can find a screening of Gasland here or catch it on HBO and HBO On Demand. Fox told us there will be a theatrical release in the fall and a big screening in Philadelphia in late September. The DVD will be released in December, but you can watch the trailer here:
The Gasland website includes many ways to take action. The Delaware Valley River Basin Commission will be holding a public meeting regarding the Marcellus Shale next Wednesday, July 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company in West Trenton, NJ. Many citizens will be there to call for a complete moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Delaware River Watershed. For more information, visit Delaware Riverkeeper.
Pennsylvania environmental officials on Monday suspended some operations of a Marcellus Shale natural gas operator whose well blew out last week and spewed natural gas and 35,000 gallons of drilling fluid in a remote part of Clearfield County.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger ordered EOG Resources Inc. to suspend its natural-gas well drilling activities in Pennsylvania until DEP has completed a comprehensive investigation into the leak and the company has implemented any needed changes.
“The Clearfield County incident presented a serious threat to life and property,” said Hanger. “We are working with the company to review its Pennsylvania drilling operations fully from beginning to end to ensure an incident of this nature does not happen again.”
Do you support clean water for Philadelphia? Do you care about our state’s forests and rivers? Do you think that Pennsylvania should focus more on its environment instead of just the state budget? If so then take action and tell the Senate to save our forests from gas drilling.
Check out more details from our Partner Penn Future…
One-third of state forest lands, or about 700,000 acres, are already open to natural gas exploration and extraction. But gas drillers are pushing for more land, and Governor Rendell has proposed leasing additional state lands to help close the budget gap.
Our precious state parks and forests cannot be used as an ATM. Some of our major industries — outdoor tourism, recreation and sustainable timbering — rely on well-managed, protected lands in order to thrive. Gas drilling operations would mean building roads and pipelines through pristine lands, and would pose an immense risk to quality waterways.
Enough is enough. We need a freeze on new leases for drilling in state forests to prevent them from being used as a cash cow to close budget gaps.
Contact your state senator and urge him or her to support the Save Our Forests legislation (HB 2235). This bill would put a three year freeze on new leases for drilling in state forests and make sure our precious state lands are managed responsibly.
Please read the following press release from American Rivers regarding the press event that took place on Wednesday. Sarah was there representing TTF, along with the President of our Board, Gerry Kaufman, who is quoted below. It’s long, but chocked-full of important information about protecting the Delaware River.
American Rivers Names Upper Delaware River Most Endangered in U.S.
Philadelphia Leaders to DRBC: Cease Construction on Exploratory Wells; Deny Water Withdrawal, Drilling Permits
Industry Response: Unconventional Drilling, Conventional Obfuscation Strategies
Iris Marie Bloom
Philadelphia: June 3, 2010
The Upper Delaware River, the drinking water source for 17 million people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, is at risk from shale fracking for natural gas, a process that poisons groundwater and creates toxic pollution. This threat landed the Upper Delaware in the number one spot in America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2010, a report released yesterday by the national nonprofit group American Rivers.
In Philadelphia yesterday, American Rivers spokesperson Liz Garland opened a press conference at City Hall, “In shining the spotlight on gas drilling in the Upper Delaware River, we chose a time when preventive action is still possible. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is making major decisions right now which will affect the fate of this river, and the people who drink this water have a chance to weigh in on that decision.”
Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, said, “The Delaware River is the longest free flowing river east of the Mississippi, much of it designated Wild and Scenic. Many, many people have worked and billions of dollars have been spent to bring the Delaware back to life after decades of abuse. As we face the advent of gas drilling in the Upper Delaware River Watershed, we face the possibility of losing everything.”
Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who introduced a successful resolution earlier this spring calling on the DRBC to ban shale gas drilling until an Environmental Impact Statement is assessed for the Delaware River Watershed, drew parallels to the Gulf disaster. “The BP rig which blew up was an exploratory well. It had special exemptions. We have to learn something from this. The DRBC is exempting exploratory wells right here in our watershed, which supplies our drinking water. The have to stop letting companies drill without a DRBC permit, and they should deny the Stone Energy water withdrawal permit, and all drilling-related permits, until we have the Environmental Impact Statement. We don’t need a disaster here.”
Please read this important press release regarding an important upcoming event to protect the Upper Delaware River!
While the catastrophic consequences from extractive industries’ arrogant behavior unfolds before the eyes and hearts of a horrified nation, a tapestry of voices urges caution when it comes to putting the Delaware River, 330 miles long with a 13,000 square mile watershed, at risk.
On Wednesday, June 2, American Rivers, a national environmental organization based in Washington, D.C., will launch a campaign to protect the Upper Delaware River. This river system provides drinking water for 17 million people, including Philadelphia. It is also valued for its biodiversity and beauty. Three events this week will highlight the threat to the Upper Delaware River, now at risk due to imminent gas drilling. Drilling companies plan to hydrofrack thousands of wells within the watershed.
The Philadelphia press conference takes place at 12 noon Wednesday at City Hall, Fourth Floor Caucus Room.
It is preceded by an event in Narrowsburg, NY at 11 AM. American Rivers will also hold an event in Washington, D.C. on June 4th regarding the state of the nation’s rivers.
In Philadelphia, City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who earlier introduced a successful City Council resolution calling for a ban on gas drilling in the watershed until an Environmental Impact Statement is assessed, will speak. Albert F. Appleton, internationally respected water systems expert, former Commissioner of New York City DEP and former director of NYC Water and Sewer systems, will speak, along with PA State Rep. Gregory S. Vitali of the 166th Legislative District Delaware County, Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown of the 190th Legislative District, Philadelphia County, and Howard Neukrug, Director, Philadelphia Water Department Office of Watersheds. Community and faith-based leaders, including Reverend Nate Walker and Reverend Jesse Brown, along with environmental groups including Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Protecting Our Waters, Clean Air Council, Damascus Citizens, Clean Water Action, and PennEnvironment, will urge action from citizens and policymakers to protect the Delaware River.
In Narrowsburg at 11 AM on June 2nd, at the town Gazebo overlooking the Upper Delaware River, the following speakers will focus attention on the threatened river: Congressman Maurice Hinchey, representing the 22nd District of New York; Marcia Nehemiah, representing Damascus Citizens for Sustainability; Ramsay Adams, Executive Director of Catskill Mountainkeepers; Sean McGuinness National Park Superintendent of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River; and Bruce Ferguson of Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy.
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American Rivers is the leading national organization standing up for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. American Rivers protects and restores America’s rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife and nature. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters, with offices in Washington, DC and nationwide. Visit www.AmericanRivers.org
Contact:
Amy Kober, American Rivers, 206-898-3864
Patrick Carullo, Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, 570-685-8774
Tracy Carluccio, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, 215-369-1188 x 104
Iris Marie Bloom, Protecting Our Waters, 215-840-6489
PennFuture describes how you can take action to keep drilling from polluting Philadelphia’s drinking water supply.
Regulations that would safeguard our drinking water and public health have cleared one hurdle but we need you to speak out now to keep the momentum going.
Last week the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) approved new regulations that would protect our drinking water, rivers and streams from gas drilling wastewater and wastewater from other industries including mining – thanks to your help.
Now these vital regulations will go before the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), as well as the House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committees. These new standards will force drillers and other polluters to pay the costs of protecting our waterways; it’s no surprise that they are fighting back, urging the IRRC and legislators to stop the regulations.
We need you to counter the big industry lobbyists by sending a message to the IRRC and key legislators. Email them now, and let them know that the health of residents, and our economy, relies on clean safe drinking water and rivers and streams.
Thank you to our local House Representatives John Myers and Dwight Evans for voting to pass House Bill 2235, a bill to protect our forests and waterways from Marcelllus Shale Drilling.
HB 2235, which would put a three year freeze on new leases for gas drilling in state forests, was passed by the House yesterday by a vote of 157-33! In addition to the freeze on new deep drilling leases in our state forests, the legislation would give the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) discretion to decide if state forests can withstand additional drilling, and requires the agency to compile a yearly report on the impact of drilling in state forests.
Go to PennFuture’s Website to read more or to send your local representative a letter thanking them for voting to pass HB 2235.
PennFuture is leading the way on challenging the Marcellus Shale Drilling. Go PennFuture!
Drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale is growing at a breakneck pace – often destroying water supplies and damaging local communities, with no tax in place to restore and repair the damage and reimburse our citizens – it’s clear that taming the Marcellus Shale drillers is Job 1 for next year.
National gas drillers from around the world are coming to Pennsylvania to tap one of our most valuable natural resources – natural gas in the vast Marcellus Shale formation that underlies most of the state. Some of the drillers are conscientious about protecting the environment, but many are not. This brings tremendous risks to our land and water. And right now, those risks are being shouldered by local communities and environmental treasures.
In almost every state that has substantial natural gas deposits, drillers must pay a severance tax on the extraction of the resource to compensate for the depletion of the resource and for damage done to the environment and public infrastructure.
But not in Pennsylvania. This past year, we successfully pushed for a vote in favor of the tax in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but the Republican-controlled Senate and the oil, gas and drilling industries blocked any consideration in the Senate.
We are determined to push the tax through in 2010…
Visit PennFuture’s website to learn how you can help! Also check out our pastposts on Marcellus Shale to learn more about the issue.
We are always interested to learn of news in water-related legislation from our friends at PennFuture. Read all about it on their site here or sign up to receive email alerts here.
Here’s some of the latest news from PennFuture:
A gathering solution for stormwater?
Sprawl, inadequate policies, lack of effective legal and financial tools for local governments, and changing climate patterns all add up to extraordinary problems with stormwater and flooding in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday House Local Government Chair Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) will ask his committee to approve House Bill 1390, comprehensive stormwater management legislation.
HB 1390 requires local governments to address existing stormwater problems and to plan to avoid new problems. It also allows local governments to form stormwater authorities, which will give them the right to charge fees to those who are causing the problems. In Philadelphia, PennFuture advocated for and defended a similar program, which we believe will lead to better stormwater management practices across the city.
DEP needs the new regulations to ensure that wastewater generated at Marcellus Shale gas drilling sites does not damage streams and rivers. Marcellus wastewater contains high levels of TDS in the form of salts and can be two to four times saltier than seawater. High TDS levels can harm aquatic life, ruin the taste of drinking water and render river water unfit for industrial users.
Please voice your support for these important new regulations that limit the volume of TDS that new sources of pollution can discharge into our rivers and streams. Next week the Environmental Quality Board is holding public meetings in Cranberry (Butler County), Ebensburg, Williamsport and Allentown to receive comments on the TDS proposal. Citizens can also send written comments on the proposed rule to:
According to the Delaware River Basin Commission, substantial efforts are being taken to protect water and environment from degradation during extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale deposits that span from West Virginia across Northwestern Pennsylvania and up into New York.
According to Carol Collier, Executive Director the DRBC, “We are looking to provide directional signs, not stops signs” in discussing the proposed drilling. But from our perspective, some projects deserve to be stopped!
The headwaters for the Delaware River is one of the areas likely to be significantly impacted by this project. The Delaware River serves nearly 15 million citizens in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Hydrofracing, the process used to obtain natural gas, uses somewhere between three to five million gallons of water per well. About 40-60 percent of that water is reclaimed as wastewater and contains not only additives from the hydrofracing process, but heavy metals, dissolved solids and chemicals picked up from the layers of earth it has passed through. A satisfactory plan for treating this wastewater has not yet been developed. Where will this wastewater go except right back into our drinking water? We can’t stand for big business polluting OUR drinking water!
To read more about natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale deposits click here. To voice your opinion about the natural gas extraction, read our previous post on this topic.
