Natural Gas Drilling: Hunting Club Faces Contaminated Water in PA

The Susquehanna River in French Azilum, PA
Site of the old Rod and Gun Club
Photo: Carol Manuel

A local watering hole called Reeds Spring is a well-known spot for hunters to get clean water.  People from nearby hunting camps used to line up with water jugs.  It was a place to meet people from other camps.  But now instead of clean water, there stands a big sign saying,  "CONTAMINATED WATER."  A torn liner under a drill cuttings pit allowed leakage of toxic chemicals which contaminated groundwater feeding the spring nearly two years ago.

Read the rest of the story here.

The economic impacts of gas drilling are affecting this major industry.  Pennsylvania would do well to protect the forests and streams and rivers in order to preserve the hunting and fishing industry which brings in money to the commonwealth.  Once the environment is destroyed, there will be no re-starting the vast areas of pristine areas thousands of people come to enjoy every year.

Note: If you look very carefully in the above photo, you will see tiny dots about midway in the picture.  These dots are members of my family floating down the river in inner tubes, a family tradition for decades. 

PA Well Blowout Easily Preventable, Potentially Catastrophic

[Photo from PA DEP]

DEP Secretary John Hanger announced that an independent investigation of the June 3rd blowout at a gas well in Clearfield County, PA, was preventable and that EOG Resources ignored industry standards by failing to install  proper barriers in the well and hiring uncertified operators.  In addition, EOG Resources failed to alert emergency authorities until several hours after the blowout, which hindered the state's response.  Hanger said

...this could have been a catastrophic incident. Had the gas blowing out of this well ignited, the human cost would have been tragic, and had an explosion allowed this well to discharge wastewater for days or weeks, the environmental damage would have been significant.

Read the whole story  here. (Article from Truthout by Mike Ludwig)

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

Marcellus Shale Gas Blowout in North Central PA: Reporter Is Threatened With Being Shot and Arrested

Enjoying a boat ride on the Western Branch of the Susquehanna River, Clearfield County, Central Pennsylvania

Michael Morrill reports at The Daily Kos that he was threatened and told he might possibly be shot and/or arrested if he didn't leave.  He was trying to investigate the gas well blowout last week in Clearfield County, PA .  Read his astounding account of what happened to him when he showed up during the clean-up with a Flip camera.  The extent to which several gas employees pursued and harrassed him is quite surprising.  We should all know that this is happening. Here is an excerpt from Morrill's diary:

They told me that I was on property owned by Punxsutawney Hunt Club, and the members didn't appreciate trespassers They told me, in a veiled threat, that I should leave now, and as long as I was heading out I would probably not get shot.

Read a related article here.  "PA halts drilling by company after gas accident"

Marcellus Shale: Another Leak in PA Forces Evacuation At Campground

A well rupture in Clearfield County, PA, spewed drilling fluids for 16 hours before emergency officials could stop it.  EOG Resources runs the well.  They capped the well.  The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction in the immediate area which remains in effect until further notice, according to ThePittsburghChannel.com report. According to a PEMA news release, the well which was in the frack process ruptured, spilling water and unignited wet gas.  [The water referred to here would typically contain toxic chemicals.  It is NOT "just water."]   No one was injured.

Readers, if you have a few minutes, be sure to watch the video from Pittsburgh Channel 4 Action News here.  I think the usually compliant media is beginning to report more negative news about gas drilling.  This video includes how actual people view the gas drilling industry.  Highly recommended.

The PA DEP report from today is here.

Here is an update on the accident.

A one-mile radius of Moshannon State Forest was evacuated Friday morning after a gas well ruptured near the Punxsutawney Hunting Club. The leak happened at a Marcellus drilling operation on McGeorge Road in the forest. The gas well is owned by EOG Resources Inc., officials said.

Around 10:30 a.m., officials were checking camps to make sure all campers were evacuated around the site of the leak. Officials said they were dealing with gas leaking into the air.

According to state Rep. Bud George's office, initial reports from Process Equipment Manufacturers' Association said three of four wells were secured. The other well was releasing frack water and unignited wet gas, which caused the evacuation. Officials said an estimated 1 million gallons of frack water was uncontrolled as of 11 a.m. in the area of exit 111 on Interstate 80.

Amy Mall of Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) offers even more vital information about this disaster here. Check this out!  It is really important in regard to the chemicals that were released in this state forest. For example, Amy explains what wet gas is, and it is probably not what you think.