A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood?

Published on May 18, 2013

All this happening on Turnpike Rd., Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pa.. Flaring on the Teddick Gas Pad and see the fire damages at the Williams Compressor Station. I gave a Citizen Gas Tour for a group from NJ , who are with the Food and Water Watch Organization and they toured with their placard-decorated Anti-Frack Mobile....

From Vera Scroggins, Independent Media/Journalist

Anti-Fracking Mobile



"The Story of Stuff" Weighs In

"A carcinogen-dependent, accident-prone industry has no business setting up shop next to schools and neighborhoods. It has no right to use our communities as its factory floor."

The Story of Stuff Project

Compressor Station Explosion Kills One

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20120625/NEWS01/706259928/One-dead-in-explosion-at-BP-compression-station

Article published Jun 25, 2012

One dead in explosion at BP compression station

---

By Shane Benjamin

An explosion at a large gas compression station owned by BP killed one worker and seriously injured two others.

The explosion, which occurred at about 8:15 a.m. today at BP’s Piñon Compression Station, temporarily closed U.S. Highway 160 five miles east of Elmore’s Corner.

“At this time the immediate concern is for the people involved,” Julie Levy, a spokeswoman for BP.

Dan Bender, spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, said one was confirmed dead and two seriously injured. There were several other workers on site at the time.

Residents in the area reported hearing the explosion. Bender said there was an explosion but no fire followed. There is no ongoing risk at the facility in conjunction with the explosion, he said.

The highway was reopened after about a half an hour.

The compression station is BP’s largest in La Plata County. The company routinely works with local emergency workers on disaster plans in the event of an explosion.

The compression station is one of two major facilities owned by BP where natural gas is gathered to be put in a pipeline.

It is located in the 35000 block north of Highway 160 near a fire station owned by the Upper Pine Fire Protection District.

Further details were not immediately available.

shane@durangoherald.com

Message from:

Gwen Lachelt, Founder & Director

Earthworks' Oil & Gas Accountability Project
970-259-3353 x 1
505-469-0380

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON FRACKING • JULY 28 • THE US CAPITOL • WASHINGTON, DC • SIGN UP HERE: http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/

PA Streambed Moving: A Strange Sight

Don writes, "Folks, there should be solid rock in the streambed under my feet. It's anything but solid." He describes the creek bed: "I found sediment several feet deep that shakes like pudding."

More on this story HERE.

WHY ARE THESE ROCKS "FLOATING"?

Chesapeake Energy Blowout, Rig Lost

Jan. 5th 2012 10pm

Nomac Rig #17 drilled into a shallow gas pocket soon after spudding in at a drilling depth of 900' northwest of Sweetwater, Oklahoma this evening around 6pm and burned to the ground. No injuries were reported.

Workers stated that they encountered the abnormally pressurized zone at relief time around 6pm when the relief crew was in the change house. It was first thought that they had encountered a shallow air pocket but after testing with a "sniffer" (a device to determine the presence of hydrocarbons) the well soon caught fire.

Witnesses 3/4 of a mile to the north reported hearing a loud "boom" from their residence "and then it sounded like a jet engine was right outside our home". When they drove down to the drill site to investigate the well was discharging fluid, soon after that something ignited the gas and the rig caught fire.

Bar Hoppers (used to increase the mud weight and counter downhole pressures) were not yet rigged up. A gas separator, chokes and a BOP stack were also on location and waiting to be rigged up and tested as soon as the surface portion of the hole was completed. Without these blowout prevention devices in place there is little to nothing that can be done to control the well.

It's very unusual to hit a shallow air pocket in the area and even rarer to encounter any hydrocarbons at this shallow depth above the planned surface casing.

El Reno based Nomac Drilling is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy, one of the nations most active drillers.

Read more.

Homicide Charge In Crash That Killed Elmira Woman

On Friday morning, October 21st, Lauralee Michelle Widmer of Elmira lost her life to a drunk driver. She was 36 years old.

Jackson Township, Pa. — A Texas man is facing a vehicular homicide charge in connection with Friday morning’s crash in Tioga County, Pa. that killed an Elmira woman...Davidson works in the natural gas industry and is an employee of T3 Energy Services, located in Elmira, according to Pennsylvania State Police. He was driving a company truck at the time of the accident, according to police... (The Corning Leader)

Read more here.

Yes, I know that accidents happen everywhere.  Yes, I know that people other than gas drillers drive drunk and abuse drugs.  Yes, I know that this accident is not the fault of the gas industry- not directly anyway.  So please refrain from posting comments that say these things.  I've heard it all quite a few times.  These gas employees work 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off.  They have a lot of time on their hands.  They are far away from their families.  They populate the local bars.  The police in Bradford County have said so.  These jobs invite problems.  The gas industry does add many problems to living in gasfields. 

Check here and here.

A quote from the DA of Bradford County: (August 2011)

In Bradford County, Pa., drunken driving arrests are up 60 percent. Criminal sentencing was up 35 percent in 2010. And in Towanda, the county seat, DUI arrests were up 50 percent.
Why? The frenzy of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling, which has boosted the economies of some of Pennsylvania's smallest and most rural counties in recent years, has also led to rapid population swells and -- by extension -- more crime.

"Economic boom equals crime boom," said Daniel J. Barrett, the district attorney of Bradford County, which borders southern New York.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11227/1166928-499-0.stm#ixzz1bhhah0ii

Accident on PA Well Pad Injures Worker

A gas well worker was airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, October 6th, after an emission of gas under pressure, described by Chesapeake Energy as "an inadvertent release of pressure."  The incident occurred in Terry Township, Bradford County, PA.

Well, I would be surprised if Chesapeake would say this was done on purpose.  Of course, it was inadvertent, just like all spills and accidents resulting in injuries, deaths, and illness.  Does that make it more acceptable?

The newspaper article described what a resident close to the accident felt:

Spring Lake Road resident Larry Shenk, who lives about a half mile away from the well site, said he was walking out of his house onto his porch, when he heard a loud boom, followed by about 15 seconds of a whooshing sound, which sounded like air blowing.

I believe this well was put in in 2009 and was a producing well.  The injured man was performing routine maintenance at the site. 

Read the whole article here.

The road near our summer homestead
Photo: Carol Manuel

Note:  This incident is personal for me because it happened just 10 miles south of our family summer homestead in French Azilum.  French Azilum is being destroyed by gas drilling.  I say this because any beautiful place which is turned into an industrial zone is, by definition,  destroyed.  It becomes a Sacrifice Zone.  There are many such zones in our country and more on the way.  All for greed and profit.

Another Mud Spill In Laurel Lake Creek in Susquehanna County, PA

Eye Witness Report From Vera:

Just passed Laurel Lake Creek at noon and saw the pumping going on again for the escaping pipeline drilling mud entering the creek bed. All the guys and tankers and trucks and pumping station back again with Southeast Directional Drilling working to pump this out and contain it.

I called Tom Karam , the owner of this Laser Pipeline and told him what is happening and he didn't know!

I videotaped the latest "blow-out"--they supposedly tried some different tactics and the mud escaped again !! The Creek is not wanting this mud to stay underground and it is barfing it up--

Here are Vera's reports after the other accidents in this creek last month:

http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2011/08/laurel-creek-mud-spill-susquehanna.html (08/05/11)

http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2011/08/laurel-lake-creek-update-another.html (08/11/11)

http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2011/08/laurel-lake-creek-mud-inadvertent.html (08/16/11)

http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2011/08/laurel-lake-creek-pipeline-drilling.html (08/17/11)

And this from the staff blog of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/pennsylvania_citizen_intimidat.html

THANK YOU, VERA!

INDEPENDENT MEDIA REPORTER

EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Remembering a dear friend who fought against unconventional gas drilling in Pennsylvania:

Karen Korell

1944-2010

Hydrofracking: A Personal Testimony and Warning

Silica dust in the air

Hello: My name is Carl L. Mc Williams, I am married to Karen and we live in Garfield County, Colorado. There are over 10,000 active CH4 (methane) gas wells inside Garfield County, Colorado.

I spent one full year working on these CH4 wells. I was employed by  LONKAR US LTD. a Canadian company and I worked on a "swabbing rig". We were not part of the exploration (drilling). We serviced existing and producing natural gas wells. A swabbing rig is a "workover-rig" and our purpose was to remove water from the well that had stopped the flow of natural gas in a producing well. It turns out that the water we were removing was residual "fracing" water and we were never informed of the benzene and other chemicals that exist in this "production water".

In March of 2008, my swabbing rig was working on a well site where the gas company had reused the same "fracing" fluids in an attempt to save money. The problem with that is the reusing of "fracing" fluids causes the manifestation of H2S, (Hydrogen Sulfide Gas) which, in doses above 50 ppm for 30 minutes is deadly. My co-worker died and I spent three months in recovery. My employer and the billion dollar energy company basically lied and covered-up their gross negligence in ordering my co-worker and I to expose ourselves to the deadly H2S without proper safety equipment, such as supplied-air-respirators. Federal OSHA fined my employer. I blew the whistle to OSHA and was fired for doing so. My whistleblower case with OSHA is still pending and I have been black-balled from the industry.

That said, I do want to bring to your attention a very deadly practice that is taking place on every "fracing" job site. "Fracing" uses silica sand in the "fracing mix". The truck drivers, pulling "sand-cans" (box-car-size-trailers) full of silica sand arrive at the well site and using high pressure pumps unload from the "sand-cans" the silica sand into the "fracing tanks". During this process there is created a silica sand dust cloud that is much more dangerous than asbestos. Just as cut glass will lacerate the flesh of your arm, this silica sand dust is an airborne particulate, that when breathed into the lungs will cause lung damage that is a quicker death than asbestos exposure and extremely painful for the victim.

I informed Federal OSHA of this danger to Americans but nothing has happened from OSHA yet.

Therefore, I am informing you folks. The gas drilling industry has an expression: "WELL-FIELD-TRASH". The corporate officers of the natural gas industry considers all of their well workers to be "TRASH". The worker safety-protection measures on these gas well sites is non-existent.

Pass the word about the silica sand dust these Americans are breathing

Carl McWilliams
Silt Mesa, Colorado

This piece was originally published here.

Water Tanker Tips Over Into Ditch: Susquehanna County, PA

This accident was minor.  Yet it took several hours to get the truck out of the way while more trucks waited in a long line to get through.  No one was hurt.

I applaud the brave person who filmed this incident.  She goes wherever she finds the real news and provides videos for us who can't be there on the scene.  Indy Media at its best!

Happy Earth Day from Whale News Network

Used by permission of Mr. Matson

Anyone remember Tony Hayward?  That treasure chest that Mr. Hayward has on the big hook says "One Million Dollar Pension." And the newspaper in the lower lefthand corner is the Wall Street Journal.  Cool shirt on Hayward. You bet your BP.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Bradford County, PA, Commissioner Smith Writes To Governor Re: Gas Drilling Problems



Looking down French Azilum Road in Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA, near our summer home established in 1930.
Photo credit: Carol Manuel

 Bradford County, PA

http://www.bradfordcountypa.org/
Bradford County, PA, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848

Mark W. Smith, Chairman
Gayle Kershner, Chief Clerk
Jonathan Foster, Solicitor

smithm@bradfordco.org

570-867-1757
Bradford County Commissioners
April 20, 2011

Governor Tom Corbett
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Governor Corbett,

Issue after issue has arisen in Bradford County in relation to the development of natural gas in Bradford County. Most recently there was a major incident involving a well blowout in Leroy Township, Bradford County. This major incident is just one more issue our county is dealing with in regards to the development of the Marcellus Shale.

I have a number of concerns I would like to address in relation to these important issues that are unfolding in the county I was elected to represent. DEP officials are quoted in the media as saying they spend as little as 35 minutes to approve each gas well permit. This is an appalling statistic considering the significant operations and impact of a natural gas drilling site and even more appalling considering that there have been nearly 2,000 gas wells permitted in Bradford County.

In recent weeks it has been reported that DEP is now requiring Marcellus Shale violations to be approved by top DEP officials before being levied on gas companies. This practice strikes at the heart of the integrity of that organization. It does irreparable damage to the local areas in the Marcellus Shale with the environmental damage that has become an everyday reality in Bradford County.

Well water contamination in Bradford County is a real and serious issue that is affecting residents’ quality of life, livelihoods, families, and property values. Water buffalos, temporary water storage tanks, now lay claim to peoples’ front yards as a stark reminder of the extreme negative impact that natural gas development is having on our local communities.

Last year I put much effort working for a severance tax that would include an equitable share for local communities. It was a failed attempt but a sincere effort to ensure our county is taken care of through this development. I continue to see our county, townships, and boroughs struggle with complex issues of development with no financial or logistical support from the Commonwealth. Emergency responders, volunteers, state and local police and dispatchers are working at a break neck pace to respond to immense traffic accident increases, well site accidents, and other related issues.

I have heard politicians in complete favor of the gas industry use the phrase, “We don’twant to kill the golden goose”. I would like to state, for the record, that the “Golden Goose” does not exist. It is no more part of reality than the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, or the Easter Bunny.

Lastly, I would like to address the outstanding issue regarding Bradford County’s lack of representation on your appointed Marcellus Shale Commission. Bradford County has had the unique experience of being the most drilled in county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Yet, despite that fact, no one from our county was appointed to your commission. The fact our county was not taken into consideration is a direct insult to our county.

I have been working to, at least, find a way for some of our agencies to be heard by the commission or one of its work groups. To date I have not been successful. I have called and e-mailed the Lt. Governor’s Office and tried working through one of our state representatives to no avail. What a shame that a county with the most experience dealing with the impact of natural gas development seems to have been blackballed from comment to what will be your basis for setting Marcellus Shale policy.

I ask you to take our county and others like it seriously as you move forward setting policy in regards to Marcellus Shale development. The economic benefit of this development is unquestionable. However, it is also unquestionable that when left unattended, the negatives outweigh the positives quickly and heavily.

Best Regards,

Mark W. Smith
Chairman, Bradford County Commissioners

Cc: Secretary Michael Krancer
Representative Tina Pickett
Representative Matt Baker
Senator Gene Yaw

The Tale of the Golden Goose

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SMITH, FOR WRITING THIS LETTER

Gas Drilling in PA: No Respect For the Law

This morning PennDOT removed a tracked drilling rig from the wooded area where it fell off a lowboy Friday in East Troy, PA.  Two problems come immediately to mind:

1. The weight of the rig and the lowboy together were overweight.  Law for weight IGNORED.

2. Diesel was drained from the rig after the accident.  That sounds very nice, but did any of the diesel fuel spill during the accident or as the fuel was being drained?   ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS!

This scenario has been repeated many, many times in PA and everywhere else gas drilling is happening.  It is a significant danger to local people and the environment.  However, there seems to be little worry by gas companies.  I will give the benefit of the doubt that the gas industry does care about their workers.  However, the fines for these accidents is laughable at best.  The Daily Review reported that the fine here will be more than $12,000.  A mere drop in the bucket.

Read more...........LINK

Water Tanker Truck Rolls Over in Asylum Township (PA)

[Photo Credit: James Loewenstein, Towanda Daily Review]

Yet another accident involving a water tanker truck has occurred in Bradford County, PA.  Last night a Towanda man says he could easily have been killed when a huge water tanker truck lost control of his vehicle about 6:30 p.m., causing the truck to roll over as it came out of a sharp right-hand curve, narrowly missing this man who was driving a minivan.  The truck had the words "Excalibur Energy Service, Inc." on it. (Excalibur Energy is a firm out of Dallas, TX.)  The driver of the minivan said it was the scariest situation he has ever been in, according to the article in the Towanda Daily Review. He had to quickly speed up and veer off the road to avoid being hit.  Had there been a guard rail there, he thinks he would have been killed. 

Read the whole article here.

Note from this blogger:  I have driven on this road and turned at this very curve quite a few times.  I can attest to the fact that it is an extremely sharp curve, and I can also attest to the fact that these truck drivers do not handle their vehicles in a safe manner much of the time.  It is very dangerous to be on the road with these trucks.  A couple of times I have become really alarmed and thought I might have to drive off the road to avoid them.  And in Asylum Township, driving off the road often means driving into a ditch.  These are narrow rural roads, and many of them are all torn up from the heavy gas drilling trucks, making it even more dangerous to drive around there.

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PA

BIG GAS TRUCKS ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY DRIVE TOO FAST

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!

Driving Drunk In a Flatbed Truck Owned By Gas Company

I am getting sick of this.  Another potentially fatal accident involving an employee of a gas drilling outfit in PA.  What are people going to do to feel safe anymore?  Very early Saturday morning (6/26), Steven Mohr, Jr., age 34, of Halstead, PA, got behind the wheel of his flatbed tractor trailer owned by 5J Oilfield Services, drove into the village of Owego at a high rate of speed, and lost control of the rig, shearing off several telephone poles and a guardrail before resting the cab in a stormwater drainage ditch near a doctor's office on 5th Avenue.  THE DRIVER FLED ON FOOT.

The driver was later found at a hospital in Binghamton, NY, and was charged with fleeing the scene of a property danage accident, DUI, imprudent speed, and criminal mischief 4th degree. 

Read the article from the Owego Pennysaver and see PHOTOS here. "Pennsylvania man arrested following accident in Owego that left residents without power."

Check out this excellent blog post from The Marcellus Effect.

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

SAFETY ON OUR ROADS!

IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

Marcellus Shale: Another Gas-related Accident in Tioga County,PA

Tioga County, PA
Two men were flown by medical helicopter to Guthrie Medical Center on June 18th with injuries suffered when a pressurized pipe burst as they were connecting it at a drilling site in Galeton.  This site is located on Lick Run Road. Cindy Kalbach lives nearby on Elk Run Road and heard the sirens coming up her street.  She was understandably very concerned, wondering what was happening, and worried about her property if, for example, there was a fire.  She said the gas company Ultra Resources, Inc., did not answer calls on its emergency lines.  She cited the constant lack of communication and unwillingness to help neighbors know what to expect.  Ironically she says that she was approached by Ultra a week ago about signing a gas lease. That is one thing that will never happen, she said.  Watch the video of Cindy speaking. Personal stories tell it best. Ms. Kalbach says the peaceful, tranquil life she once had has been taken away.  Quiet, fresh air- all gone.  She is left with a scratchy voice from the dust and exhaust fumes.

The environmental manager of safety operations from Ultra, a Houston-based gas drilling company, would not specify what type of accident occurred at the well site, nor would he divulge the extent of the injuries suffered by the two men.

Click here to find out more about gas drilling in Tioga County.

Click here for a report by Samantha Martinez.

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

NO SECRECY WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN!

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.

Marcellus Shale: Water Truck Crashes in Bradford County, PA

[Photo credit: David Keeler, Rocket Courier]

Another truck accident in Bradford County (NEPA) has occurred in Terry Township.  This and other incidents involving gas drilling vehicles are becoming almost commonplace.  This road does not appear to be anything but a rather straight stretch of road, although there are ditches on either side, and it is a narrow country road as most are.  Was the driver going too fast for conditions?  A fisherman called in to 911 after witnessing this accident.  Read the article here.

Bradford County, PA: Gas Drilling Truck Accident du Jour

Another serious traffic accident- no serious injuries thankfully.  A tractor trailer water tanker truck overturned on Wednesday, March 24th, in Franklin Township, Bradford County, PA.  The driver lost control of the truck on a curve in the road and suffered minor injuries,  a gash in the head, according to a resident who lives near the site of the accident, heard the crash, and went out to assist the injured driver and called 911.  The truck had "Excalibur Energy Service, Inc." on its side.  Excalibur is a Delaware corporation located in Dallas, Texas.  Another accident involving a gas drilling vehicle.

Two local residents have written to the Editor of the Towanda Daily Review, commenting on the seemingly troubling rise in the number of accidents and poor driving practices of drilling trucks:

"I don't want you to stop covering these accident stories. So please don't get me wrong. But you are starting to frighten some of us out here. There seems to be a major truck accident every day. And people are dying in some cases. This is not why I always have loved living in Bradford County. At the very least, this kind of thing is going to drive up all of our auto insurance rates. Has anyone out there even considered that maybe this is not a good or desirable thing to have going on? Personally, I think this is madness."

"I'll tell you why he lost control: because he was going too damn fast, that's why. Doesn't take a genious or "accident scene reconstruction specialist" to figure that out. TO THE FOLKS WORKING FOR THE GAS COMPANIES AND DRIVING THESE BIG TANKERS AND RIGS AND TRAVELING OUR ROADS: PLEASE SLOW DOWN BEFORE YOU CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE!"

Will the gas drilling companies be able to hire drivers who will observe speed limits and weight limit signs?  Or do the paltry fines and no serious consequences make it possible for them to ignore the problem?


Read the article article in the Towanda Daily Review (3/25/2010) by James Loewenstein, staff writer.