Susquehanna River, French Azilum, PA
Photo: Carol Manuel

Well Statistics To Date For Asylum Township:

115 - Approved Well Permits
40 - Active Wells
28 - Wells With Reported Production Values

 

Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA, has a population of 1,058 people.  It is only 26.4 square miles in size.

 

 

I think that 40 active wells is a lot for an area that small.  Average 1.5 wells per square mile.   Dr. Tony Ingraffea has said that 5% of all wells have leaks and spills or other failures.  So in Asylum Township, at least two wells will have failures, causing environmental destruction, water pollution, soil pollution, not to mention air pollution which is a given for every single well.  Many spills and well casing failures occur before fracking is done.

Free all captive animals. All sea mammals in Sea World, Marineland, all places that use marine mammals as entertainment for profit.

The Intersection of Hydraulic Fracturing and Climate Change

Published on Apr 7, 2013

Dr. Anthony Ingraffea discusses methane leaks in natural gas systems and the cumulative climate impact of those leaks.

Created by Developing Pictures https://vimeo.com/62563386

Vera Scoggins on British TV

Fracking Nightmare

Gas Wells Do Not Belong Near Schools- or Anywhere

From 350.org:

On Friday, we joined The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment for a tour of fracking sites in California's Central Valley. This is an elementary school in ...Shafter, CA that is within sight of seven fracking wells -- and where about one in three kids suffers from asthma. The Central Valley has about the worst air quality in the nation, and climate change is making it worse.

It was sobering to witness how deeply fossil fuel extraction has impacted communities like Shafter, and it was inspiring to meet community members who are responding with resilience and determination. You can see more pictures from our trip here: http://on.fb.me/1nfptCW
Photo by Brooke Anderson Photography: Stills of Our Stories & Struggles.

How Much Water Does It Take To Frack a Well?

  From MarcellusGas.org 

In 2013, the average total water volume for a
fracturing event at a Pennsylvania unconventional
well site was 5,365,363 gallons - the equivalent
of 670 full tanker trucks.

This is a 25% increase when compared to the
average volume of water used per event in 2012
(4,259,693 gals).

Our review of fracturing events shows the highest
water usage recorded was nearly 19 million gallons.

On Feb 15th, 2012, The DCNR 595 6H well in Bloss
township Tioga county, operated by Seneca
Resources Corp, used 18,754,176 gallons of water
for a fracturing event - enough to fill over 2,340
tanker trucks.

The fracturing report for the DCNR well indicates
the following items were included in the fracturing
mixture:

AMOUNT | PURPOSE / INGREDIENT

2,301,243 gals. | Propant / Silica
17,702 gals. | Acid / Hydrochloric Acid
4,332 gals. | Friction Reducer / Hydrotreated Light Distillate
677 gals. | Biocide / Sodium Bromide (partial list)
516 gals. | Corrosion Inhibitor / Ethylene Glycol, (partial list)

Complete report details, including additive
concentrations, total concentrations, and
ingredient trade names can be viewed by
members at:

www.MarcellusGas.Org/freports

Just remember: The water used in fracking is never ever ever returned to the hydrologic cycle and can never ever be used again for human use.  It may be recycled to be re-used in another frack job, but eventually even recycling is not enough to remove salt.  The frack water/waste must be disposed of.  But where?  Who wants it?

Train Derails Carrying Bakken Crude, Falls into James River (VA)

Activists in Virginia have been fighting to keep fracking out of the George Washington National Forest only to have a train full of fracked Bakken oil derail and explode in Lynchburg, leaking crude oil into the James River, part of that crucial watershed.

 

This is not an isolated incident. Unfortunately it often takes a train or a well pad engulfed in flames to garner media attention, but from well casing failures and spills to truck accidents and pipeline explosions, this process is fatally flawed from start to finish. The industry tries to limit the definition of fracking to what happens under the ground, but we know it’s a full cycle of exploitation, from onsite contamination to dangerous transportation and waste disposal consequences.

 

We can’t let the industry isolate these incidents and the communities they effect. That’s why we feel compelled to show this devastating video of the week, to show that North Dakota and Lynchburg, Virginia aren’t far away when it comes to fracking. Knowing the truth about what is really going on is of the strongest tools we have. Please watch and share our video of the week.

 

-Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator