NY judge upholds town's ban on fracking 2/21/12 A NY judge has ruled that the town of Dryden in Tompkins County can ban fracking within its borders, according to an article in The New York Times. A Colorado drilling company had argued that the town near Ithaca lacked the power implement the ban, but the judge overruled it. The article says the ruling is the "first in NY to affirm local powers in the controversy over drilling in the Marcellus Shale." However, the company could appeal or "pursue a 'takings' claim," saying the private property shouldn't be taken without compensation. In this case the private property is the $5million the company has spent buying up land leases. from New York Review of books, published online in advance for 3.8.2012.... Why Not Frack? Bill McKibben has written a review in the New York Review of Books of two books (End of Country and Under the Surface) and a movie (Gasland) that is a scathing assessment of fracking: "The two books under review tell the story of that land rush. ...That means that some people have come into unexpected riches, including McGraw’s mother, who leased her land for a large sum—for some farmers looking for an easier retirement it’s been a blessing. But the money has also divided communities in painful ways, since those who don’t reap a bonanza suffer the side effects: the noise and squalor of an industrialized countryside, the danger of quiet roads now overrun with trucks. And even the fortunate run the risk that something will go wrong with the wells on their land."
2/11/12 from the Baltimore Sun: Natural gas exports eyed through Calvert CountyEnvironmentalists question Maryland role enabling 'fracking'Virginia-based Dominion wants permission to export natural gas through its Cove Point liquified natural gas facility in Calvert County, according to this article in the Baltimore Sun by Tim Wheeler. Environmentalists have many concerns, including damage from an array of pipelines to get the natural gas to the facility and pressure to increase fracking. Other concerns include a rise in US prices if the natural gas is exported. Some excerpts: "There's a long list of environmental and public safety concerns related to this practice," said Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. "I think it would be a mistake for the state of Maryland to begin granting the right to companies to bring shale gas through our state and export it to other countries." ..... Michael Helfrich, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, says he's also worried about construction of pipelines to get the gas to the terminal, which he fears will chop up forests and increase polluted runoff to the river and the bay. Already, two new pipelines are being laid on either side of the river, he said. "I see all the shale gas north of me. I see the export facility south of me. I just see a crisscross of new pipelines coming from every direction," he said. Manufacturers also are worried that a surge in U.S. gas exports could drive up prices for the fuel, wiping out the benefits they have seen lately from low energy prices. A recent study by the Energy Information Administration projected that if all the gas export requests pending now were granted, prices of the fuel could soar by 36 percent to 54 percent by 2018, depending on economic conditions and how rapidly natural gas production could be increased to take advantage of higher prices. Electricity prices also would go up between 2 percent and 9 percent, the study forecasted, though it assumed utility bill increases would be more limited because power plants would switch from burning natural gas to coal....... 2/6/12 Va. county says no to fracking A Virginia county has declined to issue permits for fracking within its borders. According to an article in the Wash. Post, "Rockingham County’s opposition to Carrizo [Oil and Gas' plans] was led by one man, Pablo Cuevas, a Republican supervisor whose district covers Bergton. The county already has about 20 gas wells, so residents are familiar with drilling operations. But alarmed by reports of chemical water contamination from hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, Cuevas investigated Carrizo and Marcellus drilling in those states with a pit bull’s determination. Cuevas learned what the Marcellus Shale Coalition of companies that support drilling says all the time. Drilling in shale has an upside, bringing in billions of dollars in tax revenue and jobs, along with lease payments and gas royalties from companies to property owners. But he also encountered a downside: Some residents complain of well water contamination and the strong stench of chemicals from fracking. Others say mechanical noise from the operation of the well persists through the night. Motorists complain of massive truck convoys that ruin roads." 2/1/2012 ...linked from Common Dreams web site: 'Gasland' Film Director Arrested at US Capitol Hearing Republicans Bar Filming of Fracking HearingOscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox [who is working on a sequel to "Gasland"] was handcuffed and led away Wednesday while attempting to film a House Science Committee hearing on fracking. The "Gasland" director was attempting to film the hearing which is looking into the EPA's investigation of water contamination from fracking in Pavillion, Wyoming. Josh was filming the hearing for his upcoming film "Gasland 2." Subcommittee chairman US Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) objected to the presence of Mr. Fox and his crew as well as another crew from ABC. “This is a public hearing!” Josh shouted as he was led away. “I’m being denied my First Amendment rights.” Also available are the opening statements before Andy Harris' subcommittee on Energy and Environment. Is Fracking in Maryland's Future? Jan. 31, 7 p.m., at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia Maryland is studying whether to allow hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to extract natural gas. The public is invited to join experts on natural gas issues for a town hall meeting to discuss environmental concerns, economic impacts and more. Panelists will include Delegate Heather Mizeur, sponsor of the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act; Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; and Harry Weiss, a member of the state panel studying natural gas drilling and an attorney with Ballard Spahr who has represented both landowners and oil and gas companies in Pennsylvania. This event is co-sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Food & Water Watch. INFORMATION ON FRACKING National How much control will local governments have over their land? A New York Times article outlines the tension over property rights, industry power and local governments' fears about weakened zoning laws: "As Gas Drilling Spreads, Towns Stand Ground Over Control" by Sabrina Tavernise, Dec. 14, 2011. You can read it here. EPA Fracking Study info here.Public Citizen on Hydraulic Fracturing - Information here. Take Action - Urge the Federal Department of Energy to End Regulatory Loopholes for Fracking - Here. Take Action - Thank the Governor for temporary moratorium and ask him to support legislation for a permanent ban - here Articles: NEW: 1/1/12 Baltimore Sun article about western Maryland landowners' concerns about gas companies' leasing practices. Some say they were misled: here. The article mentions that landowners in western Maryland have formed a group called Citizen Shale. Among the concerns mentioned in the article: oil and gas companies can automatically renew an expiring lease regardless of a landowners' current misgivings; energy leasing is not covered under that state's consumer protection laws. Balt Sun on PA Fracking Water Processed in Baltimore here. Balt Sun on Bay Threat from Fracking Water here. Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler filed a notice of intent to sue a PA drilling company after the spill in PA this April that impacted the Susquehanna River, which of course flows into MD. The Baltimore Sun wrote an editorial applauding Gansler for that but also criticizing him for another decision on a recent Maryland case on a different issue in Patuxent Riverkeeper v. Maryland Department of the Environment. See article here. Links re: Govenor's O'Malley's Executive Order
Ohio Earthquake 4.0 on Richter Scale in Ohio Said to be Caused by Wastewater Fracking - 12/31/11 Yahoo News article here. Republican Governor orders temporary halt article here. And CCN on halt in opening 4 new wells here. "Drillers using counterinsurgency experts, Marcellus industry taking a page from the military to deal with media, resident opposition" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article 11/13/11. here. |
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