AQUIFER CONTAMINATION WATCH

Sadly there doesn't appear to be any ongoing monitoring of aquifers related to drilling activity, This is not a single county issue, but an environmental issue that each of us needs to be alert to. I'd like to suggest that each and every landowner take it upon him/herself to do the necessary looking out for their own health and for the health of their neighbors.

When/if you become aware of an issue-don't keep it to yourself. Yell about it loudly and often, in newspaper article alerts as well as challenges to our representatives and legislators. Get your local reporter involved-in short-you take charge.

All good thoughts,

Dan.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ragnars Repo on January 16, 2014 at 9:32am
I would hardly call more government oversight thinking outside the box.
Permalink Reply by daniel cohen on January 16, 2014 at 10:55am

Ragnars,

You're probably right. What would you recommend to address the isse?

Dan

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 16, 2014 at 12:50pm

daniel and Ragnars,

Whether it be Ohio or PA I believe there are plenty of rules and regs in place. The problem is oversight and enforcement. Her in Ohio the ODNR is adding inspectors. That truly is the answer, boots on the ground. You can't enforce regulations from an office.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 16, 2014 at 12:47pm

daniel,

No apology required. It sometimes takes the correct amount of words to properly express a point.

I see that you mention the DEP which I assume means that you are in PA.

I live in Ohio and can only respond with regard to my experiences here.

First, let me say that I agree with your thoughts completely. Second, we are fortunate here in Ohio to have some of the toughest oil and gas regulations in the nation. Further, the suggestions you make are already in place in Ohio.

Putting teeth into laws and regulations: our ODNR and legislature continually review the regulations which pertain to oil and gas development. Changes are being made on a regular basis. Further, the ODNR has the power to change the implementation of laws passed by the legislature. This means it can react to weaknesses in any particular regulation.

As an aside let me just say that our state EPA is intimately involved with oil and gas development and the enforcement of federal regulations. Our ODNR and EPA work closely to ensure the protection of our environment. I mention this because the anti shale development crowd continually screams about a lack of regulation, and that is an out and out lie.

We have a 24/7 hotline at the ODNR.

Yes, landowners need to be involved including contact with their state legislators. Unfortunately, too many people don't take responsibility for their lives and think that government can do it all. I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk. In fact I spent some time with my state rep today discussing issues important to land owners.

I can't speak for PA, all that I can suggest is that people follow your lead and become vigilant and work with their state representative. If their needs are not met there is always the ballot box.

See, I can be very verbose.

Permalink Reply by lynn on January 16, 2014 at 1:01pm

Well put Mark.

Permalink Reply by lynn on January 16, 2014 at 12:59pm

Daniel-You seem to be working on the assumption that a landowner or neighbor would not notice or care if their was a change in their water when a well was drilled and fraced.  With the current addiction to lawsuits I find that highly unlikely.  Do we need to be aware-certainly.  That does not mean that we need to be panic stricken about the possibility.  Back in the '80's when the conventional drilling boom hit around here I heard the same rhetoric (without the massive publicity of the anti's today) about how water would be destroyed.  Even with the weaker regulations back then at one well for forty acres none of my neighbors had a problem-none.  Ohio has had regulations including testing in place for years for drilled water wells-PA has not.  Thousands of bad water wells have been found in PA because of testing BEFORE gas well drilling took place.                                          You really seem to think that DEP and the EPA are incapable of doing their job yet you do not have one example where they failed.                                                                                                                             If you really want a water issue to worry about think of the millions of homeowners and businesses who apply excessive amounts of fertilizer to their small parcels.  The runoff from these small parcels are more likely to contaminate both city and private water without notice from anyone.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 16, 2014 at 1:17pm

lynn,

I believe the concerns that daniel has expressed are sincere.

As you point out, Ohio has a long tradition of regulation whereas PA does not. In fact, the regulations in Ohio are light years ahead of PA.

Therefore, I agree with daniel; the people of PA need to become involved and force their legislators to gring oil and gas regulations up to the standards of states such as Ohio.

Permalink Reply by lynn on January 16, 2014 at 3:32pm

I agree to a point Mark.  Had David's statement specified PA I might not have bristled so much.  PA may need better regulations, if so they better get on the ball because they are under the microscope.  What annoys me is that any failures or perceptions of failures on their part are projected on other states by the anti's whether deserved or not.                                                         

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 16, 2014 at 4:17pm

lynn,

You are right on the money. When you see complaints about shale development those complaints are not in Ohio.

Further, many of the complaints are from years ago and the anti crowd just recycles them over and over.

We in Ohio should be proud of our ODNR.

Permalink Reply by daniel cohen on January 16, 2014 at 5:12pm

Mark & Lynn,

Would you recommend your ODNR as a model for Penn. at least, and perhaps other states as well?

Dan

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 17, 2014 at 2:34am

daniel,

I would absolutely recommend the ODNR as a model.

Permalink Reply by daniel cohen on January 17, 2014 at 4:25am

Thank you Mark,

That was and will be very helpful in the future.

Best,

Dan

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