Marcellus Shale gas well drilling has been making big headlines as a possible boost to Pennsylvania’s economy, as long as it is done properly.

A seminar on Marcellus Shale drilling was held Wednesday at the Multi-Service Center on Leonard Street in Clearfield. The seminar was designed to discuss the process involved with the drilling and what potential impacts it could have on local watersheds.

The seminar was hosted by the Moshannon Creek Watershed Coalition, the Wood Duck Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Clearfield County Conservation District and the Centre County Conservation District. Each of the four speakers stressed their organizations were not against the gas well drilling, as long as the proper environmental safe-guards were put in place. Many watersheds are still battling to bounce back from the effects of acid mine drainage from the coal mining boom prior to the Surface Mine Reclamation Act of 1977.

Rebecca Dunlap, project manager of the West Branch Restoration Initiative of Trout Unlimited, spoke about Pennsylvania’s long history of providing natural resources, such as lumber and coal to the United States as well as to other countries around the globe. She said in the 1880s Williamsport was known as “the lumber capital of the world.” She said once the lumber resources had been depleted, bituminous coal was discovered. While coal mining proved very lucrative for Pennsylvania, a large majority of watersheds in Central Pennsylvania are polluted by acid mine drainage.

“We have a great economic opportunity, but we also have the opportunity to learn from our past mistakes and make sure it’s done correctly,” Dunlap said.
Next to speak was Tim Keister, chief chemist and president of Prochemtech. Keister spoke about the processes used to drill wells to extract the natural gas from the Marcellus Shale field.

Keister said the gas is actually trapped under a large section of the shale. In order to access the gas, drilling companies must use large amounts of water, between 2 and 10 million gallons, mixed with sand to “frac” or break up the shale. The companies must drill vertically into the ground, then horizontally until they can find a spot to frac the shale. Of the 2-10 million gallons of water, only a fraction of that water comes back. Keister said some of the water is withdrawn from local rivers and streams and some is purchased by municipalities. Regardless of source, the water must be free of suspended solids, have a pH of 7.5 and have a minimal amount of scale forming ions such as aluminum, barium and calcium. Keister said his company has created a process to remove these chemicals from the frac water, and one of the byproducts of the process may be usable to remove phosphate from sewage plant sludge, or to remediate old acidic mines. Some of the treated frac water can be used to raise young trout to be released for recreational fishing.

Although Marcellus Shale drilling is just beginning to take place locally, it’s important to be sure the well pads and access roads are not creating problems with the environment.

Fred Berry, conservation technician for the Clearfield County Conservation District, discussed some environmental impacts the drilling is having.
Berry said when a well operation is going to cause five or more acres of land to be disturbed, the company must submit an erosion and sedimentation control plan to the conservation districts for review and approval. The acres disturbed include the well pad itself, any access roads to the well pad, and any transmission lines. He said these regulations apply to any operation, not just for the gas wells. Actual inspections and enforcement of the sites are done by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas. Berry showed photos of access roads which were not constructed properly and have become eroded as well as poorly constructed well pads.

“Any time soil gets into the water, it’s considered polluted,” Berry said. He said there was one particular site in Clearfield County where an access road and well pad were built right on top of a watershed. The Bureau of Oil and Gas stepped in and the well company must repair the damage.

Berry also said according to federal regulations, the companies do not have to disclose what chemicals they are using in their frac water.

Last to speak was Jennifer Hoffman, section chief for monitoring and assessment for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Hoffman discussed regulations and requirements for permits to withdraw water from the Susquehanna River. She said 72 percent of the river basin is underlined by Marcellus Shale. She said once water is injected into the subsurface, it is no longer available for future use. The commission, she said, encourages the mining operations to use waste water whenever possible. She said the commission is also trying to encourage fracing during times when the water levels are high and to store water for future operations.

All of the speakers emphasized the importance of community members to report any potential problems with the well operations to the Bureau of Oil and Gas, the conservation districts, the Fish and Boat Commission or the River Basin Commission.

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