Josh Fox on The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR
July 17, 2013
Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development
July 8, 2013
Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development. 6/2013
Workshop on Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development
May 30-31, 2013
The large-scale development of natural gas resources from deep shale formations has raised a host of concerns about risks to the environment and human health. This workshop will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based look at the scope, nature, and magnitude of environmental risks of unconventional shale gas development. Which risks concern people? What do we know about them? What do we need to know? Which risks pose major challenges? are all questions this workshop will address. The workshop will include discussions of the current state of knowledge on risks of concern and promote a broad and balanced assessment of the issues including presentations by invited experts, discussant comments from experts offering contrasting perspectives, and time for open discussion on each topic.
► Agenda
► Video archives of the workshop presentations (scrolling list below screen):
Shale Gas Impacts on Northeastern PA
July 5, 2013
Map of Well pads, pipelines, chemical spills, compressor stations….et.al. in Northeastern PA
You can zoom in and click on the symbols
and get an idea what the various symbols are for.
and get an idea what the various symbols are for.
Here is a legend:
Yellow pushpins = permitted pads;
Yellow gas stations = fracked or producing wells;
Red pushpins = compressor stations
Brown pushpins = pipeline impact areas
(only areas requiring permits – road or stream xing, wetlands, etc.)
Brown circles = permitted hydrostatic testing discharge points;
Blue drops = alternate waste management pits for fracked water
Black pushpins = administrative violations, spill, contamination
Wavy water = water withdrawal point
I will try to add this legend to the map itself.
BH
Pipeline — arguments against
July 5, 2013
1) It begets drilling. The EPA’s new rule, known ironically as “green completion,” requires that connection to a pipeline be in place before drilling can occur. Drill sites along this pipe will be the first ones targeted for development, and will spawn a network of gathering lines.
2) It industrializes rural areas. The pipe would start with two compressor stations, but eventually, stations will be needed every 40 miles. Air quality will go from “clean country air” to smog-filled ozone alert days such as Wyoming is experiencing. “Cracker” plants will feed off the pipe and beget plastics factories and subsequent additional toxic waste. As with Minisink, new gas power plants feeding off the line can be expected as well. None of these inevitable impacts are considered by FERC.
3) It devastates habitats. The route would travel through pristine forests and wildlife areas; cross numerous bodies of water; and create erosion risks by clear cutting steep slopes.
4) It enables eminent domain. If builders get FERC approval for the project, land will be taken against the will of landowners.
5) It hastens climate change. Lke all pipelines, this one can be expected to lose 9-12% of its volume in transit. With the planet already past 400ppm, we cannot afford to release any more methane, a greenhouse gas up to 105 times more powerful than CO2.
PIMMA
July 5, 2013
PIMMA
Pipeline Integrity Management Mapping Application
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has developed the Pipeline Integrity Management Mapping Application (PIMMA) for use by pipeline operators and Federal, state, and local government officials only. The application contains sensitive pipeline critical infrastructure information that can be viewed via internet browser (Mozilla Firefox users should use Internet Explorer). PIMMA data is for reference purposes only, data cannot be downloaded from PIMMA. If you would like to request GIS data layers, please click here.
PIMMA is intended to be used solely by the person who is given access by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Your user name and password should not be shared with other persons either within or outside of your organization. If another person expresses interest in using PIMMA, please have them contact the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at npms-nr@mbakercorp.com, to obtain access. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration monitors user activity and reserves the right to remove individual access rights.
Access to PIMMA is limited to Federal, State, and Local Government officials as well as pipeline operators. PIMMA access cannot be given to any person who is not a direct employee of a government agency. All applications will be processed by PHMSA personnel, who will respond as soon as possible.
Federal Government (FEDERAL AND MILITARY OFFICIALS ONLY): Federal Government officials wishing to obtain PIMMA access for the entire nation should apply here. If you are a Federal employee who only needs access to one or many states or counties, please fill out the State or Local Government applications below.
Federal Government PIMMA application
State and Local Government: State and Local Government officials can request access to the State and Local Government PIMMA by filling out and submitting an online application. Applicants will only be granted access to the jurisdiction they are employed by.
State Government PIMMA application
Local Government PIMMA application
Pipeline Operator (PIPELINE OPERATORS ONLY): Pipeline Operators can request access to the Pipeline Operator PIMMA by filling out and submitting an online application. Each pipeline operator will only be granted access to their respective pipelines, as defined by the Operator ID. Please be sure to enter your Operator ID(s).
Constitution Pipeline
July 5, 2013
June 29, 2013
Pipeline filing sets stage for FERC
By Joe Mahoney Staff WriterThe Daily Star
GDACC 
