Marcellus & Utica Shale Gas Drilling

New

New study by Bamberger and of Cornell. Impacts of gas drilling on humans and livestock

U.S. EPA comments on NYS revised dSGEIS (draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement) and the proposed state regulations and general permit for storm water discharges related to high volume hydraulic fracturing. 

Are activities related to gas drilling causing earthquakes? USGS has FAQs: Earthquakes Induces by Fluid Injection.  Paleontological Research Institute offers Making the Earth Shake, which is one of a series of new papers on the Geology of the Marcellus Shale.  

Links to list of chemicals used in fracking by US House of Representatives, National Environmental Services Center  Tech Brief "Oil and Gas Extraction and Source Water Protection" and related article " Communities, Water Sources and Potential Impacts of Shale Gas Development" 

EPA study of groundwater contamination in Wyoming 

Rebuttal of paper by Howarth, et al.

Report commissioned by Tompkins County Council of Governments Community Impact Assessment examines the potential impact that "high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) could have on the economy, community character, and environment of Tompkins County".  Full Assessment   Executive Summary
Tompkins County Legislature position on shale gas drilling and related resolutions. 

Guidelines for private water well testing in areas impacted by marcellus shale gas drilling

Gas Drilling Education & CCE-Tompkins' Role

CCE-Tompkins is responding to a variety of community needs for information about natural gas exploration and drilling, especially in the Marcellus Shale layer.  In keeping with core principles and long-standing mission, CCE-Tompkins efforts are focused on education, training, and support so that county residents may carefully consider the potential risks and benefits. See the Gas Drilling Library for links to upcoming webinars, past presentations and links to key documents

Using accurate information as the foundation for critical thinking allows people to engage in dialogue and decision-making that anticipates, shapes, and responds to changes that could happen if there is increased utilization of natural gas deposits. Informed decision making by residents and municipalities is essential when dealing with environmental, social and economic issues. Currently, CCE-Tompkins addresses gas drilling through its environment, consumer education and agriculture teams. Read More...

Is Gas a Good Transition Fuel?

Now available from Prof. Robert Howarth, Stanora and Ingraffea, of Cornell University, a peer-reviewed publication that "evaluates the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas obtained by high volume hydraulic fracturing from shale formations, focusing on methane emissions. Natural gas is composed largely of methane, and 3.6% to 7.9% of the methane from shale-gas production escapes to the atmosphere in venting and leaks over the lifetime of a well...The higher emissions from shale gas occur at the time wells are hydraulically fractured—as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids—and during drill out following the fracturing..."

Not everyone agrees with Howarth, et al.  Nature, Sept. 2011, published side-by-side commentary by Howarth and counterpoint by Terry Engelder (2mb pdf), Penn. State University. Climate Change Letters published (January 2012) a rebuttal by other Cornell professors  that greenhouse gas affects are overstated by Howarth et al.  Read a climate scientist's commentary on the Howarth paper. 

The map shows the thickness of Marcellus Shale. Modified from: United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2006-1237.