Environmental Mission Statement

The Environment Committee is working to determine the best way to proceed to ensure that any leasing and subsequent development has the least possible impact on the air, water, and surrounding land. Our intent is that the users of the land be fully protected. We will be following the results of the usage of the 15 performance standards recently announced (March 2013) by the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD). The CSSD was created by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and other environmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, energy companies, and other stakeholders committed to safe, environmentally responsible shale resource development.

We also plan to follow advances in technology, any rating systems in existence, and the evolution of legal language in contracts pertaining to driller responsibilities and indemnification of the landowner/rights owners. We intend to subscribe to newsletters and advisory services that provide balanced and scientific discussion of environmental law, the technology of fracking, etc.

We expect the information on the website to be a work-in-progress because the state of knowledge about fracking technology and processing and about the impact of fracking is evolving rapidly, which makes it difficult to keep abreast of the latest information. If you have questions or information which you believe should be part of the website, please email the Environment Committee. You may also follow this topic on the Blog.

Background

The book below is a good balanced introduction to the issues surrounding fracking in the Marcellus Shale where the Thorne mineral rights are.

Under the Surface, Tom Wilbur, “is the first book-length journalistic overview of shale gas development and the controversies surrounding it.

Control over drilling rights is at stake in the heart of Marcellus country—northeast Pennsylvania and central New York. The decisions by landowners to work with or against the companies—and the resulting environmental and economic consequences—are scrutinized by neighbors faced with similar decisions, by residents of cities whose water supply originates in the exploration area, and by those living across state lines with differing attitudes and policies concerning extraction industries. Wilber's evenhanded treatment gives a voice to all constituencies, including farmers and landowners tempted by the prospects of wealth but wary of the consequences, policymakers struggling with divisive issues, and activists coordinating campaigns based on their respective visions of economic salvation and environmental ruin. Wilber describes a landscape in which the battle over the Marcellus ranges from the very local—yard signs proclaiming landowners' allegiances for or against shale gas development—to often conflicting municipal, state, and federal legislation intended to accelerate, delay, or discourage exploration.

For millions of people with a direct stake in shale gas exploration in the Marcellus or any number of other emerging shale resources in the United States and worldwide, or for those concerned about the global energy outlook, Under the Surface offers a worthwhile and engaging look at the issues.

Research

Department of Energy Research Projects

1. In August 2011 the Department of Energy announced the selection of “a total of 11 research projects that will help find ways to extract more energy from unconventional oil and gas resources while reducing environmental risks totaling $12.4 million by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The selections include $10.3 million for eight projects that will reduce the environmental risks of shale gas development while accelerating the application of new exploration and production technologies.“ Click here for full story.

2. In December 2011 the Department of Energy sought projects to improve environmental performance of unconventional natural gas technologies (http://energy.gov/fe/articles/doe-rfp-seeks-projects-improving-environmental-performance). In November 2012, fifteen research projects aimed at addressing the technical challenges of producing natural gas from shales and tight sands, while simultaneously reducing environmental footprints and risks, were selected to receive a total of $28 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy. Click here for full story.

Water

1. In April 2013, the DOE made this report http://energy.gov/fe/articles/does-shale-gas-and-hydraulic-fracturing-research which is particularly of interest because of the wastewater treatment project by Altela Inc. For the full report on the AltelaRain ™ wastewater treatment research in the Marcellus, click here.

This technology is currently being used in Pennsylvania.

Industry Websites

This page provides links to websites about hydraulic fracking. If you find a websites you want to be listed here, please contact the webmaster using the form in the Contact Us tab above.

WEBSITE	DESCRIPTION	LINK
CSSD	Center for Sustainable Shale Development	Open
FracFocus - Chemistry Disclosure Registry	Hydraulic Fracking (How it Works) / Groundwater (Protection) / Chemical (Use), Regulations (By State) / Find a Well (By State)	Open
Ohio Environmental Council	The state's most comprehensive, effective and respected environmental advocate for a healthier, more sustainable Ohio	Open
Physicians For Social Responsibility	PSR launched an Energy Security Initiative focused on environmental health and security issues and their impact on public health	Open
Pro Publica - Journalism of Public Interest	Fracking - Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat	Open