|
|
|
A hearing is planned in the Wayne/Pike area to take new testimony concerning the proposal by a major gas driller to withdraw up to a million gallons of water a day from the West Branch of the Delaware in northern Wayne County.
Carol Collier, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), reportted at the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) session Thursday night that the hearing will only take testimony from the public on revisions the DRBC is making to the docket for the application by Chesapeake Appalachia for the Cutrone Withdrawal Site, in Buckingham Township.
The new hearing will take place Wednesday, September 23rd at the PPL Environmental Learning Center, near Hawley, beginning at 10 a.m. There also again will be opportunity for written testimony.
The revised docket will be available on-line at www.state.nj.us/drbc/. Chesapeake has revised their application in cooperation with DRBC and the state.
The original hearing was held July 15th in Bethlehem, Pa. where 44 people testified; at least 500 written comments were received, and they overwhelmingly expressed reservations about the taking of water. DRBC decided to reconsider the project and hold another hearing, putting off the full Basin Commission meeting until October 22nd. The DRBC can then choose to act on the application.
Chesapeake needs the water for the fracking process, which involves injecting the water and chemicals into the bedrock to split the rock apart and release natural gas.
Although the cutoff for written testimony on the first round was July 29, Collier said she’d accept the letter approved Thursday night by the UDC. To summarize the letter, the UDC expressed the following concerns over withdrawal of that much water:
• Effects endangered water species and relocating an invasive weed with the water;
• Impacts on recreation;
• Lack of non-point source pollution control plan;
• Need for a cumulative impacts analysis;
• If the water will stay within the Delaware River Basin or taken to other shale formations in Pennsylvania or New York;
• Will New York City be required to make up for the loss of water by releasing an additional million gallons per day from the Cannonsville Reservoir, to meet the flow target at Montague’s gauge;
• Should the rate per minute be dropped from 1,000 gallons to 700, to protect aquatic species, noise and lighting could become a problem if withdrawals are done at night;
• Water withdrawal data should immediately be made available on-line.
(The first four points are made in agreement with a comment letter sent by the National Park Service.)
Collier stated that DRBC is preparing regulations to address gas drilling, that will focus on there areas, water withdrawal, well pad approval and wastewater removal. She said they hope to issue approvals of well pads by rule, to expedite the process, while not overlapping state regulations.
Dolores Keesler, UDC’s delegate for Damascus Township, questioned if DRBC has enough staff to watch what the gas companies are doing. Collier stated that the fee from the applicant will pay for DRBC to contract inspectors. From the audience, Susan Sullivan, Town of Tusten, wanted to know how DRBC will monitor that withdrawal water is not taken out of the Delaware River Basin. Collier replied that although DRBC will require the drilling company to keep the water within the Basin, how this will be enforced is unclear,
“That’s a scary gap,” said Sullivan.
Collier stated that this is why they hope to require the driller to specify where the water is taken so it could be traced, adding, “but we lack the manpower to ride truck.”
Emergency Services are also concerned about the transport of untreated drill site wastewater, said George Fluhr, UDC Chairman. They are concerned that their could be a hazardous material spill.
UDC received a letter from Rev. Jean Blackie, Damascus United Methodist Charge, suggesting that the UDC take up a “watch dog” role over the gas drillers, and to train other volunteer groups to assist. UDC Chairman George Fluhr explained that that the UDC does not carry enforcement authority; they can only observe and make comment on issues affecting the Upper Delaware, which they have effectively done for over 20 years.
If an individual has information on a perceived violation, however, the UDC will pass it on to the appropriate agency, said Fluhr. Fred Peckham, UDC- Town of Hancock added that landowners are the best environmentalists and have a stake in keeping their land pristine; they will report what they see.
The DRBC Director commented, “We need eyes and ears; if you see something amiss, call the [PA] DEP, [NY} DEC or us.”
A hearing is planned in the Wayne/Pike area to take new testimony concerning the proposal by a major gas driller to withdraw up to a million gallons of water a day from the West Branch of the Delaware in northern Wayne County.
Carol Collier, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), reportted at the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) session Thursday night that the hearing will only take testimony from the public on revisions the DRBC is making to the docket for the application by Chesapeake Appalachia for the Cutrone Withdrawal Site, in Buckingham Township.
The new hearing will take place Wednesday, September 23rd at the PPL Environmental Learning Center, near Hawley, beginning at 10 a.m. There also again will be opportunity for written testimony.
The revised docket will be available on-line at www.state.nj.us/drbc/. Chesapeake has revised their application in cooperation with DRBC and the state.
The original hearing was held July 15th in Bethlehem, Pa. where 44 people testified; at least 500 written comments were received, and they overwhelmingly expressed reservations about the taking of water. DRBC decided to reconsider the project and hold another hearing, putting off the full Basin Commission meeting until October 22nd. The DRBC can then choose to act on the application.
Chesapeake needs the water for the fracking process, which involves injecting the water and chemicals into the bedrock to split the rock apart and release natural gas.
Although the cutoff for written testimony on the first round was July 29, Collier said she’d accept the letter approved Thursday night by the UDC. To summarize the letter, the UDC expressed the following concerns over withdrawal of that much water:
• Effects endangered water species and relocating an invasive weed with the water;
• Impacts on recreation;
• Lack of non-point source pollution control plan;
• Need for a cumulative impacts analysis;
• If the water will stay within the Delaware River Basin or taken to other shale formations in Pennsylvania or New York;
• Will New York City be required to make up for the loss of water by releasing an additional million gallons per day from the Cannonsville Reservoir, to meet the flow target at Montague’s gauge;
• Should the rate per minute be dropped from 1,000 gallons to 700, to protect aquatic species, noise and lighting could become a problem if withdrawals are done at night;
• Water withdrawal data should immediately be made available on-line.
(The first four points are made in agreement with a comment letter sent by the National Park Service.)
Collier stated that DRBC is preparing regulations to address gas drilling, that will focus on there areas, water withdrawal, well pad approval and wastewater removal. She said they hope to issue approvals of well pads by rule, to expedite the process, while not overlapping state regulations.
Dolores Keesler, UDC’s delegate for Damascus Township, questioned if DRBC has enough staff to watch what the gas companies are doing. Collier stated that the fee from the applicant will pay for DRBC to contract inspectors. From the audience, Susan Sullivan, Town of Tusten, wanted to know how DRBC will monitor that withdrawal water is not taken out of the Delaware River Basin. Collier replied that although DRBC will require the drilling company to keep the water within the Basin, how this will be enforced is unclear,
“That’s a scary gap,” said Sullivan.
Collier stated that this is why they hope to require the driller to specify where the water is taken so it could be traced, adding, “but we lack the manpower to ride truck.”
Emergency Services are also concerned about the transport of untreated drill site wastewater, said George Fluhr, UDC Chairman. They are concerned that their could be a hazardous material spill.
UDC received a letter from Rev. Jean Blackie, Damascus United Methodist Charge, suggesting that the UDC take up a “watch dog” role over the gas drillers, and to train other volunteer groups to assist. UDC Chairman George Fluhr explained that that the UDC does not carry enforcement authority; they can only observe and make comment on issues affecting the Upper Delaware, which they have effectively done for over 20 years.
If an individual has information on a perceived violation, however, the UDC will pass it on to the appropriate agency, said Fluhr. Fred Peckham, UDC- Town of Hancock added that landowners are the best environmentalists and have a stake in keeping their land pristine; they will report what they see.
The DRBC Director commented, “We need eyes and ears; if you see something amiss, call the [PA] DEP, [NY} DEC or us.”
