Environmental Issues
Drilling and pipelines have the very real potential of affecting water quality and quantity, forest fragmentation, wildlife, viewsheds, land use, and other important factors.
Several major agencies have regulatory authority over Marcellus natural gas, and thus can help influence what occurs and its impacts at the local, regional, and state level.
Environmental Presentations
3-18-09 webinar. Margaret Brittingham, Professor of Wildlife Resources and Extension Wildlife Specialist
Rebecca Dunlap
Since the chemical disclosure websites inception in April, 2011, more than 200 companies are reporting chemical data.
Mark Madden and Gary Sheppard, Penn State Extension Educators
Ellen Shultzabarger, Chief, Forest Resource Planning, Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and Tony Quadro, Forester and Asst. District Manager, Westmoreland Conservation District
Video: Margaret Brittingham discusses the value of the natural resources that sit above the Marcellus Shale, and the proactive measures that can minimize the risks involved.
Webinar February 23, 2010 with Patrick O'Dell Petroleum Engineer of the National Park Service shares steps the Park Service can take in reducing the effects of drilling in the parks
Webinar: 10-28-09. Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist, School of Forest Resources, Penn State University
2-18-10 Webinar. Underground Injection Wells as an Option for Disposal of Shale Gas Wastewaters: Policies and Practicality. Karen D. Johnson, Chief, Ground Water & Enforcement Branch, US EPA, Region 3, Philadelphia
2-18-10 Webinar. Underground Injection Wells as an Option for Disposal of Shale Gas Wastewaters: Policies and Practicality. Karen D. Johnson, Chief, Ground Water & Enforcement Branch, US EPA, Region 3, Philadelphia
Bryan Swistock
January 10, 2011, Taped program with Dr. Terry Engelder, Professor of Geosciences, Penn State University, Scott Perry, Director, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, DEP, and Joe Lima, Program Manager, Schlumberger
2-19-09 Webinar and Q and A. . Bryan Swistock, Penn State Water Resources Specialist
Environmental Publications
Penn State Research report sponsored by a grant from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania
Additional Environmental Resources
An exploration of natural gas drilling and development in the Marcellus Shale
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) report details the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from six domestic sources of natural gas and a national average mix for extraction and delivery to a large end user.
A June 2011 publication by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council
The millions of gallons of water required for drilling and the associated waste products are major concerns here in Pennsylvania.
A series of GIS maps showing how additional natural gas leasing on state forest land will impact water quality, ecological integrity, backcountry recreation, scenic beauty and other social and environmental values to demonstrate whether a moratorium is needed.
FracFocus.org is the hydraulic fracturing chemical registry website, a joint project of the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
