How many jobs will be created by shale drilling?
This post steps away from the environmental impact of fracking, to look at the one potential positive aspect of this issue: job creation.
No one who is familiar with Ohio's current economic situation could legitimately argue against the point that people here need jobs.
According to a quote from Lorain Mayor, Tony Krasienko, in a recent R&D Magazine article, for every manufacturing job created (by fracking) 5 to 7 ancillary jobs are created.
If, for example, you apply these numbers to the 350 manufacturing jobs expected to be coming to Youngstown via the V&M Star Mills, and you have the potential for between 1750 and 2450 newly created jobs.
The New Gold Rush
It's no wonder this is being referred to as the new gold rush.
The new jobs are obviously a positive thing for the economy, the puzzling part is, why can't the jobs be created without endangering people who live near drilling and brine dumping sites?
The technology exists to do this safely, sure, it costs the gas companies more to implement some of the safety measures, but considering how big the profits are regardless, why not do it safely rather than risk lives?
On Fracking Brine Dumping
A quick Internet search yields Halliburton documents on the process for filtering completion fluids and then reusing the parts filtered out for things like rat poison. So why dump the rat poison makings into the ground to seep back out into drinking water? Because it costs more to filter it? Is the fact that it's cheaper to dump toxins into old wells in an agricultural community than to filter the toxins out a good enough reason to dump tons upon tons of contaminated brine into the ground?
Every single one of these fracking jobs can be created without increasing the environmental risk. The question is, will the government and company leaders step forward and do the right thing?
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Short Notice: Your Chance to Add Your Voice to ODNR Oil and Natural Gas Well Construction Draft Rules
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management is accepting comments on the new set of proposed well construction rules, but only until November 28, 2011.
Since this is coming to Ohio, in fact it's already here, and it's growing rapidly, if you care about this issue (and you probably do if you're here reading this) then you have this opportunity to read the proposed draft rules and make your voice heard if you feel any of the rules are amiss, unclear, or inadequate.
The new rules will be finalized and in effect by the end of January 2012 according to the ODNR website.
Link to Proposed Draft Rules
The email address for submitting your comments is: minerals@dnr.state.oh.us
Since this is coming to Ohio, in fact it's already here, and it's growing rapidly, if you care about this issue (and you probably do if you're here reading this) then you have this opportunity to read the proposed draft rules and make your voice heard if you feel any of the rules are amiss, unclear, or inadequate.
The new rules will be finalized and in effect by the end of January 2012 according to the ODNR website.
Link to Proposed Draft Rules
The email address for submitting your comments is: minerals@dnr.state.oh.us
Do Residents Living Near Fracking Brine Injection Sites Have the Right to Debate the Issue?
What rights do local governmental leaders and citizens have when it comes to potentially toxic waste being dumped in proximity to their homes?
Say Goodbye to Your Rights?
According to a report in the Mansfield News Journal, an attorney for the company (Preferred Fluids Management of Austin, Texas) that has proposed two injection sites in Mansfield, Ohio's industrial park, citizens and city leaders have absolutely no rights.
Who Gets to Decide for You?
The PFM attorney states that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mineral Resources Management has sole jurisdiction and the city can neither limit nor prohibit the injection sites if the state's ODNR opts to allow the sites.
Zoning
It is also stated that the industrial park's zoning (general impact industrial use) allows the injection wells - further depleting rights of Mansfield, Ohio citizens.
Is the Brine Toxic?
The News Journal report also notes that the sites would be accepting up to 150,000 barrels of non-toxic fluid per month. The non-toxic part of the claim is interesting in light of the EPA's recent findings of contaminated groundwater from monitoring wells the agency set near hydro-fractured wells.
Say Goodbye to Your Rights?
According to a report in the Mansfield News Journal, an attorney for the company (Preferred Fluids Management of Austin, Texas) that has proposed two injection sites in Mansfield, Ohio's industrial park, citizens and city leaders have absolutely no rights.
Who Gets to Decide for You?
The PFM attorney states that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mineral Resources Management has sole jurisdiction and the city can neither limit nor prohibit the injection sites if the state's ODNR opts to allow the sites.
Zoning
It is also stated that the industrial park's zoning (general impact industrial use) allows the injection wells - further depleting rights of Mansfield, Ohio citizens.
Is the Brine Toxic?
The News Journal report also notes that the sites would be accepting up to 150,000 barrels of non-toxic fluid per month. The non-toxic part of the claim is interesting in light of the EPA's recent findings of contaminated groundwater from monitoring wells the agency set near hydro-fractured wells.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
25 Year Study 185 Documented Groundwater Contamination Incidents
An August 2011 report released by the Ground Water Protection Council describes a 25 year study in Ohio that has "documented 185 groundwater contamination incidents caused by historic or regulated oilfield activities."
Fracked Oil Wells?
You may be wondering what oilfield activities have to do with fracking, well, the majority (around 97%) of oil wells drilled in Ohio over the last three decades were - that's right - hydro-fracked. And there is more... those orphaned, fracked wells are now being used as Class II injection sites for natural gas fracking brine.
Orphaned Well Leakage
41 of the groundwater contamination incidents were found to be the result of orphaned well leakage. With the state of Ohio home to a rapidly growing number of orphaned well/ fracking brine injection sites, this should be of special concern to residents in the communities surrounding the injection sites.
Test Group of One
While only one shale gas drilling site in Ohio is mentioned in the GWPC report (prior to 20008, though the report is from 2011) in the interest of fairness it is important that I add, that one site had no cases of "recorded groundwater contamination incident resulting from site preparation, drilling, well construction, completion, hydraulic fracturing stimulation, or production operation."
Got to Be Fair
It is also important to note in the interest of fairness that "Over the past 25 years, Ohio has not identified a single incident of groundwater contamination from subsurface injection at a permitted Class II disposal well", Texas on the other hand has been "at it" longer and has recorded at least six documented incidents of groundwater contamination from subsurface injection at permitted Class II wells.
Conclusion
I appreciate the GWPC report because it explains both sides of the fracking issue in regard to groundwater contamination from fracking brine. Given the number of wells cited in the two-state study, the industry record is pretty good, though I doubt that a "pretty good record" is much consolation to the individuals exposed to and suffering from the effects of carcinogen-laced water.
Ohio does desperately need the jobs, but even one life lost to the effects of a fracking brine leak is too many. We need to proceed safely. The point of this blog is to raise awareness of the dangers, not to keep people from getting jobs in this overheated industry. We simply should not push ahead in a cavalier and unsafe manner that risks the health of every man, woman, child, and living creature exposed to the water and air contaminated by fracking. It is to see only one side of an issue, especially one as important as safe drinking water versus jobs. It would just be nice to see Ohioans do better on this important issue - before it's too late.
Fracked Oil Wells?
You may be wondering what oilfield activities have to do with fracking, well, the majority (around 97%) of oil wells drilled in Ohio over the last three decades were - that's right - hydro-fracked. And there is more... those orphaned, fracked wells are now being used as Class II injection sites for natural gas fracking brine.
Orphaned Well Leakage
41 of the groundwater contamination incidents were found to be the result of orphaned well leakage. With the state of Ohio home to a rapidly growing number of orphaned well/ fracking brine injection sites, this should be of special concern to residents in the communities surrounding the injection sites.
Test Group of One
While only one shale gas drilling site in Ohio is mentioned in the GWPC report (prior to 20008, though the report is from 2011) in the interest of fairness it is important that I add, that one site had no cases of "recorded groundwater contamination incident resulting from site preparation, drilling, well construction, completion, hydraulic fracturing stimulation, or production operation."
Got to Be Fair
It is also important to note in the interest of fairness that "Over the past 25 years, Ohio has not identified a single incident of groundwater contamination from subsurface injection at a permitted Class II disposal well", Texas on the other hand has been "at it" longer and has recorded at least six documented incidents of groundwater contamination from subsurface injection at permitted Class II wells.
Conclusion
I appreciate the GWPC report because it explains both sides of the fracking issue in regard to groundwater contamination from fracking brine. Given the number of wells cited in the two-state study, the industry record is pretty good, though I doubt that a "pretty good record" is much consolation to the individuals exposed to and suffering from the effects of carcinogen-laced water.
Ohio does desperately need the jobs, but even one life lost to the effects of a fracking brine leak is too many. We need to proceed safely. The point of this blog is to raise awareness of the dangers, not to keep people from getting jobs in this overheated industry. We simply should not push ahead in a cavalier and unsafe manner that risks the health of every man, woman, child, and living creature exposed to the water and air contaminated by fracking. It is to see only one side of an issue, especially one as important as safe drinking water versus jobs. It would just be nice to see Ohioans do better on this important issue - before it's too late.
Regulate Fracking? Don't Regulate Fracking? Which Should it Be?
According to a report coming out of Washington, Ohio Rep. Bob Gibbs and other unnamed House Republicans are taking aim at the current administration's efforts to safely regulate the practice of hydraulic fracturing.
Proponents of the status quo, such as Gibbs, want to see the industry push ahead as quickly as possible, which makes sense from their point of view since that is how they rake in the dollars. They go on to cite the statistic that no documented cases of groundwater contamination have been recorded.
Environmentalists and some citizens want to see the pratice controlled until further environmental studies can be done, to insure the safety of groundwater around drilling pratice and dumping brine sites. Environmental groups say the term "documented" is pivotal in understanding the statistics cited by proponents; claiming that the reason no cases have been documented is that when gas companies settle with victims, the victim is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and can no longer voice facts about their experiences.
Proponents of the status quo, such as Gibbs, want to see the industry push ahead as quickly as possible, which makes sense from their point of view since that is how they rake in the dollars. They go on to cite the statistic that no documented cases of groundwater contamination have been recorded.
Environmentalists and some citizens want to see the pratice controlled until further environmental studies can be done, to insure the safety of groundwater around drilling pratice and dumping brine sites. Environmental groups say the term "documented" is pivotal in understanding the statistics cited by proponents; claiming that the reason no cases have been documented is that when gas companies settle with victims, the victim is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and can no longer voice facts about their experiences.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Exxon Mobile Irony
Just a short post to say I am enjoying the irony of seeing an Exxon Mobile ad on my anti-fracking site.
I guess even bad publicity is publicity???
I guess even bad publicity is publicity???
EPA Finds Groundwater Contamination from Fracking
Following report after report on the part of natural gas companies and gas industry lobbyists claiming there has never been a proven and recorded case of groundwater contamination related to hydro-fracture natural gas drilling, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "released the latest data from Pavillion-area domestic and monitoring wells at a public meeting on November 9, 2011" describing high levels of cancer-causing compounds (including acetone, toluene, naphthalene and traces of diesel fuel) and at least one chemical commonly used in hydraulic fracturing [2-Butoxyethanol (2-BE).]
In short, after sampling water from Wyoming 42 homes located in close proximity to drilling sites, the EPA went on to drill 2 monitoring/test wells. The monitoring well sample results include (preliminary report quoted from EPA website):
In short, after sampling water from Wyoming 42 homes located in close proximity to drilling sites, the EPA went on to drill 2 monitoring/test wells. The monitoring well sample results include (preliminary report quoted from EPA website):
- Elevated ppH– rang g ging from 11.2-12
- Potassium (8-18x) and chloride (18x) significantly elevated
- Synthetic organic compounds including glycols, alcohols and 2-butoxyethanol
- Methane at near-saturation levels (up to 19 mg/L)- similar isotopic signature to production gas
- Other petroleum-related detections– BTEX (including benzene at 50x the MCL), phenols, trimethylbenzenes,, DR
Are Ohio Gas Drilling Rules Adequate?
The debate goes on and on about the safety of hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking and fracking, as well as the safety of fracking brine disposal methods like injection of completion fluids into existing well shafts.
Ohio is supposedly known for having some of the strictest regulations overseeing gas and oil drilling, though environmentalists consider that an example ofhow the regulations are failing on the national level rather than a triumph for Ohio.
Also, according to reports, Pensylvania, already experiencing negative environmental effects of the rapidly advancing fracking industry, has tougher regulations than Ohio - proving the "stricter than Ohio's" existing regulatory levels to be inadequate to protect the safety of citizens.
Ohio is supposedly known for having some of the strictest regulations overseeing gas and oil drilling, though environmentalists consider that an example ofhow the regulations are failing on the national level rather than a triumph for Ohio.
Also, according to reports, Pensylvania, already experiencing negative environmental effects of the rapidly advancing fracking industry, has tougher regulations than Ohio - proving the "stricter than Ohio's" existing regulatory levels to be inadequate to protect the safety of citizens.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Ohio Treasurer Claims Sherrod Brown Should Support Fracking
Ohio treasurer, Josh Mandel, who is expected to run against Sherrod Brown in the 2012 senate race, has announced that he feels Brown should support fracking, according to a report on Vindy.
The claim states that Brown should do what the people of Ohio want and accuses Brown of siding with Washington bureaucrats and fringe environmentalists.
According to Brown's camp, while not stating a for or against stance, “Sen. Brown supports responsible domestic energy production. His priority is making certain that fracking negotiations result in good jobs for Ohioans, a fair deal for landowners, a safe local drinking-water supply, and sustainable, long-term economic growth for Ohio communities.”
Having read Brown's books and followed his career with interest, I find it highly unlikely that this man is out of touch with what his constituents want. If anything, he is, in my humble opinion, one of the few leaders actually working to make life better for the dwindling middle class and rapidly growing lower economic class.
So, let's hope Senator Brown does not take the advice of someone who is getting poised to run against him and who is, most likely, offering him bad advice.
The claim states that Brown should do what the people of Ohio want and accuses Brown of siding with Washington bureaucrats and fringe environmentalists.
According to Brown's camp, while not stating a for or against stance, “Sen. Brown supports responsible domestic energy production. His priority is making certain that fracking negotiations result in good jobs for Ohioans, a fair deal for landowners, a safe local drinking-water supply, and sustainable, long-term economic growth for Ohio communities.”
Having read Brown's books and followed his career with interest, I find it highly unlikely that this man is out of touch with what his constituents want. If anything, he is, in my humble opinion, one of the few leaders actually working to make life better for the dwindling middle class and rapidly growing lower economic class.
So, let's hope Senator Brown does not take the advice of someone who is getting poised to run against him and who is, most likely, offering him bad advice.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion: November 16, 2011
A natural gas pipeline near Glouster in Ohio ruptured and then exploded this morning (11/16/11), around 8:30am. Two homes were damaged and one woman was found walking along the road carrying her dog. As of 1:58pm, no report is available on her, or the dog's, condition.
According to reports, the explosion was felt - and ensuing fire was heard - up to 12 miles away.
The natural gas transmission line is owned by the Houston-based Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company.
The gas flowing through the pipeline has reportedly since been shut off.
Edited at 2:20pm to Add Update about Pipeline Explosion:
The Athens Messenger has offered an update, stating that no serious injuries resulted from the explosion. Also, the cause of the rupture is as yet unknown. The pictures are pretty "impressive", showing the size of the fire from a landscape view to give an idea of how big it really was.
According to reports, the explosion was felt - and ensuing fire was heard - up to 12 miles away.
The natural gas transmission line is owned by the Houston-based Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company.
The gas flowing through the pipeline has reportedly since been shut off.
Edited at 2:20pm to Add Update about Pipeline Explosion:
The Athens Messenger has offered an update, stating that no serious injuries resulted from the explosion. Also, the cause of the rupture is as yet unknown. The pictures are pretty "impressive", showing the size of the fire from a landscape view to give an idea of how big it really was.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Is Fracking a Republican vs. Democrat Issue?
When I first heard fracking brine was being dumped into old wells near my home, it didn't occur to me that it might be a Republicans vs. Democrats issue. After all, we all have to drink the same water, breathe the same air, and live with any other effects that result from the practice regardless of the political party we follow.
I was surprised when I realized that somehow this very basic issue, that is affecting and will continue to affect, all of us has emerged as a partisan issue.
Cash for Fracking Support
According to an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio politicians, almost all Republican, are accused of having received nearly $3 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in Ohio over the last decade in an effort to keep drilling regulations lax by the non-profit organization known as Common Cause.
While I could easily go on and on about my opinions about this, I'm going to stop and let you check out the information found by Common Cause, and I'll end with a link to Common Cause's press release/summary of the study.
I was surprised when I realized that somehow this very basic issue, that is affecting and will continue to affect, all of us has emerged as a partisan issue.
Cash for Fracking Support
According to an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio politicians, almost all Republican, are accused of having received nearly $3 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in Ohio over the last decade in an effort to keep drilling regulations lax by the non-profit organization known as Common Cause.
While I could easily go on and on about my opinions about this, I'm going to stop and let you check out the information found by Common Cause, and I'll end with a link to Common Cause's press release/summary of the study.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
EPA Effort to End Brine Dumping in Ohio's Mahoning River
For the last year, the city of Warren has been exercising the benefit of a permit allowing them to dump 100,000 gallons of fracking brine into the Mahoning River every day.
When the city appealed the permit, asking permission to allow even more brine to be dumped into the waterway, Ohio's Attorney General and EPA Director stepped in and are working to repeal the permit altogether.
The practice of river-dumping the toxic fracking brine is expected to end soon as it is replaced with dumping into injection wells.
Is the practice of injection well dumping safer for stakeholders?
No one actually knows! Some of the injection wells are near streams and in watersheds, but dumping the brine into the ground offers the illusion of safety, and it's out of site - out of mind - at least until people in the surrounding area start getting sick.
For now, though, it's a small victory for people living downstream from Warren, Ohio, that someone is working to protect them from the brine toxins currently being dumped in Warren.
When the city appealed the permit, asking permission to allow even more brine to be dumped into the waterway, Ohio's Attorney General and EPA Director stepped in and are working to repeal the permit altogether.
The practice of river-dumping the toxic fracking brine is expected to end soon as it is replaced with dumping into injection wells.
Is the practice of injection well dumping safer for stakeholders?
No one actually knows! Some of the injection wells are near streams and in watersheds, but dumping the brine into the ground offers the illusion of safety, and it's out of site - out of mind - at least until people in the surrounding area start getting sick.
For now, though, it's a small victory for people living downstream from Warren, Ohio, that someone is working to protect them from the brine toxins currently being dumped in Warren.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Fracking Training Programs at Ohio Colleges
I was just reading a Columbus Dispatch article about Ohio colleges being quick to respond to the need for trained shale gas workers.
I was a little shocked to see that some of the educational programs are stretched out to a whole two weeks for certification in drilling site basics.
That's not to say longer programs are not available, Masters and Doctoral programs are also presented, but the way the industry is pushing ahead, by the time the students get the degrees the fracking ship will have sailed.
If it's going to happen, I guess placing our water and air supply in the hands of people with two weeks of training is better than ... nothing?
Link to CD article about Ohio colleges
I was a little shocked to see that some of the educational programs are stretched out to a whole two weeks for certification in drilling site basics.
That's not to say longer programs are not available, Masters and Doctoral programs are also presented, but the way the industry is pushing ahead, by the time the students get the degrees the fracking ship will have sailed.
If it's going to happen, I guess placing our water and air supply in the hands of people with two weeks of training is better than ... nothing?
Link to CD article about Ohio colleges
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