Love the Loyalsock Creek?

[RDA - Responsible Drilling Alliance]

Love the Loyalsock Creek?
Notice of Public Meeting 

 

A public meeting will be held on Monday, May 9, at 7:00 P.M. in Sullivan County at the Hillsgrove Fire Hall, concerning the proposed withdrawal of 720,000 gallons of water per day from the Loyalsock Creek by Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C.  On hand will be a representative of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), the entity that will make the final decision on Chesapeake's application, the Hillsgrove Township Board of Supervisors, a representative of PennDOT, and a Sullivan County Commissioner. 

The Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC application (SRBC pending No. -2011-026) was submitted on March 21, 2011. If you want to prevent the proposed water withdrawal from the Loyalsock Creek and stem a further increase in the number of trucks traveling on Route 87, please show up and voice your opinion or send a written comment to:

 

Mr. Andrew D. Dehoff
Manager, Project Review
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
1721 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102-2391
phone: 717-238-0423 Ext. 221
fax: 717-909-0468
email: ade...@srbc.net

 

Air Quality Public Comments
Round Two

In last week's newsletter, we gave you a template to follow in responding to the first topic for the DEP's public comment period regarding Pennsylvania's air quality.  In total, DEP will consider three air quality topics, but each one requires a separately addressed comment which must be received no later than Thursday, May 26.

This week, we are highlighting public comment topic #2, called "NONROAD ENGINES GP11". This pertains to all the engines brought on site to a well pad. To their credit, DEP has proposed revisions on this topic which will strengthen and improve their current policy regulations.  The gas companies will heavily weigh in opposed to these changes.  The public needs to let their voices be heard in support of these proposed changes, which include: notification to the municipality where the pad is located; public notice/comment giving local municipalities a chance to participate; installation of air filter devices; determination of when an engine is considered a stationary source; imposition of fees; and provision for monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting.

We need to encourage DEP to move forward and adopt these new and improved revisions to GP-11.  Our air quality will not be the gas companies' top priority, but it must be ours.  Public comment makes an impact.  Please take time to write or email DEP today concerning topic #2.

If you would like to read the proposed regulations, go to the following link:

Proposed Revisions to the General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Nonroad Engines (BAQ-GPA/GP 11) 
[40 Pa.B. 6336] [Saturday, October 30, 2010

Below is a template with the address and necessary subject line information. 

Please customize the letter if you can. Have you experienced any impacts from diesel engines? Basically, you want a letter that states facts about your concerns about air quality, primarily from diesel exhaust. 

 

E-MAIL MUST BE ADDRESSED THIS WAY:

TO: vtri...@state.pa.us
SUBJECT: NONROAD ENGINES GP-11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: Notice of Intent to Reopen Public Comment Period on Proposed Revisions to the General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Nonroad Engines [BAQGPA/GP11] Published at 40 Pa.B 6336

Dear Mr. Trivedi:

I am writing to urge the adoption of the new and improved revisions to GP-11.
( My reasons are …… )

 

Thank you for this opportunity to participate in the process that will affect the air quality in my community.

 

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME (MUST BE INCLUDED)
YOUR ADDRESS (MUST BE INCLUDED)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Mr. Trivedi prefers to receive e-mails. See last week’s newsletter if someone you know needs a mailing address.

 

Lycoming County gas well permits increase over 100%

 

Comparing the number of gas wells permitted from January 1st through May 5th, 2010, to the same 4-month period in 2011, Lycoming County experienced an increase of 129%.  Last year, 41 permits were issued from January 1 – May 5. This year, that number increased to 94. If you think the traffic is bad now, as the old saying goes, “You ain’t seen nothing yet”.  RDA hopes this significant potential increase in water and air pollution in Lycoming County will further encourage you to take action by contacting DEP during this comment period on air quality regulations. (See article above)

              

Never Mind. I’ll let you do your job.

 

Five weeks ago, Governor Corbett issued a directive requiring DEP inspectors to first get approval from DEP Secretary Michael Krancer before issuing a notice of violation to a gas driller. This directive caused an outcry of opposition and alarm from RDA and environmental groups statewide.

 

On April 27th, Governor Corbett reversed his decision and restored DEP inspectors' authority to issue notices of violation without pre-clearance from officials in Harrisburg. RDA applauds this reversal.

 

To Lease … or Not to Lease
How do you decide?

 

A dedicated committee of RDA members has spent the past 7 months gathering information, meeting with attorneys, and working on the answer to that question. The results of their efforts are now available on the RDA web site. W encourage anyone who is weighing the costs and benefits of signing a gas lease to read RDA’s Landman Committee Report, posted on the RDA web site at: http://www.responsibledrillingalliance.org/links/toleaseornottolease.html

 

If you’d like to hear directly from someone who has a gas lease, we encourage you to watch this interview with Mary McConnell of Clearfield County, PA. Mary talks candidly about the entire history of her experience with gas leasing, seismic testing, and drilling. http://bedfordcountyfreepress.com/?p=17339

Legislating Demand

Have you ever wanted to open a new business and offer a product for sale? Your biggest challenge--be it widgets or onion rings, shoes or building materials--would be to develop a market demand for the items you’re hoping to sell. If demand is high - you succeed.  What if your elected representatives in Harrisburg decided to pass legislation giving huge tax incentives to folks who bought your product? This would not only guarantee your success, it would also transfer the real cost of your product onto the backs of taxpayers who may never even use what you produce. How cool is that?! It’s a great deal if you’re the business owner. If you’re just a lowly taxpayer made to subsidize the private industry or business, such legislation seems very unfair and serves as yet another example of the corporate power so rampant in our government.

 

The seven legislators below are trying to do just that – pass laws to increase the demand for a product (natural gas) whose profits will go to the companies (many from outside the USA) who make their money from the sale of that product.  Fair? Hardly. Contact your representative and ask him/her to vote NO on these unfair tax incentive bills. The money for "tax credits, grants, and low cost loans” all comes from the same source – your pocket.

• House Bill 1083 – Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) – Creates tax credits for private fleet vehicles in order to lessen incremental cost of natural gas vehicles.
• House Bill 1084 – Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) – Creates a grant program available to smaller mass transit agencies to cover the incremental cost of natural gas buses.
• House Bill 1085 – Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks) – Creates a revolving loan program available to large mass transit agencies to cover the incremental cost of natural gas buses.
• House Bill 1086 – Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) – Requires 25 percent of all new bus purchases made by large mass transit agencies (SEPTA, PAT, Lehigh) in 2012-16 to run on natural gas; 50 percent in 2017-2021; 75 percent in 2022-2026; and 100 percent by 2027.
• House Bill 1087 – Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-Lancaster) – Creates a natural gas corridor tax credit to encourage the construction of natural gas fueling stations along travel corridors (I-76, I-78, I-79, I-80, I-81, and I-83).
• House Bill 1088 – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford) – Dedicates the Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund to provide grants to municipalities, schools, and the private sector for the purchase of natural gas vehicles.
• House Bill 1089 – Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) – Repeals California Air Resources Board (CARB) section 2030 to eliminate costly duplication of EPA and CARB certifications for natural gas vehicles.