PA Mice Invade Harrisburg, NY Rats Invade the Endless Mountains
RDA - Responsible Drilling Alliance
Dear RDA Members,
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Mixed in with disappointment at the certification of the MARC I pipeline project and disgust with pathetic timidity of both houses of the legislature last week, was something to be very thankful for: the Delaware River Basin Commission's decision to cancel a scheduled vote on natural gas drilling regulations in the watershed. Congratulations to our friends at Protecting Our Waters, Delaware Riverkeeper and all citizens who are working hard to see that everyone, not just mineral rights owners and business interests, be included in a decision to open their lives to the impacts and risks of a drilling rush. We here in the Susquehanna basin well understand your desire to do all you can to try and save the people you love and the places you care about from the problems we have seen with shale gas development as it has unfolded thus far in both our state's other basins.
We see no need to expose another huge percentage of our Commonwealth's land area to the risks and realities of a drilling rush at this time. The Commonwealth is still not adequately prepared for drill rush impacts on the vast majority who are not going to benefit directly and who will see extreme changes to their chosen way of life while facing risks they did not sign on to take. In the near future, any drilling in the Delaware will net the nation no more benefit than what it will get if Pennsylvania's drilling activity is continued to be confined to the other to basins. There are only so many rigs to go around, so much capital to drill and develop pipelines and other needed infrastructure. Though it may end up putting more pressure on our area than there would be if operators were busy trying to tie up leases and lay pipe out your way, we see no need, other than operator profits and double edge sword local economic gains, to conduct the early stages of this questionable experiment in all three Commonwealth watersheds at once.
EVIDENCE
For justification for the above opinion, check out the Scranton Times-Tribune's Laura Legere's article from Sunday November 20th, " Gas Company Whistle-Blower Details Spills, Errors" at: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-company-whistle-blower-details-spills-errors-1.1234817#ixzz1eFe53nGz
EMINENT DOMAIN HITS HOME
In a tough blow to many Sullivan and Bradford County residents, concerned property owners and loyal visitors, notice of certification of the MARC I hub pipeline project by the Federal Energy regulatory Commission (FERC) was issued on November 14th. Only a few days after approval for the project, a pipeline that will connect the Williams-Transco line in eastern Lycoming County to the Tennessee pipeline in Bradford, was announced, the pipeline developer, Central New York Oil and Gas (CYNOG), exercised their newly acquired eminent domain power that comes with FERC certification and filed 30 proposed condemnations of properties located in Bradford County.
In Lycoming, one "Declaration of Taking" was filed by CYNOG on November 17th. There appears to be eight properties along the planned route of the MARC I in Lycoming County. All are in Penn Township, located east of Picture Rocks. The property filed upon for "…a taking in fee simple absolute of a portion of the property…" is being forced to host what is described as a "pump station for use in connection with said underground pipeline". CYNOG has secured a bond in the amount of, $119,400 "to provide security for all damages that may be sustained" They also say, "Just compensation for the taking is secured by the filing of said bond.". Really? Does anyone out there know the going rate for selling a piece of land for a "pump station"? What exactly is this "pump station"?
Sullivan County is estimated to have close to 70 properties in the MARC I path. Will we eventually hear about a MARC II and a MARC III project? Will your beloved property be next?