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Wastewaters from Marcellus Shale Drilling Topic at AHC September Meeting
The Allegheny Highlands Conservancy (AHC) will hold its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 15th at 7:00 pm in the CAOS building at Garrett College. We will be viewing an archived webinar presented by Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist, School of Forest Resources, Penn State University. This webinar which was originally broadcast on 10-28-09 is titled “Treatment/Disposal Options for Wastewaters from Shale Gas Drilling”. The public is welcome to attend.
Individuals present at the March 2010 AHC meeting, at which the webinar was shown, found it to be quite informative (and somewhat troubling), as this issue has not been adequately covered locally by the media, academia or government. So, due to popular demand, AHC will be offering this webinar once more. Some of the questions generated during the discussion that followed our first viewing of the webinar included: How will the millions of gallons of contaminated water generated from Marcellus shale drilling operations in Garrett County be treated? Who will ultimately pay for treatment? How and where will this treated water be disposed? How will wells, streams and springs adjacent to leased lands be impacted and who will pay if they are contaminated?
Those with high speed internet access who are unable to attend the September 15th AHC meeting can view this and another webinar by Bryan Swistock called “Water Use and Water Quality Issues” located on the web at http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/webinars.htm. A pdf file of “Treatment/Disposal Options for Wastewaters from Shale Gas Drilling” is also available at: http://resources.cas.psu.edu/WaterResources/pdfs/12710webinarqa.pdf. Unfortunately, the file size is too large (~3 mb) for those with a dial-up internet connection.
This is just one of a series of webinars offered by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension. These webinars cover a variety of topics ranging from local government's role in gas exploration to the effects of deep-well drilling methods on water supplies. The series is targeted at extension educators, federal and state agency representatives, and interested citizens. For more information about this and other Marcellus Shale webinars visit http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/webinars.htm.
The Allegheny Highlands Conservancy is a local land trust dedicated to conserve the natural resources, scenic beauty, and rural character of the Allegheny Highlands of Maryland. AHC members work to: protect and conserve land, water, and natural resources of the Allegheny Highlands region; promote the preservation, protection and stewardship of forest, scenic, natural, wildlife, recreational & agricultural land, and water resources; partner with the community to conserve working rural farms and forests; serve as a conservation information resource for landowners and land managers; and provide a forum for community understanding and support of land and water conservation.
AHC is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. Donations are deeply appreciated and may be sent to AHC, PO Box 333, McHenry, MD 21541. For additional information about AHC or becoming a member, phone Kevin Dodge or visit www.AlleghenyHighlandsConservancy.org
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Noon: Above the Marcellus Shale:
Minimizing Impacts to Forests and Wildlife
Gas exploration and development are occurring at a rapid rate across the Marcellus Shale region. Both shallow and deep wells change the landscape with direct and indirect effects on forests and wildlife. In forest habitat, well pad sites create openings and along with associated roads, corridors and pipelines fragment the habitat.
Fracing wells use large quantities of water that may have local impacts on species associated with wetland and aquatic habitats. Other changes that may affect wildlife include increased disturbance, increase in roads and locally increased levels of noise. Effects on wildlife-associated recreation may also occur. This presentation will discuss how gas exploration and development change the landscape, potential impacts to wildlife and forests
and potential ways to minimize the impacts.
1 P M
Is Global Warming a Problem in
Western Maryland?
Come hear Maryland author Mike Tidwell explain the growing evidence
that rapid climate change is happening now and what we can do
about it, especially after the Gulf oil spill. Tidwell is the author of sixbooks, including Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast. He is also the founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.