Katherine Nadeau. PROVIDED PHOTO
So if some energy companies want to punch natural-gas wells deep into a shale formation in the Southern Tier, why does it matter in Monroe County? Think water.
Environmental watchdogs say that's one potential issue with drilling in the Marcellus Shale, a massive natural-gas-rich rock formation that spans several states and ends around Monroe County's southern border. The drilling operations will use a technique called hydraulic fracturing - fracking, for short - which requires immense quantities of water; each gas well is expected to use more than one million gallons. To meet those needs, drilling companies would draw water from local rivers and lakes - including Ontario and Erie. They might also draw water from local aquifers, which could lead to depletion.
"Right now it's a patchwork of regulations that guide water withdrawals," says Katherine Nadeau, water and natural resources program associate for Environmental Advocates of New York. Some areas, like the Susquehanna and Delaware River basins, have detailed restrictions. The two Great Lakes are not regulated yet, though they will be once New York takes the technical steps to enact an international agreement that restricts large withdrawals.
With the drilling operations comes the potential for spills; fracking fluid contains chemicals to help break open the rock. Draft regulations for Marcellus and Utica shale drilling released recently by the DEC require drillers to disclose the composition of fracking fluid. They also impose some restrictions on storing and transporting fracking fluid.
"It's a huge document," says Sarah Eckel, a spokeswoman for Citizens Campaign for the Environment. For that reason, environmental groups are asking the state to extend the comment period, which ends November 30.
To help inform area residents on the issues surrounding gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, local environmental groups, as well as the League of Women Voters, are hosting a forum at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 19, at Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Avenue. The event will feature a panel of experts, including a primer by Wes Gillingham, the director of Catskill Mountain Keeper.
Comments for "ENVIRONMENT: Learning the natural-gas drill " (8)
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DAN said on Oct. 14, 2009 at 2:02pm
Natural Gas is definitely the direction we need to be moving in. Check out a company called Ecosphere Technologies. Ecosphere is involved with the purification of water for these hydraulic fracturing projects. Using their technologies, water usage and chemical usage is significantly reduced making the whole process cleaner and more eco-friendly.
Margie said on Oct. 14, 2009 at 5:09pm
Do come to hear the expert speakers lined up for the Monday 10/19 forum at Brighton Town Hall.
LoveCanal2020 said on Oct. 15, 2009 at 10:40pm
The use of water purification technology is not required of gas drillers, and therefore they will not use it, unless forced to do so by the State. This is one of the areas that has not been addressed by the DEC SGEIS report. Where and how will used toxic fracking water be recycled? It has been suggested that the water would be brought to PA to be decontaminated; but PA is already overwhelmed by their own drilling water---how will they be able to handle more from NY State? This is only one of many problems that have not been addressed.
Chris said on Oct. 16, 2009 at 7:20am
Contaminated water is important to consider but there is something else that is equally important but usually ignored: the quantity of water that will be consumed. 70% of the millions of gallons of water that will be used to frack 1 well will NEVER be recovered. This means that billions of gallons of water will be lost to the watershed. Fresh water is becoming scarce all over the planet and the Great Lakes/Finger Lakes region is the 1 area of the planet with more than enough. It's a crime against humanity that we are even considering wasting water to exploit a dinosaur technology like natural gas. We will also lose the other industries that we already have: agriculture, wineries, tourism. You can't grow food or grapes without water and who would drive through the Southern Tier to see oil wells? We will lose the industries that we have now and in 40 years the natural gas will be gone. This is a terrible bargain and contaminated water is just the beginning of the bad news.
bill said on Oct. 16, 2009 at 12:31pm
ecospheres has th means to clean the water with there ozonics water purifying equipment and i seen them take water from the hudson river and make drinkable
Sally said on Oct. 19, 2009 at 2:58pm
Please be aware that the the Oct 19th Forum is FULL and we can not accept any more pre-registrations. Thank you for your overwhelming response to this topic! Please see our website later today for the Forum Handout and Follow Up information FMCE . ORG Thank you!
City editors said on Oct. 19, 2009 at 3:34pm
A writer from City Newspaper will be covering this event.
Gary said on Nov. 14, 2009 at 1:19pm
I would guess none of you lost a child in Iraq or any where else I would rather clean up poultion than have kids die for oil
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