The Impact of Gas Drilling in the Catskills
The Impact of Gas Drilling in the Catskills
Compilation of notes byAndrew Leslie Phillips,
Hancock Permaculture Center
http://www.hancockpermaculture.org
Educational Forums – Natural Gas Drilling in the Upper Delaware Region:
Issues and Strategies of Property Owners and Municipalities.
Walton, June 26 (300 attedees).
Liberty, June 27 2008 (1,000 attendees).
Co-Sponsored by:
Catskills Mountainkepper – 845-482-5400
Wes Gillingham, Catskills Mountain Keeper.
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http://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/290 (lot of good info here).
Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management –
845-794-3000 x 5028
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Goals: to educate on efficacy of landowner consortia, understand the scope and ramifications of gas leasing and comprehend the direction of public policy to mitigate impacts of development.
- Benefits of landowner consortia
- -fundamentals of community-gas corporation collaborations
- -Understanding the basics of lease agreements
- Preparing for impacts of this type of development
Since western states have had more experience with gas drilling than states in the east, three members from Colorado and Wyoming share their experience and offer ideas and strategies to property owners and local policy makers.
PARTICIPANTS:
Jill Morrison, Organizer, Powder River Basin Resource Council - Sheridan, Wyoming. Jill Morrison unites ranchers, public officials and conservationists to address industrial impacts to land, water and tradition. She is the 2004 winner of the Leadership for Change Award and she was featured on PBS's Now with Bill Moyers. The mission of the Powder River Basin Resource Council is to promote land stewardship and responsible development in Wyoming. Rural people rely on the Council for an array of hard-to-find information, including examples of recently negotiated energy-company agreements, as well as facts and figures on the real costs of methane development.
Peggy Utesch, Member, Western Colorado Congress and the Grand Valley Citizens' Alliance. Ms. Utesch is a writer and graphic designer from New Castle, CO, and member of the Western Colorado Congress and the Grand Valley Citizens' Alliance. Peggy's work on the gas drilling issue in Western Colorado has brought citizens, municipalities and gas companies together to look at the long-term impacts that will result from an intense level of projected development - more than 20,000 wells - and seek solutions that benefit both industry and residents. The result was a Community Development Plan that aims to protect landowners while reducing conflict with the gas industry.
Bruce Baizel, Staff Attorney for the Earthworks Oil & Gas Accountability Project (OGAP). Bruce comes to Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project from Dine CARE, a Navajo action group and Round River Conservation Studies, he staffed and represented for eleven years. Bruce received his law degree in 1986 from the University of Denver, College of Law, and has a BA in Biology and a Masters in International Relations. Bruce is the author of significant natural gas regulation bills that have passed in both New Mexico and Colorado to safeguard the environmental health of the communities. The Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project is the only organization in the United States with the sole mission of working with communities to protect their homes and the environment from the impacts of oil and gas development.
Robert Wedlake, JD, Parner, Hinman, Howard and Kattell, LLP, Binghamton, New York. Degree from State University, Buffalo. Past president of Broome County Bar Association and current member of Broome County Bar Association Real Property Committee. Experienced in writing contracts for gas leasing.
Dr. Robert J. Pammer, Jr., Ph.D., Commissioner, Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management, Monticello, New York.
Has served on planning committee since 2004. Was Fulbright Scholar with U.S. Dept. of State and a senior development adviser with USAID, Moldova Local Government Reform Project.
Marcellus Shale – Where the gas is!
Marcellus Shale formation reaches from Ohio to Virginia to New York and is a potential trillion-dollar resource in the gut of the nation's most populous and energy-hungry region.
The Millennium Pipeline will deliver the gas through a 30-inch diameter pipe stretching 180 miles from Corning to the Lower Hudson Valley and 425 miles from Lake Erie, across New York's Southern Tier and the lower Hudson Valley to Westchester County.
More than 90% of the pipeline will be installed within or adjacent to existing pipeline rights-of-way. The Millennium pipeline project is the centerpiece of a $1 billion investment in new energy infrastructure that includes new facilities by Empire Pipeline, Algonquin Gas Transmission and the Iroquois Gas Transmission systems.
Hydraulic fracturing process involves drilling up to 9,000 feet deep and then horizontally up to 3,000 feet. A mixture of silica and toxic chemicals are injected into the shale to fracture it, to permit natural gas to escape to the surface.
Wyoming is least populated state in the union exporting about 300 million tons of coal and is the “Saudi Arabia” of the U.S. It is a state rich in bio-diversity. Powder River is one of America's remaining wild, untamed rivers - 25,000 sq. miles of wildlife area supporting antelope, elk, mule deer, shovel nosed sturgeon, In early 90's huge rush for gas by land men.
Jill Morrison, Organizer, Powder River Basin Resource Council has 18 years experience with gas drilling in Wyoming.
Oil and gas industries are the single richest in the country.
Over next ten years, 51,000 gas well will have been drilled, 17,000 miles of new roads installed and 1.4 trillion gallons of water used in drilling (enough for 16 million people or all Wyoming residents for 30 years).
Some areas gas wells at 20 acres spacing. Bureau of Land Management owns mineral rights. Very rare for people to own mineral rights in the west. In northeast, people own mineral rights to their land. There is lack of regulation at national level. Companies not bonded to restore land like coal companies are. Spread of noxious weeds a big problem. Spread by movement of trucks across landscape
Her advice: "get out front of this thing and shape it". "You need to list what is important to you."
Develop a Community Development Plan.
Seek industry best practice to protect community.
Identify community values and create core interests.
form work groups and meet bi-weekly.
meet with gas companies - community and companies working together.
Note these are not legally binding documents but rather "gentleman's agreement.”
Gas drilling will create haves and have-nots. Good for neighbors to work together.
Compressor stations are very noisy - used to push gas down pipeline.
Drilling mud pits contain noxious chemicals and leak into aquifers.
Expensive legal fees to fight breech of contract by gas companies (who have very deep pockets). "...if their lips are moving then they're lying."
Passage of specific legislation necessary to protect the land.
Good to get your own consultants to create bio- impact statement. The state will not do it - the people need to. Gas is of great financial benefit for the state but not necessarily for landowners. And unlike the coal industry, the gas industry is exempt from most hazardous waste laws.
Confluence Consulting (helped local folks do research studies) 406-585-9500
Pinedale, Wyoming has ozone levels in winter, caused by drilling emissions as high as Los Angeles or Houston. Causes lung disease and asthma. Ozone forming compounds.
What happens upstream impacts downstream – flooding, salinization, erosion, pollution. The Sage grouse population of Wyoming has decreased 85% and is now on endangered species list.
Private roads that used to carry 10 cars a day, now carry 100 semis 24/7. Roads and traffic volume increase 10 fold. Blowouts release several tons of toxic materials to atmosphere. Ground water contaminated. Wells contaminated. Ozone release higher than LA in some rural areas of Wyoming and can cause permanent lung damage. Downstream impacts - flooding, destruction of pastures, salinity of soils, erosion.
Some wells in Western Colorado are up to 9,000 feet deep at gas lens.
100 semis per day are common with headlights shining through your windows.
Waste pit flaring contains carcinogens and blow over residential areas.
30 wells within one mile of her home (Peggy Utesch).
CLEAR CREEK MONITORING GROUP - you may need one person per family to monitor drilling activities - self-monitoring since State ineffective.
Loss of property value substantial - no water, "practically worthless”.
A phased development approach very important - gas companies will want to move very quickly.
Two types of spacing - surface and "down-hole" spacing. They can drill 30 wells from one infrastructure.
Wells can be 150 feet from you home - it shakes so much it moved the water tank off its stand and the walls shake.
Wells/compression pumps louder than a jet engine – 100 dbs night and day. Light pollution. Numerous water disposal pits containing hazardous materials like benzene (very volatile), heavy metals and arsenic and cadmium presenting cancer risks.
Pits always leak lined or not contaminating nearby soils and groundwater. – 1,500 instances of ground water contamination in Colorado.
Clean up may cost up to $100,000 but bonding is for a max of $5,000 so who pays??
Weed control becomes a big issue as trucks move weeds around district.
Rapid community growth - schools, municipal water needs, emergency preparedness, hospital emergency rooms overload and kinds of accidents, rural fire protection - chemical spills, Roads and bridges, heavy traffic, housing shortage and expensive rents.
Land men get paid by how many leases they sell. It is the single richest industry in the world.
There will be 1000's of wells that will last up to 30 years. Gas has peaked and the search is on.
A well pad may be 1.2 acres and up to 20 acres in size. You have to live with this for up to 30 years. There will be decrease in property values. This is an "industrial activity." They will come back and back till all the gas is gone - up to 10 times per well. Release of radioactive materials concentrated in workers over time.
800,000 to 4 million gallons of water to drill a well. (One million gallons of water equivalent to one football field, 3o feet deep with water). What happens to waste water? There are 7-15 hazardous materials in this water after use. It could be tested but usually is not. It may be hauled away to hazardous waste sites in PA - large volume of trucks. Maybe injected back into the ground. Impurities are vented/flared releasing nitrogen and methane. There will be increase in chance. Will add to greenhouse emissions.
Landowners advised to get their water wells checked by independent agency before drilling commences.
Cost to plug abandoned well up to $100,000 - minimum of $10,000 but bonding very low number - up to $5k. Lack of inspection and qualified inspectors.
Increase in roads, power lines, pipelines, ponds and pits for water disposal, water usage way up and water dumping problems.
There could be 30 to 60 drill holes from one drill pad.
Drilling will occur in watershed for New York and Philadelphia.
Populations double with influx of workers with huge impact on local communities and services. There will chemical related accidents. Local EMS will put under more strain and not trained to deal with chemically related accidents.
In Texas (Fort Worth) people getting $25,000 per acre plus bonus and royalties up to 25% - millions of dollars are possible. $20K to $30K a month possible. Minimum royalty payments are 12.5%
DEC is facilitating gas companies and so is New York State. Permitting has been made easier. Well permits issued by DEC. Production of gas is a policy of the state and compulsory integration of gas sites is possible.
Wells cost about $1m to install.
Public has right to audit gas companies. Selling a lease will impact titles and marketability of land. The relationship with gas company may last as long as 40 years. There will be hundreds of wells in our area, perhaps thousands and natural gas prices will remain high.
Inspection agency staffing inadequate and expensive. Litigation with companies difficult and expensive.
Local municipalities have power over local roads – that’s it! So a moratorium would be on road impact – nothing else. Oil and gas companies exempt form zoning regulation – they can drill in any zone.
It costs $100,000 per mile to improve roads. Trucks will carry loads of 85,000 to 100,000 lbs (50 tons) on Type One road – that is dirt back road. Expect 83% damage to roads. Therefore make road assessment a prerequisite before issuing permits.
In Colorado and Wyoming there was huge increase in drugs and crime. Jails were expanded by factor of three. Methamphetamines big problems for guys working 12-hour shifts 24/7. Family violence increase, prostitution.
Proposed drilling sites are secret – impossible to get this information. Suggest people go to land office and inquire about where landmen looking to get idea of local scope of activity
Gas output relies on self-reporting by companies.
State moratorium would have to be dictated by governor, legislature or local towns. But industry is ahead of public. Environmental impact statements are 20 years old.
EPA does not regulate flood run- off and flash flooding and pond overflow is likely. Local government responsible for storm water run-off.
Likely that bonuses and royalties will increase.
Email to local activist:
“I commend your activism in this matter. As you must know this issue has come out of nowhere and we find ourselves infiltrated with the most insidious of situations - I see it as Dick Cheney's Haliburton/Blackwater come home to roost. You probably know that all this comes under the aegis of the Cheney Energy Task force - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_task_force
Our communities are generally unsophisticated and poor so it is no surprise that people will take the money. But it is also true that local government has played no role in protecting local interests as far as I know. The best local resource we have in this region is the potential for local long-term sustainability but we have a lot of education to do to install this idea and it is why a sustainability/nodes of permanence are so essential. But that is a long-term plan.
In the meantime I believe letters to editors, Oped pieces, education, community leadership and information distribution can get the ball rolling.
It seems to me that we need to comprehend the degree of change that is coming as energy descent begins - this is just the beginning - there is no going back now. I believe we have reached the tipping point and climate change is here too!!
This myopic, short-term gas leasing approach will do nothing to help us in the long run, rather it will devastate communities, not to mention personal relationships. It’s happening now as I write!
Gas drilling in Wyoming has brought with it a serious rise in crime and crystal meth use and left the land devastated. For a preview of what is going to happen in our region check out
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/05/070205fa_fact_fuller
Moratoria is without doubt the way to go right now and we all should be working toward that end.
Once again I commend those of you who have jumped on this issue with such passion and I hope we can use it as a fulcrum to expand into the positive solutions I know are available if we have the time and space to move forward. It is why a sustainability center is so important.
Long term sustainability towards abundance in our areas is absolutely possible if we look to the long term. It is the best insurance for our future and will bring us peace and prosperity if only we can turn this corner. We have everything we need in our region despite the current bleak picture.
Andrew Leslie Phillips
OTHER RESOURCES
New York Times report on Walton meeting
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/nyregion/29towns.html
Catskills Mountain Keeper – lots of info here:
http://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/290
Info on Hancock area here:
http://www.hancockgaslease.com/
The Cheney Energy Task force secret meetings, 2005 - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_task_force
For a preview of what is going to happen in our region check out http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/05/070205fa_fact_fuller
Christine Ahearn, WJFF radio recorded Walton session
THIS IS SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO LONG TERM PROBLEM.
DISCOURAGES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND CONSERVATION.
WHERE IS THE GAS USED - WHO BENEFITS AND FOR HOW LONG?
BIG PICTURE - GLOBAL WARMING - WASTE OF FOSSIL FUEL.
BLACKWATER COMES TO THE CATSKILLS.
BBC news report on CA drilling effects on health:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5iSPFbj6Zc&feature=related
'Rural Impact' - What to expect from the Gas Industry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVNgwMGEObE&feature=related
