AdditionalTestimony: Email

to Soergel OrchardsFrom:JasonBell[mailto:trucodios@yahoo.comj Sent:Sunday,September25,201111:51AM To:folks@soergels.com Subject:ConnoquenessingTownshipGoodmorning,MynameisJasonBell.I’maresidentofEvansCityandaSoergels’regular.EarlierthisweekImetseverallocalresidentswhohavebeenexperiencingwaterproblemsintheConnoquenessingTownshiparea.TheEPAandREXEnergy(thecompanywhoispreformingshaledrillingthearea)havebothtestedthewaterofatleast

twohomesandhavefoundelevatedlevelsofmanyman-madechemicalsinthewellwater.Thewaterisblackandpurple,stainsthebathtubsanddishes,andfoamsoutofthefaucet.Onewoman’sfamilywasviolentlyillwithvomitinganduncontrollablediarrheaforweeksbeforetheirwaterturnedfoamy.Herfingernailshavechangedpigmentation(calledleukonychia)andherpersonalphysicianbelievesthatshehasarsenicpoisoning.Shehasbeensentforfurthertesting.Anotherblindandelderlywomanhasbeenleftwithoutanywater.Athirdisbeingforcedtomovebecauseherewaterandsoilhasbeenirreparablycontaminated.Shehasthewaterteststoproveit.Itstrulyasadsituationandallofthemblamethesuddenchangesonthenewdrillingtakingplaceintheirbackyards.Therehaveneverbeenanywaterproblemsofthisnatureintheareaandwithinmonthsofthestartofdrillingneartheirproperty,theseproblemsbegan.YesterdayIwastoldthatthelandwherethedrillingistakingplaceisassociatedwithSoergelsIsthistrueandifsohaveyoubeenmadeawareofwhatishappeninginConnoquenessingTownship?Isthereproduceinyourmarketthatisgrownonthislandoranyotherswherefrackingfluidsareusedorstored?Ifsodoyouusewellwaterforwatering?Isthewatertested?IlookforwardtoyourresponsesandIhopethatyoucanunderstandthatuntilmyconcernsareeasedIwillnotbeshoppingatSoergels.JasonBell223PattisonSt.EvansCity,PA16033 Email

from Soergel OrchardsFrom:SoergelOrchards<folks@soergels.com> To:‘JasonBell’<trucodiosyahoo.com> Sent:Monday,September26,20119:26AM Subject:RE:ConnoquenessingTownshipHiJason,Thankyouforthee-mail,andthankyouforthesupportofourfamily’sbusiness.Asfortheemailandinformationcontainedinit,IcantellyouthatwedohavelandthatisleasedtoREXEnergy,andIdoknowthatwatertestsfromourpropertyhavecomebackunchanged.Beyond4that,wouldrecommendthatyouspeakwithREXortheDEP,orEPAontheotherinformationthatyouheardaboutthispastweek,asnothingofthatsorthasbeenmadeknowntous.Wewillbesuretospeakwithourcontactstoseeifwecanlearnanythingfromthem.Asforyourlastquestion,theproducegrownontheleasedlandisnotirrigatedwithwellwater,aswedonotownawell.Again,thankyouforthee-mail,andIhopeithasbeenofsomehelp.EricVollGeneralManagerSoergelOrchards6thGeneration724-935-1743NortheasternPennsylvaniaMarcellusShaleShort-TermAmbientAirSamplingReportThescopeofthisshort-termsamplingeffortwaslimitedtoseveralnaturalgasfacilitiesinSusquehannaCounty.Duetothelimitedscopeanddurationofthesamplingandthelimitednumberofsourcesandfacilitiessampled,thefindingsonlyrepresentconditionsatthetimeofthesamplinganddonotrepresentacomprehensivestudyofemissions.Whilethisshort-termsamplingeffortdoesnotaddressthecumulativeimpactofairemissionsfromnaturalgasoperationsinnortheasternPennsylvania,thesamplingresultsdoprovidebasicinformationonthetypeofpollutantsemittedtotheatmosphereduringselectedphasesofgasextractionoperationsintheMarcellusShaleformation.Thisinformationwillalsobeutilizedtodetermineifthescopeofthestudyshouldbeexpandedandwillidentifyareaswhereadditionalsamplingmaybewarranted.Goodevening,Iwanttothankthecommissionforhearingmytestimonytoday.MynameisJasonBellandIliveinEvansCity,ButlerCounty,PA.IntheearlysummerIstartedtoseehydraulicfracturingwellsmovingintomyarea.Ihadconcernsbuttheyweremostlyabouttrafficandtaxation.Isatdowntowritealettertomystaterepresentativeandstartingdoingsomeresearchtoseeifmyworrieshadanymerit.WhatIfoundeventuallyledme4milesfrommyhome,toConnoquenessingTownshipTheshortvideoI’mabouttoshowyoufocusesonKimMcElroyandherthree-year-olddaughter,Skylar.Ihopeyoufinditinformative.Video:Whatshesaysabouttheheadachesistrue.Minestartedwhenthecenterofmyforehead,righthere,startedtoheatup.Inashorttimeitwasallovermyhead.Icouldsmellnothing,butmyeyeswerewateringandIcouldtastemetalinmymouthandonmylips.Ahomeownerexplainedtomethatthewindwasblowingfromthe11wellsoperatedbyREXEnergyalongan8/10ofamilestretchofWoodlandsRd.In the Woodlands

there

are

at least

11 people affected

by

the

air and water contamination.

Many

are

too afraid

to speak

to outsiders

about

it.

I was

able

to speak

with seven

adults

from

four different

homes.

There

were

4 children

in those

homes.

The youngest

was

2 weeks

old. I received testimony

from

a local resident

named

Gretta.

Gretta

is an elderly

woman

living

alone without

clean

water.

She

is blind and

uses

an oxygen

tank.

Others

are bringing

her bottled

water because,

as she explained

to me,

see cannot

see when

her water changes

colors. Adding

to

the confusion,

one woman

accuses

the drilling company

of giving

her family

test results

that

state

the compounds

where

not detected

then

later discovering

in the

fine print

at the

end

of the report

that

the samples

were

not tested. Four residents

have

also witnessed

trucks dumping

water

on

or near

the bridges

crossing

Little Connoquenessing

Creek.

Large bubbled

foam

has been repetetedly

sited

in the creek. At least

seven

of the

gas wells

are

on land owned

by

an orchard operating

in Wexford,

PA. While

there

on Sunday

I saw several trucks harvesting

pumpkins.

When

I contacted

the general manager

about

the issues surrounding

the

well,

he stated“nothingofthatsorthasbeenmadeknowntous.”I’veattachedtheemailtomywrittentestimony.TheDEPwebsiteshows5violationsatthewellsin2010.Fouroftheminvolvedreleasingspentfrackingfluid.Onewasaproblemwithanimpoundmentpond.AnotherforimproperordefectivecementwellcasingandfailuretonotifytheDEPorsubmitaplanforcorrectingtheproblem.Thethirdwas“Failuretoproperlystore,transport,processordisposeofaresidualwaste.”Andtheforthwasfora“streamdischargeof1W(industrialwaste).”OnAugust31,2011REXEnergywascitedfor“FailuretonotifyDEP,landowner,politicalsubdivision,orcoalowner24hrspriortocommencementofdrilling.”Notonlydotheyhaveaproblemfollowingtheenvironmentalrulesapparently,theyalsohavedifficultywithtransparency.Whywouldtheyplacethepublicinharm’swaybyfailingtonotifyafoodproduceraboutpossiblecontaminationofhisproductbeforeitgetstomarket?This,inmyopinion,ispurenegligence.Andwhileallthisistakingplace,theDEP’sownwebsiteindicatesonlyoneinspectionattheVollwells.Theeffectsoffrackingonair,water,andsoiliscompletelyunpredictable.Insomeareasthewatertablehadbeenraised20feet.Inothersithasdropped30feet.Itwouldtakemehourstolist

all

the different chemicals

and

their

levels

found

in

the water.

Air

is much

more difficult

to detect.

The industry

and press

touted

the Northeastern

Pennsylvania

Marcellus

Shale Short-Term

Ambient

Air Sampling

Report

as proof

that

air quality has

not been compromised

due

to shale

drilling

but

did

they bother

to read

the report? In the second paragraph

of the report

the authors

state

that

the results

are limited

and

do

not represent

a comprehensive

study nor

did

it address

the cumulative

impact

of

air emissions.

In

a nutshell,

it was inconclusive.

I have included

the complete

text

at the

end

of my written testimony. I did come

today

to speak

on behalf

of

the people

in Connoquenessing

Township

but

also

for myself

and

my family.

At least

132

new

wells

and permits

have

been granted

in Butler county

in 2011

alone.

Trucks

carrying

spent fracking

fluids

will soon

be passing

in front

of

my

13 month-old’s

daycare.

They

are fracking

as

we speak

at

a dairy

less

than

a mile

from

my home.

This

dairy produces

milk

for nearly

700 schools,

including my

6 year-olds’. It

is clear

that

the industry

can’t

be trusted

and

that there

are fundamental

technical shortcomings

associated

with fracking

thatmereregulationcannotcounteractorcontrol.Themajorityofthefrackingprocessisinherentlydangerousandunpredictable.ItcannotbedonesafelyPERIOD.Testandevenmonitoringisnottheanswer.AndthisiswhyIamdemandinganationalbanonfrackingeffectiveimmediately.Weneedtoputtheburdenofproofontheindustrytoprovethattheprocessissafeandnotonthetaxpayersandindividualstoprovethatitisnot.ItistimetostepuptheplateandputpeoplebeforeprofitandletusmakeitclearheretodaythatjustasthefiercelyindependentcitizenryoftheGreatCommonwealthofPennsylvaniahaveplayedacentralroleintheformationofourcountrywewillnotsitidlybyandwatchherbedestroyed.WewillusethetraditionsestablishedontheadvancementoflibertyintheRevolutionagainsttheBritish,therightsconceivedinourfoundingdocuments,andtheuniversaljusticereveredbyWilliamPennandwewillnotbesilenced!ThankyouforyourtimeandIwillopenituptoquestionsatthistime.AdditionalTestimony: Email

to Soergel OrchardsFrom:JasonBell[mailto:trucodios@yahoo.comj Sent:Sunday,September25,201111:51AM To:folks@soergels.com Subject:ConnoquenessingTownshipGoodmorning,MynameisJasonBell.I’maresidentofEvansCityandaSoergels’regular.EarlierthisweekImetseverallocalresidentswhohavebeenexperiencingwaterproblemsintheConnoquenessingTownshiparea.TheEPAandREXEnergy(thecompanywhoispreformingshaledrillingthearea)havebothtestedthewaterofatleast

twohomesandhavefoundelevatedlevelsofmanyman-madechemicalsinthewellwater.Thewaterisblackandpurple,stainsthebathtubsanddishes,andfoamsoutofthefaucet.Onewoman’sfamilywasviolentlyillwithvomitinganduncontrollablediarrheaforweeksbeforetheirwaterturnedfoamy.Herfingernailshavechangedpigmentation(calledleukonychia)andherpersonalphysicianbelievesthatshehasarsenicpoisoning.Shehasbeensentforfurthertesting.Anotherblindandelderlywomanhasbeenleftwithoutanywater.Athirdisbeingforcedtomovebecauseherewaterandsoilhasbeenirreparablycontaminated.Shehasthewaterteststoproveit.Itstrulyasadsituationandallofthemblamethesuddenchangesonthenewdrillingtakingplaceintheirbackyards.Therehaveneverbeenanywaterproblemsofthisnatureintheareaandwithinmonthsofthestartofdrillingneartheirproperty,theseproblemsbegan.YesterdayIwastoldthatthelandwherethedrillingistakingplaceisassociatedwithSoergelsIsthistrueandifsohaveyoubeenmadeawareofwhatishappeninginConnoquenessingTownship?Isthereproduceinyourmarketthatisgrownonthislandoranyotherswherefrackingfluidsareusedorstored?Ifsodoyouusewellwaterforwatering?Isthewatertested?IlookforwardtoyourresponsesandIhopethatyoucanunderstandthatuntilmyconcernsareeasedIwillnotbeshoppingatSoergels.JasonBell223PattisonSt.EvansCity,PA16033 Email

from Soergel OrchardsFrom:SoergelOrchards<folks@soergels.com> To:‘JasonBell’<trucodiosyahoo.com> Sent:Monday,September26,20119:26AM Subject:RE:ConnoquenessingTownshipHiJason,Thankyouforthee-mail,andthankyouforthesupportofourfamily’sbusiness.Asfortheemailandinformationcontainedinit,IcantellyouthatwedohavelandthatisleasedtoREXEnergy,andIdoknowthatwatertestsfromourpropertyhavecomebackunchanged.Beyond4that,wouldrecommendthatyouspeakwithREXortheDEP,orEPAontheotherinformationthatyouheardaboutthispastweek,asnothingofthatsorthasbeenmadeknowntous.Wewillbesuretospeakwithourcontactstoseeifwecanlearnanythingfromthem.Asforyourlastquestion,theproducegrownontheleasedlandisnotirrigatedwithwellwater,aswedonotownawell.Again,thankyouforthee-mail,andIhopeithasbeenofsomehelp.EricVollGeneralManagerSoergelOrchards6thGeneration724-935-1743NortheasternPennsylvaniaMarcellusShaleShort-TermAmbientAirSamplingReportThescopeofthisshort-termsamplingeffortwaslimitedtoseveralnaturalgasfacilitiesinSusquehannaCounty.Duetothelimitedscopeanddurationofthesamplingandthelimitednumberofsourcesandfacilitiessampled,thefindingsonlyrepresentconditionsatthetimeofthesamplinganddonotrepresentacomprehensivestudyofemissions.Whilethisshort-termsamplingeffortdoesnotaddressthecumulativeimpactofairemissionsfromnaturalgasoperationsinnortheasternPennsylvania,thesamplingresultsdoprovidebasicinformationonthetypeofpollutantsemittedtotheatmosphereduringselectedphasesofgasextractionoperationsintheMarcellusShaleformation.Thisinformationwillalsobeutilizedtodetermineifthescopeofthestudyshouldbeexpandedandwillidentifyareaswhereadditionalsamplingmaybewarranted.//9/ /4/tf4/d/7

2z 6’iL

I(W EPA Proposed

Oil and

Gas

Air Emissions

Rules New Source Performance

Standards Jan Milburn, President Westmoreland

Marcellus

Citizens’

Group September

27, 2011 The

EPA proposal

for

air regulations

addresses

a major

public

health

issue. Gas drilling

and related operations

have

been spewing

vast amounts

of toxins

into our

air every

day without

limits, sickening

families

and communities.

These regulations

will contribute

to controlling

air pollution. According

to EPA figures,

VOC’s

will

be reduced

by 25%, methane

by 26%, and

air toxics

by 30%

with

the implementation

of the newly proposed regulations. However,

the question

remains

as

to how much

air pollution

will

be reduced,

if

at all, when hundreds

of Marcellus

wells

and accompanying

operations

are functioning in western Pennsylvania.

For example,

if VOC’s

are anticipated

to decrease

by 25%, but sources

increase

by 50%

or 70%

in Westmoreland

County,

the result

would

be an overall increase

of pollution

and

a deterioration

in our

air quality.

Is the proposed

reduction

sufficient

to offset

the anticipated

enormous

increases? The

EPA advised

that

the Pennsylvania

DEP should consider

the cumulative amount

of air pollution

from drilling

sources,

yet these proposed

EPA regulations would

not consider aggregate

pollution.

It

is noted throughout

the proposed regulations

that there

are exemptions

for minor emitters.

In Pennsylvania,

smaller sources

do not need

to

be permitted.

Who

is responsible

for checking

these facilities?

Who

is designated

to test

the extent

of pollution

emitted

from

these operations?

If there

is no testing,

there

can

be

no basis

for determining

the need

for improved regulation.

A 2010 University

of Texas

air monitoring

study suggests TCEQ

ozone attainment

modeling

under predicted

NOx

by 20%. Numerous

smaller sources combined

can produce

the amount

of air pollution equivalent

to

a major source.

Our lungs

do not differentiate.

Aggregate

pollution

of

all facilities

must

be considered.

All

gas drilling

sites,

and other

gas operations

regardless

of the estimated

volume

of emissions,

should

be equipped

with

air monitors

and

the resulting

data

be made available

on

a public

web

site.

Gas companies,

making millions

in profits,

can afford

this basic protective

health measure. No facility, including

those categorized

as “small”,

should

be permitted

to operate

without implementing

the best available technology.

It

is clear

that without regulation,

the industry

will

not voluntarily

utilize

best standards

as evidenced

by the

low implementation

rate

of the recommendations

of the EPA STARProgram

that

has been

in existence

for over

20 years. The Pittsburgh

Post Gazette

ran

an in-depth, well-documented

series

on

the air pollution

and

its affects

on area residents. There

are

no monitors

in four

of the

14 counties examined

in the

PG series. Only seven

of the

18 ambient

air quality monitors

in

13 western

counties

measure levels

of PM

2.5.

Dr Graham, atmospheric

scientist

at the Boston-based

Clean

Air Task Force,

noted

that

as

air improved

federal

rules

allow

for shedding

monitors, but

we actually

need

more,

not

less because

we don’t

know everything

about

the region’s

air quality. Nationally,

we

do not have

the “robust

kind

of monitoring network

we need” according

to William

Becker, executive

director

for

the National Association

of Clean

Air Agencies. It was noted

by experts interviewed

in the Post Gazette

series

that valley terrain,

wind patterns,

and inversions

can cause pollution

to accumulate

rather

than dissipate,

but nowhere

in state

or national regulations

is terrain,

like

the Ligonier

Valley

where

I live, taken

into consideration

in placing

or regulating gas operations Under

the proposed regulations,

flaring

will

be required

in situations

not meeting

criteria

for reduced emissions completion,

unless

it

is

a hazard.

Flaring

is

a hazard

to human

health, especially

to our children

who

are developmentally

more susceptible.

Under

no circumstances

should

it be utilized.

Flaring

is illegal

in some countries.

The United

States

can’t impose

health

and safety standards

that industries

in other countries

are already

abiding

by?

If green technology

is not

an option

then

a gas well should

not

be sited

in the area. I was exposed

to flaring

for literally

two minutes

at

a Ligonier

well

site

and immediately

became violently

ill.

I had stopped

the

car

to take

a picture

of the flare and became

sick enough

to have

to

go

to bed with

a horrible

throat

that

was

not just sore

but

felt swollen;

an indescribable

foggy feeling

in my head; aching, burning eyes;

and asthma,

which

is typically controlled.

This lasted

for several

days. In Ventura

County,

air pollutants

emitted

during

flaring

were measured.

It was found

that

a host

of pollutants

can

be emitted

which

may include:

benzene, formaldehyde,

polycyclic

aromatic hydrocarbons

(PAHs, including naphthalene), acetaldehyde,

acrolein, propylene,

toluene,

xylenes,

ethyl benzene,

and hexane. (Ventura

County

Air Pollution

Control

District,

Leahey,

D. Theoretical

and Observational Assessments

of Flare Efficiencies,

Journal

of Air &Waste Management,

Vol.

51). Researchers

in Canada

have measured

more

than

60

air pollutants

downwind

of natural

gas flares. A family

in Silt Mesa, Colorado,

living

near three

rigs

with ongoing

flaring (the nearest

rig being

about

1⁄2 mile

from

their home), experienced

headaches, severe nosebleeds

described

as hemorrhaging,

and rashes.

Their doctor advised them

to evacuate

their home.

Air samples

taken

on their property

showed

“levels

of hydrogen

sulfide

more

than

185 times

above

the long-

term

level

set

by the EPA (2 ug/m3).”

In 2009, Deborah

Roger’s

whose

farm

is located

in Fort Worth, reported bothersome

odors,

but

by the time

an inspector

would

arrive,

the emissions

usually subsided.

“She found

it curious

that

just

as TCEQ

called

to say they

were

on theirway,theodorsdisappeared,sothattheinspectorfoundnothing--asifavalvehadbeenturnedoff,”shesaid.“That’swhenIknewtheseodorscanbecontainedatwill.”Thisrepeatedcomplaintofcitizensthatadvancednoticeisgiventogasoperatorspriortoinspection,isyetanotherreasonforthenecessityofon-siteairmonitorsatallgasoperations.PrivatelabsdetectedalonglistoftoxicaircontaminantsattheRogersfarm.Allofthesulfur-basedcompoundswereatlevelsaboveshort-termandlong-termTCEQEffectsScreeningLevels.DrArmendarizofSouthernMethodistUniversityreviewedthefindingsandadvisedthefamilythatcarbondisulfIde,apotentneurotoxin,was300timeshigherthanEPA’snormallimitforambienturbanair.TCEQconducteditsownteststodeterminetheextentofexposuretonewlydetectedcompoundsanditwasconfirmedthatbenzene,tolueneandcarbondisulfideamongotherchemicalswerebeingemittedbygasfacilitiesintheBarnettShaleregion.Thedepartmentdetected35chemicalsthatwereabove“appropriate”short-termlevels.(TexasOilandGasAccountabilityProject,HowtheTexasNaturalGasBoomAffectsHealthandSafety,April2011)Dr.DavidSterling,ChairofEnvironmentalandOccupationalHealthatUNTHealthScienceCenterreviewedairtestingresultstakenduringflaringofawellnearthefarmandwrote,“Thecompoundsfoundrangefromthosewithacuteprimarilyirritationissues,tooxygendeficiencypotential(i.e.,heavierthanairandmayaccumulatelowtothegroundandingullies,displaceoxygen,withpotentialasphyxiation),tochronicorgantoxicity,andknownorsuspectcarcinogens.Thelevelsduringflaringexceeded,inmostcases,theTexasCommissiononEnvironmentalQualityeffectsscreeninglevels,bothlongandshortterm,whichareStatelevelsofexposuretoairtoxinswhichcantriggeradversehealtheffects.”Thesameeveningtheairsamplingwasconducted,severalofRoger’sperfectlyhealthbabyanimals,twobabygoatsandsixbabychicks,diedofasphyxiation.DeBaily,seniorveterinarytoxicologistatTexas,A&MUniversity,wrotealetterofconcerntothemayorofWestworthVillageconcludingthatthecompoundswereproblematictoanimalsandhumanheathastheymoveupthefoodchaininmilkandmeat.(TexasOGAP,OilandGasAccountabilityProject)ThecombustionofVOC’sandHAP’sresultsinincreasesincarbonmonoxide,NOx,particulatematter,andotherpollutants.Combustionatallgasoperationsmustbediscouraged.IstheEPAcertainthattheimpactsfromNOxaresecondaryasstatedintheRegulatoryImpactAnalysis,sinceNOXisalimitingfactorinthecreationofozoneinthisarea?Frackpitsshouldbeillegal.InnearbyWashingtonCounty,hugemistersspewtoxicwastewaterproductsintotheair.Someofthelighterormorevolatilechemicalsandcompounds,suchasbenzene,toluene,hydrogensulfide,etc.,willescapefromtheproducedwaterpitsintotheatmosphere.Thesechemicalsmaythenbetransportedthroughtheair,intonearbyneighborhoods.Familieslivingnearbyareforcedtobreathethesefumesandmanyaresick.Therearescoresofpressarticlesaboutfamilieswhobelievetheyhaveexperiencedhealthproblemsduetowaterorairpollutionfromthegasindustry.Whendoestheanecdotalbecomeepidemiologicaldata?Onlywhenbothstateandfederalagenciescomprehensivelycollect,analyze,andcollatethedataonhealth problems

related

to air pollution

from

the

gas industry. The pollution

that drilling

will bring

to the area

will without question, result

in increased

health problems.

Please

do not allow

this highly polluting industry

to add toxic pollutants

to

an area

with existing

serious

air problems.

All

gas operations,

regardless

of the volume

of pollution

emitted,

must

be cumulatively monitored

and regulated

using

best available technology.(/h’’ EPA Proposed

Oil and

Gas

Air Emissions

Rules New Source Performance

StandardsSeptember27.2011TestimonyInPittsburgh.PAThepollutionthatMarcellusgasdrillingwillbringtoWesternPAwill,withoutquestion,resultinincreasedhealthproblems.InWestmorelandCountyandmuchofwesternPA,wearealreadyinastateofnon-attainmentforozone.Wealreadyhaveahighincidenceofasthmaticchildren.Wealreadyhavehighratesofcertaincancersandbirthdefects.Iamdeeplyconcernedthattheproposedregulationswillnotgofarenoughtoprotecthealth.AccordingtoScorecardrecords,compiledbyGreenMediaToolshed,andbasedon1999data(Scorecard’sdataaboutcriteriaairpollutantsarederivedfromU.S.EPA’sAirQualitySystemandNationalEmissionsTrenddatabase),WestmorelandCountyranksintheworst90%ofcountiesnationwideforVOC’s,nitrogenoxide,andcarbonmonoxide.Italsoranksinthedirtiest80%ofcountiesnationwideforPM2.5emissionsandsulfurdioxide.Inthe2002rankingsrelatedtomajorchemicalreleasesandwastegeneration,WestmorelandCountyrankedinthedirtiest90%fortotalenvironmentalreleases,non-cancerrisks,andreproductivetoxicants.Thecountyrankedinthe80to90%worstcountiesforcancerriskanddevelopmentaltoxicants.WestmorelandCountyisnotincomplianceforozonestandards,andwasawardedagradeofDbytheAmericanLungAssociationbasedonozonepollution.TheMarcellusshaleplayisperfectlysituatedtoworsenexistingozoneandPMnonattainmentinnortheasternUnitedStates.(JoeOsborne,GASP,Pittsburgh)Dr.Levy,JoelSchwartz,andLisaK.Baxtercompletedastudyin2009,publishedinRiskAnalysis,thatputsvaluesonthehealthdamagefrompollution,includingprematuredeaths.(PostGazette,TempletonandHopey,12-19-11)Thestudyoffersarangeofhealth-relateddamagesof$30,000to$500,000foreverytonoffine-particle,orPM2.5pollution,withamedianrateof$72,000perton.Foreachtonofsulfurdioxidepollution,orSOx,thehealthdamagerangesfrom$6,000to$50,000perton,withamedianrateof$19,000.Fornitrogenoxidepollution,orNOx,theper-tonraterangesfrom$500to$15,000,withamediancostof$4,800.Usingthemedianper-toncostsofhealthdamage,thetotalannualhealthdamagefromtheregion’smajorsourcesofpollutionis$9.4billion.Suchcostsare“external”becausetheyarebornebythepublicratherthanindustry.Wecannotaffordthisburdenphysicallyorfinancially.ThePost-Gazetteseriesdealingwiththe14countyPittsburghareapresenteddataonairpollutionandrisksastheyexistnow,withouttheadditionalburdenof1Marcellus

drilling pollution.

The report showed

that

the standardized

mortality ratio comparing

disease

rates

in each county

to expected

national

rates

for

the same category

of disease

showed

that

all

14 counties

had heart disease mortality

rates exceeding

the national

average.

12

of

14 have respiratory

disease mortality

rates exceeding

the national

average,

3 of

14 have

lung cancer mortality

rates exceeding the national

average,

and

13

of

14 have

a combined

mortality

rate

for

all three diseases

in excess

of combined

national

expected

rates

for

the three.

(Post Gazette, 12-20

10) Mapping

revealed

an overlap

of disease

rates

with

the

166 major sources of pollution

in the

14 county

region.

“Based

on

the latest

PM [airborne particulate matter]

data

it still ranks

as one

of the worst

urban

areas

of the country according

to John Graham,

senior scientist

with

the Clean

Air task Force.

“The

air

is not clean,

and

it’s killing people.” The

rate

of asthma

is far higher

than average.

Many

school districts

have

13- 17%

of students

afflicted

with asthma

and

in one

area district,

37%

of students

are asthmatic.

Pittsburgh

has some

of the worst

levels

of particle pollution

and ozone

in the country according

to

a recent

news report.

(Jim Parsons,

7-20-11,

WTAE)

Myron Arnowitt, Pennsylvania

state director

of Clean Water

Action,

said

of the asthma statistics,

“This

is

a public

health emergency.

I’ve studied

this issue.

I’ve read

the scientific

literature

on asthma. Numbers

over

30

% are

off

the charts

high.” Children

who

live

in highly polluted communities

are

five times

more

likely to have clinically

low

lung function—less

than

80%

of the lung function

normal

for their

age.

I have

two daughters

affected

by asthma, therefore

I know

how severe asthma

changes

a child’s

life, resulting

in their missing important

childhood

events and interfering

with

their education,

social

life,

and emotional development.

When

I was president

of the PTA

in Ligonier,

the superintendent

of schools

asked

if the PTA could

assist

in looking

into

the high

rates

of asthma

and cancer

among employees and spouses

of employees

within

our district. Allegheny

and Westmoreland

counties

(and

the

rest

of southwestern

Pa) show higher mortality

rates

for multiple

sclerosis. Westmoreland

County experienced

a 41

% increase

in MS deaths

over

a nine-

year period.

Studies (including

a 2003 Finnish

study) conclude

that

poor

air quality

may make people with

MS more susceptible

to relapse

and infection. Allegheny

County residents

have increased

risks

for several

cancers including

stomach,

thyroid,

liver, bronchus

and lung, kidney, non-hodgkins

lymphoma

and breast.

I see those statistics personified, having

had many friends

and family members

with cancer

and immune

diseases.

My children

have several

friends

who

have

had cancer.

They

are

in their thirties. Air pollution

causes

and accelerates cardiopulmonary

disease,

lung cancer, and all-cause

mortality.

A Penn

State College

of Medicine

study

found disturbances in cardiac electrical

activities

within

six hours

after

an episode

of elevated particulate

levels,

raising

the

risk

of cardiac

events

and chronic

heart disease.

A

2teamatLongIslandJewishMedicalCenterandtheFeinsteinInstituteforMedicalResearchfoundthatevenmodestincreasesinfineparticulatepollutionlevelsinNewYorkCity—evenonesunderfederalpollutionstandards—cause4to10percentmoreoutofhospitalcardiacarrest.HarvardUniversity’sSixCitiesStudyconductedfrom1974-1988revealedthatmortalityratesdeclinewhenpollutiondeclined.Enconclusion,IstronglyencouragetheEPAtotakeallnecessaryactionstoimplementthefollowingrecommendationsassoonaspossible:1.AllMarcellusgasoperations,regardlessofthevolumeofpollutionemitted,mustbecumulativelymonitoredandregulated.Airmonitorsshouldberequiredonallequipment.2.BestavailabletechnologymustbeutilizedforallprocessesandactivitiesinvolvingMarcellusgasextraction,gathering,compression,andtransmission.3.Collective,aggregatepollutionlevelsfromallgasoperationswithinaregionshouldbeconsideredwhenestablishingnewsourcerules.4.Flaringandfrackpitsshouldnotbepermittedinanylocationforanyshortorlongtermduration.5.VOCemissionsfromcondensatetanksmustbecontrolledwithvaporrecoveryunits.6.High-bleedpneumaticvalvesandfillingsonthepipelinenetworksshouldbereplacedwithno-bleedalternatives.Marcellusgasextractionisclearlyahighlyindustrialactivitythatiscurrentlyallowedtooccurinvirtuallyeverylocalcommunity,nearanypublicorprivatestructure,includingschools,hospitals,andprivateresidences.TheseactivitiesshouldbetheEPA’shighestpriority.Thankyou.-(f/_///JackW.MilbunLigonier,PA3EPAHearingonPROPOSEDAMENDMENTSTOAIRREGULATIONSFORTHEOILANDNATURALGASINDUSTRY.September27,2011.Pittsburgh.PAStatementofJ.StephenCleghorn,PhDParadiseGardensandFarmLLCGoodmorning.MynameisDr.StephenCleghorn.IamanorganicfarmerandgoatdairymanfromJeffersonCounty,Pennsylvania.TheMarcellusShalegasdrillingboomisbearingdownonourfarmandthreateningtodestroyallthatmywifeLucindaandhavesocarefullybuilt.Theproposednewregulationsacknowledgetheairpollutionimpactstomyfarmanditslivingorganisms.So1wouldliketosayfirstandsimply“Thankyou,thisisagoodfirststep.”ButingoodconscienceIcannotsaysimplythattoyou,notwhenyouplaceattheveryheartoftheseproposedregulationsthetaskofcontinuing“EPA’seffortstosupportresponsibleoilandnaturalgasexplorationandproductionthatprotectspublichealthandtheenvironment.”Thattaskasstatedisachimera-“animpossibleorfoolishfantasy.”Theterm“responsibleoilandnaturalgasexploration”shouldbeunderstoodasachimerawhenitisusedinthecontextofendorsingtheextremefbrmoffossilfuelextractionknownashighvolumeslickwaterfracturingoflonglateralsintotightshaledeposits.Inlightofampleandmountingevidencethatunconventionaldrillingisfraughtwithenvironmentalandpublichealthperils,thenotionthattherecanbeanykindof“responsibledrilling”ofthiskindisafoolishfantasyunworthyofagovernmentagencysuchasyours.Itenablesanindustrytooperatethatshouldbehalteduntilwehaveconductedacomprehensive,long-termstudyoftheenvironmentalandpublichealthrisks.Thereisnotanysuchlong-termstudy.Noristhereanyscientificconsensusthatthistypeofgasextractioncannotcauseirreparableenvironmentalharm-fromaboveorfrombelow.WeallowthisdrillingindirectcontradictiontothePrecautionaryPrinciple.YourFederalRegisterannouncementadmitsthat“wearenotabletoprovidecrediblehealthbenefitestimates...fortheserules.”Ifyoucaimotmeasurethebenefits,itisbecauseyouhavenotfullymeasuredtherisks,yetyouallowthedrillingtoproceed.Youexemptfromyourrule“areasources”...thathavefewerthan10tonsayearofemissionsofasingleairtoxicandlessthan25tonsayearofacombinationoftoxics.”Doesthatmeanthattheycanescapethesenewairpollutionrulessolongastheydumponly9.99tonsofasingleairtoxicor24.99tonsofacombinationoftoxicsonmyhead,onmylandandonouranimals?Yousay“EPA’sresidualriskreviewfoundthatthecurrentmaximumindividualcancerriskfromoilandnaturalgasproduction—is40inImillion,whichfallswithinarangeEPAconsidersacceptable.”Andyoustatethesenewruleswillnotsomuchreducethisrateaskeepitfromstayingatthe400-in-Imillionwhereisnowstands.Doesthismeanthatmaintainingthestatusquoof40cancer-riddenpeoplepermillionisacceptable”?Thesearenotacceptableconditionsunderwhichthedrillingshouldproceed.Untilwegetfirmdataonhealthrisks’,untilwemakeeveryoilandgasfacilityofwhateversizesublecttorulessuchasthosenowproposed,anduntilyourrulescanassureusthatnooneneedstodieforafewcorporationsprofitingfromevermoreextremeformsoffossilfuelenergyextraction—not40inImillion,not1inonemillion—untilthenwehaveachimeraofapolicyonourhandsanditisnotwithinmetopraiseyourwork—worthyasitis—asacceptable.Notwhentherearenumerousformsofcleanenergylikethesolarelectricandhotwateronourbarn’sroofwhichourgovernmentshouldbeendorsingandsupporting.Letmeendonthispersonalnote.MywifenowliesstrickenwithStage4lungcancer,theoriginsofwhichcannotbedefinitivelytraced.Throughouttheageoffossilfuelsourgovernmenthasallowedtoomanypollutantstopoisontheatmospheric,aquatic,andbiologicalresourcesthatsustainalllife.Wecannotknowwhetherpollutantspreviouslyallowedas“acceptable”mayhavecondemnedmywifetothesufferingshenowendures.Onsuchcalculationsasthoseyouhavearticulatedintheseproposals,mywifemaybeoneofthosewhomanearlierpanelsuchasyoursdeemedacceptabletosufferanearly,painfulandelongateddeathforthesakeofcheapandwastefulfossilfuelenergyconsumption.Thereisahighprobabilitythathercancerbelongsontheledgerofsomenrnjorindustrythatourgovernmentfailedtocontroladequately,hutofcoursetheywillneverbefoundculpable.Untilyoucallahalttothisirresponsibledrilling,allyourgoodworkintheseairpollutionproposalswillservemainlytoenable,endorseandcompoundtherisksofawidespreadpoisoningorourenvironment,Thankyou.Good morning.

I’m Howard

J. Feldman,

director

of regulatory

and scientific

affairs

at the American

Petroleum

Institute.

I appreciate

having

the opportunity

to appear

at this hearing

on proposed

regulation

of emissions

associated

with

the

oil and natural

gas industry.

The proposed

rules

have

a very broad

reach.

My focus

is

on those

parts specifically

directed

at emissions

related

to

oil and

gas development,

and especially operations

employing

hydraulic fracturing. This focus

is important

because

hydraulic

fracturing operations

are critical

to U.S. energy development.

Without

this technology—

or without

the ability

to employ

it costeffectively— natural

gas

and

oil development

could

be discouraged,

delayed

or reduced. This would

be

a serious

mistake

because

these

fuels

are

a vital

part

of our nation’s energy landscape

today

and

are expected

to continue

to

be

in our future.

The administration’s

own energy projections

show

that

oil and natural

gas

are expected

to supply

most

of our nation’s

energy

for decades. Unfortunately,

unless properly

crafted,

these

rules

could hamper

our ability

to supply

the oil and natural

gas

we know

we

will need.

And making

the rules

work

could

be difficult. The comment

period

for these extensive,

detailed

rules

is too short. Controls

would

be imposed

on

the industry

with inadequate

lead

time.

This would

make

it difficult

for operators

to prepare

to implement

the controls

and would increase

the

risk

of unintended consequences. In the worst

case,

the result

could

be requirements

that impose

a virtual moratorium

on developing

U.S.

oil and natural

gas resources.

This would severely

hurt

job creation and revenue generation— and harm

our nation’s

energy

future. We have prodigious

reserves

of

oil and natural

gas

here

in the United

States.

Oil

will continue

to

be vital

for supplying transportation

fuels.

And there

are large

and growing markets

for natural

gas related

to electricity generation, manufacturing,

transportation, and home consumption.

We need

to

be able

to meet

this demand.

Natural

gas

is extremely

affordable

today relative

to just

a few years

ago, largely because

of the shale gas boom

now underway. More domestic

oil and natural

gas development,

unimpeded

by impractical

rules,

is crucial

for job growth.

The industry

has

a strong

track record

on jobs

as evidenced

by what

is happening

in North Dakota,

Texas, Pennsylvania

and many

other states.

The industry

now supports

9.2 million

jobs,

and continues

to create

them.

More

than 9,000 oil and

gas related

jobs

were created

this summer according

to BLS,

at

a time when new

net

job creation

for

the economy

as

a whole

was coming

to

a halt. Perhaps

a million

or more

new

U.S.

jobs

could

be created

over

the next seven

years

if common sense changes

to energy

policy

were implemented,

according

to recent researchconductedbytheenergyconsultingfirmWoodMackenzie.Thatincludesimposingnonewregulationswithunreasonableprovisions.Finally,sound,commonsenserulesthatdonotimpairdevelopmentareimportantbecauseincreaseduseofnaturalgascouldgreatlybenefittheenvironment,reducingairpollutantandcarbonemissions.Asforthespecificsintheproposedrules,wesupportgreencompletionswheretheoperatorsdeterminethetechnologytQbesafe,technicallyfeasibleandcost-effective.However,thefinalrulesshouldphas’anygreencompletionrequirementsbyincludingasignificantextensionoftimefortheirfullimplementation.Speciallydesignedequipmentisrequiredtosafelyperformgreencompletions,whichisbothexpensiveandtimeconsumingtobuild.Insufficientreducedemissionequipmentiscurrentlyavailableandcannotbeconstructedbeforetheexpectedsecondquarter2012compliancedate.Furthermore,theproposedregulationsdonotaccountforchallengesrelatingtoseveralcurrentcompletiontechnologiesandknownreservoirproperties.Forexample,therearetechnicalissuesregardingcertaincoalbedmethanetechnologies,lowpressurereservoirs,andreservoirswithverylowvolatileorganiccompoundcontent.Thefinalrulesshouldalsorecognizethatthousandsof“tankcombustors”willberequiredtobecertifiedandmanufacturedtoreduceemissions.Thesecombustorswillnotbeavailableearlynextyear.Thefinalrulesshouldrecognizethatadditionaltimeisnecessarybeforethisrequirementisimposed.Lastly,EPAshouldsimplifytheoverlyburdensomeaspectsofthenotification,recordkeeping,monitoring,reportingandperformancetestingrequirementsintheproposedrulestoreflectthatmanyoftheindustry’ssourcesareatremoteandunmannedfacilities.Inclosing,webelievetheAgencyshouldallowanadditional60daysforthepublictoprovidecommentonthisimportantrulemakingforthefollowingreasons:•Theproposedrulesareexpansiveandcomplex.Thisisasetoffivecomplexandinterconnectedrules.Indeed,theproposalspansover100pagesintheFederalRegisterandthedocketcontainsmanytimesmorepagesofsupplementalanalysesandmaterials.Preparingcommentsonanyoneoftheseruleswouldbeachallengewithin60days.Preparingthoroughandmeaningfulcommentsonallfivewithin60daysisnotreasonableorpracticable.•Theproposedrulesarenotbeingimplementedinavacuum—EPAhasnumerousotherrulesunderdevelopmentthatdemandtimeandattentionfromthissector.•TheproposedruleswillhaveamuchgreatereconomicimpactthanEPApredicts.Followingapreliminaryreviewoftheregulatoryimpactanalysis,italreadyseemsclearthatEPAhassignificantlyunderestimatedthecostofimplementingtheproposedrules.Forsuchafar-reachingsetofrules,itisimperativeforaffectedcompaniestohavethetimeneededtothoroughlyassesstheeconomicandotheranalysesunderpinningtheproposal.Again,wedonotfundamentallyopposegreencompletionswheretheymakesenseandtheoperatorshavesufficienttimetoimplementthecontrols.However,giventhecomplexityoftheissues,themanycompetingdemandsonAgencyresources,andthetimethatwillbeneededtorespondtopubliccommentandcompleteinteragencyreviewofthedraftfinalrules,wealsobelievethataone-yearextensionofthefinalruledeadlineforcompletingtheserulesisappropriateandjustified.APIwillbesubmittingdetailedcommentsbeforethecommentperiodclosesandAPIlooksforwardtoworkingwiththeEPAonsafe,achievable,andcost-effectivefinalrules.Thatconcludesmycomments.Thankyou.L) E --€- ! ct’i (Q-LJQ . A w

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DOUGLAS

A. SHIELDS PITTSBURGH

CITY COUNCIL,

DISTRICT

5 CHAIR,

LAND

USE

& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• PRESIDENT

EMERITUS September

27, 2011 TESTIMONY

OF DOUGLAS

A. SHIELDS MEMBER, PITTSBURGH

CITY COUNCIL EPA Hearing, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania In Re: Proposed

EPA

rule Change

(40 CFR

Parts

60 and

63)

Oil

and

Gas Sector: New Source Emission Standards

for hazardous

Air Pollutants The

EPA

is charged

with protecting,

We

the People,

from harmful exposures

to toxic substances

introduced

into

the environment

largely

due

to industrial

and commercial activities

and processes. By law,

you

are charged

with creating emission

standards

to provide

an ‘ample margin” of safety

that protects

the public

health

and applies

to the level

of “individuals

most exposed.” Volatile

Organic Compounds

(VOC’s)

have

long

been known

to

be harmful

to people

as well

as other

life forms

that

live among

us. This

rule

is long overdue. I thank

the EPA

for promulgating

this

new

rule. Flowever,

you

are here today

not because

you

did your

due diligence

and acted proactively.

You

are here

as

a result

of citizens

filing

a lawsuit

alleging

that

you failed

to meet

your obligations

to

do your

job. This

is

a concern

of mine

and

the people

I represent

in the City

of Pittsburgh.

The

EPA cannot

simply

he

a spectator

to what

is going

on under

its nose.

The people

of this country

fund

the EPA

to

do

its job while

we

go about

our daily

lives

and

do ours.

My thanks

go

to those citizens

who

went

to court

to get

you

to

do what

you were supposed

to do

in the

first place. There

is no cogent regulatory environment

to manage

or protect

us from

the adverse effects

of shale

gas exploration

in Pennsylvania

and throughout

shale

plays

in the United States.

I have reviewed

the proposed

rule

and

find

it

to

be meaningful

and helpful.

The standards

of review

for making

this

new

rule

are clear

and

the proposed

rule

is consistent with

the core mission

of the EPA

and

the laws

and regulation

already

in place.

The

costbenefit analysis

is sound

and logical. 510 City-County

Building

• Pittsburgh,

PA 15219 112.25S.8965

(p) 412.255.0820

(f) doug.shieIdsDcity.pittsburgh.pa.usI hope

that

in the future

the EPA

will aggressively

do whatever

is necessary

to protect

us from

harm

and

to insure

that lawful standards

are upheld.

I do not wish

to take

you

to Court

to make

you

do your

job. There

is another

standard

of review

that

will

be

set forth

by

the industry

that

will,

no doubt,

find

fault

with

the proposed

rule change.

The argument

will

be given

that

it

is “onerous

and burdensome”

without

proof

and

in contradiction

to your

own

cost benefit analysis.

While

you have already

set forth

the evidence

that these standards

are attainable,

they

will

still argue

that

this

is going

to kill jobs when,

in fact,

not enacting this

rule change

will

kill people. Be advised

that

gas drilling operators

in Pennsylvanian

are making

profits

beyond

our wildest

dreams.

Range Resources,

for instance,

reports

in their

2010 Fourth

Quarter results

that

they

have

“86%

of their capital budget”

in play

in Pennsylvania

Marcellus Shale operations

and

are making

a 50%

rate

of return

on their investment.

Other corporations

are making

similar

profits

as well.

The

race

is

on

for them

to extract

as much

gas

and

reap

the profits without

regard

for

the health,

welfare

and safety

of the people

of this state. The

gas industry

invokes

a variety

of sound

bites

that,

upon analysis,

mean nothing. For example,

I hear things

like “this

is

a game changer.”

Well,

I would

like

to know what

the game

was

and what

it

is now. I hear:

“this

is

a bridge

/itel” without

any clear public

policy

as

to where

this so-called bridge

is taking

us. I hear:

“we have

to

do this responsibly”

without

any iteration

on their

part

how

they define responsible

and what

they

will

do

to

act responsibly. I hear

the “jobs

and money”

mantra

without

warning

that

our health

is threatened. They claimed

they

were

not

the source

of bromides

in our rivers,

which

serve

as the region’s

primary

drinking

water supply.

This changed

only

last March

when conclusive evidence

was provided

by Carnegie

Mellon University researchers.

They claimed

that there

“has

not been

one documented

case

of drilling

fluids, injected

into

the ground

that migrated

hack

into

a drinking

water source.”

In fact,

a documented

case

was found

in

a 1986

EPA

study. There

is

a laundry

list

of water

and

air source contamination

directly

linked

to the activities

of the

oil and

gas industry.

For example,

the case

of Dimmock,

PA, where

a bad

well casing installed

by Cabot

Oil

was proved

to

be

the cause

of Dimmock

losing

its potable drinking

water.

They

have

yet

to find relief.

Cabot

Oil denied culpability

until proof

was provided.

I could

cite many

more examples.As

this industry

rapidly expands

in Pennsylvania,

the

list

of

air and water pollution violations

grows.

They simply

pay

the fines

and consider

it

a cost

of doing business. Our

state institutions

that

are

in charge

of protecting

us and

the environment

have

not acted

in

a responsible

fashion. I have personally

visited

gas fields

in this state.

I have visited

with families

who

have shown

me blood

test results

that identify

benzene

and other

toxic substances

associated with

gas exploration

and mid-stream

activities.

The industry continues

to deny

their

role, yet civil

suits

are settled

and confidentiality

agreements

are made,

thus shielding

the public

from

full disclosure. Finally,

our institutions

of government— local,

state

and federal- have

failed

to act

in the public’s

best interest.

The industry

has armies

of well-heeled

attorneys

who obfuscate and offer excuses

as

to why imposing

this

new

rule

is the wrong

thing

to

do.

The

oil and gas industry’s

credibility

on

the subject

is non-existent.

I hope

the EPA

will

not give great weight

to their testimony;

to the contrary,

you should

look

upon

their empty

words with

a jaundiced

eye

and place

the burden

of proof

on them— not

on

me

or my fellow citizens. We,

the people,

have

no access

to cogent

advice

or legal advocates

to argue

on

our behalf.

No

one

has taken

this proposed

rule

to the public

to explain

it. Our

state legislature

has held

no hearings

to provide meaningful

information

to help

us assess

the risks

and make well-informed

decisions. This proposed

rule represents

only

a start

in efforts

to preserve

our rights

as citizens,

to preserve

our health,

welfare

and safety.

I endorse

it.

I do want

to inform

you

that

you are

a decade

late

in doing

so and there

is

so much

more

to

be done.

The horse

is already out

of the barn.CommentsatEPAHearing,PittsburghPennsylvania,September27,2011DorothyE.Bassett,Ph.D.,WashingtonCounty,PAThankyouforallowingustospeakwithyoutonight.IwantedtotakeamomenttotalkwithyouaboutsomeofthethingsthatIhaveseenoverthepastyearwithregardtopeopleinmyareawhohavebeenhavingproblemswithairemissionsfromshalegasdrillingandprocessingfacilities.ThefirstisacaseofafamilyinAvellaPennsylvania.Thefamilylivedona10acrestripoflandthatwassurroundedbylandownedbyaneighbor.Theirneighborleasedoutherland,resultinginawidearrayofdrillingandprocessingfacilitiesrightalongtheborderofthisfamily’sproperty.Therewereseveralwells,numerouscompressorstations,adewpointcontrolfacility,awastewaterimpoundment,aswellascondensatetanks.Ifirstgottoknowthisfamilyinwinterof2010.Inmyfirstvisitthere,Ismelledalight,sweetsmellintheair—ascentwhichIlaterlearnedwasthesmellofbenzene.WithinthetwohoursIspentoutside,Ibegantofeellightheaded,confused,andheadachy.Ilaterlearnedthatthiswasacommonwaytofeelontheirproperty,andthatitwasafeelingthefamilyencounteredonadailybasis.Overtime,thesymptomstheyexperiencedincreased,andincludeddizziness,vertigoandmassivenosebleeds.Thiswasexperiencednotonlybyadultsbutbytheirtwoelementary-school-agedchildrenwhowerealsoexposed.Whenanairtestingexpertwenttotheirpropertytotryouthisequipment,beforehehadevenwalkeddownthedrivewayitwasalreadyreadingoffthechartsonthelevelofbenzeneintheirair.Ultimatelythefamilyhadtoleavethepropertyfortheirhealth’ssake.OtherfriendsofminelivenearCrossCreekPark.Theylivedownhillfromabatteryofcondensatetanks,aswellasfromthreewellpads.Theyarehavingproblemsfrompollutedaircomingoffofthesefacilities.Moreover,sincetheirwellwaterisalsocontaminated,whentheytakeshowers,theyexposethemselvestochemicalfumescomingfromthesteamintheair.Eventhoughtheyarenolongerdrinkingthecontaminatedwater,theyandanumberoftheirneighborsarehavingsignificanthealthproblems.(Idon’tknowalltheirneighbors—I’monlyrecountinginformationontheoneswhosesituationsI’mawareof).Onthisonestreet,residentsareexperiencingnausea,vomiting,diarrhea,seizures,bleedingfromvariousorifices,weaknessandheavinessintheirlegs,rashes,hairloss.Myfriendhadaseizureafewweeksagoandwastakentothehospital.Herdoghadaseizureatapproximatelythesametime.Herdogwasdiagnosedwithbonecancerandhadtobeputdown.Herneighboracrossthestreethasboneandskincancers.Amandownthestreetisbleedingfromvariousorifices,awomanupthestreethas2catsthatarebleedingfromtheirnoses.ThelasttimeIwasthere,perhaps3weeksago,therewasadense,slate-bluecoloredfogoverthewholearea.Ibegantofeellightheaded,headachy,drowsyandconfused.Acolleaguewhowastherewithmeatthetimefeltthesamewayandwasalsonauseated.Oneoftheneighborhoodchildren—myfriend’srelative-wasathomevomitingfromthefumes.OtherpeopleIknowlivenearLakeLynn,Pennsylvania.Thisparticularfamilylivesinavalleywithaleaking“Christmastree”gaswellandseveralcondensatetanksonthehillabovethemononeside,andwithfourorsocompressorstationsaboutYmiledowntheroadfromthem,uponahillontheotherside.Themotherandgrandmothertradeoffeachnight,withonestayingupandtheothersleeping,becausethey’vehadexperienceswherethesefacilitiessuddenlybegantospewgasesovertheirhome.Theyareafraidthattheywillbegassedintheirsleepandwon’tbeabletogettheirchildrenout.Ascientistfriendoftheirssaidthattheyshouldalsobeconcernedbecausethegasesareexplosive.Lastfalltheyhadalotofproblemswithacloudofgasthatwouldcirculatethroughtheiryardintheearlyevening,whentheairbecamecool.(Whentheaircools,ittendstopushsomeofthefumesfromthegasprocessingfacilitiesclosertotheground.)Themotherwasoutsideandwashitbyawallofthisgas.Inadditiontoexperiencinganinstantheadacheandnausea,shealsobrokeoutwithenormoushivesalloveranypartofherbodythatwasexposedtothegases.Thesehivesneverwentaway,bytheway,butturnedintooddscars.Althoughthechildrenarerestrictedfrombeingoutside,duetothefumesthatsettleintheirarea,theyhaveblistersintheirnosesfromstandingoutinthemorning,waitingfortheschoolbus.Severaloftheirchildrenhavehighbloodpressure.Theyhadhadairtestsrunthatshowedsignificantlevelsofvolatileorganiccompoundsintheirair.Theirbloodtestsalsoreflectedthisexposure.Onthisthumbdrive,whichIwillleavewithyou,youwillfindafileshowingtheemissionscomingoffofthecompressorstationsatLakeLynn,Pennsylvania.Iaskedanenvironmentalscientisttoreviewthisvideo.Shecommented:“Therearealargenumberofpointsourceemissionsaswellasfugitiveemissionsources.Thechemicalsmostlikelybeingreleasedfromthesesourcesarevolatileorganicssuchasbenzene,ethylbenzene,xyleneandtoluene.Inadditionalargenumberofhydrocarbonssuchasmethane,ethane,etc.Thehealthimpactsdescribedasbeingexperiencingareconsistentwiththechemicalsnormallyemittedfromsuchafacility.Theemissionsfromthiscompressorstationcouldbecontrolledbytechnicaldevices.”UpinEvansCity,PAthereareseveralotherfamiliesafriendandIrecentlyvisited.AtthetimethatIwasthere,awellwasflaringaboutamileaway.Youcouldhearthe“jetengine”soundveryeasilywhenyoustoodoutside.Therewasalsoawastewaterimpoundmentnearby(whichalsooff-gassestoxicfumes)andseveralotherwellsandprocessingfacilitiesclosetothehouse.Itwasahumidday,whichpushedthefumesclosertothegroundthanmightotherwisehavebeenthecase.Whilestandingoutsideintheiryard,Ibegantofeellightheadedandheadachy,andmynosebegantoburn.Myfriend’sthroatalsobegantoburnandshebegantofeelnauseated.Evenafterwesteppedinside,myheadcontinuedtothrobandIfeltasifIwaseithergoingtovomitorfaint.Theytoldusabouthowtheycouldn’tbeoutsideintheiryardforanylengthoftimebecauseofthewaytheireyes,nosesandthroatswouldburnandbecauseofthedizzinessandnausea.Theyalsosaidthatonahotdaywhentheybegantosweat,theirskinwouldburn.Whileweweretheretheytoldushowtheirdoghadhadamassiveseizureontheirlivingroomfloor,andhemorrhaged,bleedingfromallitsorificesbeforedyinginapoolofblood.Aftervisitingthisareaforabout3hoursittookmeagood10hourstofeelnormalagain.Ittookmyfriendtwofulldaystorecover.Noneofthesesitesuseeventheexistingtechnologiestocontrolemissions.Instead,themoreruralyougo,thewilderitbecomes,aspeopleareexposedtofumesinbothcompositionandvolumesthatwouldnotbepermittedbyanyotherindustry.Severalofthesefamilieshavehadairandbloodand/orurinetestsrun,anditisnotuncommontoseethechemicalsthatareshowingupintheirairalsoappearingintheirbloodandurine.LastyearIhadaconversationwithHelenHumphreys,formerlyoftheDEP.Shestatedthatoneofthechallengeswithairqualityandthisindustryisthatthelegallimitsforair-borneexposuretothesechemicalsexceedthelimitsneededtoproducenegativehealthimpacts.Generallyspeaking,asIunderstandit,thelegallimitsarebasedonoccupationalexposure—i.e.8hourday/5day/week—exposure,not24/7residentialexposure.Consequently,wecanlegallybeexposedtolevelsofindustrialchemicalsthatwillharmourhealth.IstronglyurgetheEPAtotakethemostaggressivestepspossibletochangethelaws,tochangetheregulations,andtoputintoplacetheappropriateprotectionstoprotectAmericancitizensinPennsylvaniaandelsewhereinthecountryfrombeingexposedtolife-threateningchemicalsfromtheoilandgasindustry.Theindustrywillsaythatthiswillcostthemmoney.Areindustryprofitsworthmorethanhumanlife?Areindustryprofitsworthmorethanthelifeofachild?ThisiswhatitiscomingdowntohereinPennsylvania.Thisiswhyweneedyourstrongcommitmenttoprotectiveaction.o GREAT

SPIRIT: Forgive

me

for intruding

into your domain.

I should

not

try with

my limited intelligence

to grapple

with

the enigma

of life,

but

I have

been

alive

for

one hundred

years

and witnessed

the White

man’s conquest

of

a new continent

that

was

as remote

as Atlantis

in the spring

of 1492. That

was when

he used

the wind

to propel

his boat across

the water

and either walked

or rode

a horse

upon

the land.

It was before

he had been entrusted

with

a telescope

or enlightened

about the

law

of gravity

and

the mysteries

of the atom. What

I wonder

in my intrusion

is whether

he has used

your

gifts

with wisdom

or merely

as contrivances

to achieve

what

he calls “progress.” If happiness

is the only good,

he has

not found

it

in the possession

of the conveniences

or luxuries.

He was closer

to the contentment

on horseback

in the wilderness

than

he

is

in

a jet plane

in the skies.

He

has conquered

the world,

but

not himself, This

new continent

you showed

him from

what

was

left

of your creation

is now despoiled

by

his avaricious

nature.

He

has

dug

the gold

and silver

from

you hills,

cut down

the forest

that processed

the oxygen

he breathed,

and populated

the land

with people

who

lived

in

a complex

of impending

disaster The clean streams

have become

open sewers

to carry

his effuse

out

to the

sea,

and marine

life perishes

in the estuarian kindergartens

from pesticides.

He

is facing

a spring

that

will

be silent, for birds

are passing

away

in the poisonous environment

that

has replaced

the primitive wilderness.

They

drift

into shore

on waves, embalmed

in oil,

or their

eggs

are infertile

from

the chemicals

of death

that pollute

the land,

air,

and water. There

is

a pessimism

in truth

and terror

in prophecy.

Perhaps

what

we

see happening

in your world,

0 Great

Spirit,

is

a design-a

final plague foreshadowing

the destiny

of man;

or

I may

be thinking

with embittered

thoughts,

a man

who

is no longer

young

in such

a thoroughly

finished world. If our society

is death-oriented,

as Szent-Gyorgyi,

the Nobel Prize-winning

scientist

believes,

the conclusion

of man’s

life

on earth

is inevitable,

but

I cling tenaciously

to the hope

that

he has

the perception

and

will power

to overcome

the evils

he has fostered.

He

has

the

skill

to remake

the world

if

he possesses

the desire;

and

it may

be that youth,

which

is

in revolt against

the establishment,

will

quit floundering

in ftitile exhibitionism

and direct

its energies

to objectives that

are imperative

in the struggle

for survival. 0 Great

Spirit, instruct

the children

of the White

man

in his wisdom

of the past

and

the futility

of the hours

when

they become

lost

in the wilderness

of fmstration.

Counsel

them

to venerate

truth and

its companion

virtues.

Teach

them

to appreciate

the simplicity

and wonders

of Nature,

and

to protect

its wildlife

against insensate

tyrannies;

and

as they grow

to maturity,

let them

learn

the shattering uselessness

of conflicts

and wars

that indict

their ancestors.

Give

them

the formulas for freeing

the

air, water,

and

land

of the poisons

that have traumatized

their environment. From

your creative

hands,

you gave

my people

a Garden

of Eden between

two oceans.

The worshiped

you

with

their

eyes,

their

ears,

and their thoughts.

The flower

and blade

of grass

spoke to them,

and your

songs

were

heard

on

the violin

strings

of the wind

in the trees. The Indian

people

you

put here weep

for what

has happened.

They

have

a sturdy background

of morality

and discipline.

Forgive

those

who

tried

to remake

them

into

the image

of the White man,

and

let

the wealth

of their heritage

be preserved

as

a vital

force

in the world

and

not entombed

in museums

or consigned

to oblivion. This

is my prayer

Chief

Red

FoxAlleghenyDefenseProjectProtectingandRestoringtheForestsoftheAlleghenyBioregionCrvp,hrrh.vlfrgIhkIIbe,dr27September2011Ms.JoanC.RogersOfficeofAirQualityPlanningandStandards,SectorPoliciesandProgramsDivision(El43-05)EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyResearchTriangleParkNorthCarolina27711Re:OilandNaturalGasSector:NewSourcePerformanceStandardsandNationalEmissionStandardsforHazardousAirPollutantsReviews;ProposedRule,DocumentID:EPA-HQ-OAR2010-0505-0002,DocketID:EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505,RIN:2060-AP76Towhomitmayconcern,WesubmitthefollowingcommentsconcerningtheproposedruleforOilandNaturalGasSector:NewSourcePerformanceStandardsandNationalEmissionStandardsforHazardousAirPollutantsReviews.TheAlleghenyDefenseProject(ADP)isanot-for-profitorganizationbasedintheAlleghenyNationalForestwithover3,000supporterswhoboat,fish,swim,camp,cross-countryski,andrecreateinandalongtheAlleghenyReservoirandintheAlleghenyNationalForest(ANF).ADPworkstoprotecttheAlleghenyRiverandreservoir,andthewatershedsfeedingthereservoir.Weworktoprotecttheselandsthroughgrassrootsorganizing,research,education,aerialandonthe-groundmonitoring,participationinthepublicdecisionmakingprocess,litigation,promotingresponsibleoutdoorrecreationandstrivingtoensurethatmanagementagenciesfollowlawsdesignedtoprotecttheANF—Pennsyivani&sonlynationalforest.UnfragmentedforestinVermontsGreenMountainNationalForest.Clearcuts,roads,pipelines,andoilandgaswellsinElkCounty,ANFTheANFisthemostindustrializedforestintheUSFSsystem.Everyyear,theoilandgasindustrydrillsandfracksmorethan25,000wellsacrossthecountry.In2010and2011alone,1,100wellsweredrilledinthefourcountiesoftheANF.Therearecurrently12,000to15,000activeoilandgaswellsontheAlleghenyNationalForest,includingassociatedpumpjacks,tankbatteries,equipmentstoragesites,generatorandcompressorstations,openbrineandfrackingpits,waterimpoundments,watertransportlinesandpumps,gasandoilpipelines,and2,236milesofOGDroadsontopof1,512milesofsystemroads.Thedensityofthesewellsisoftenat500footspacing(Seefigurebelow.Eachgreendotisonewell).Inthesestripper-welldevelopmentswhichusehydraulicfracturingintheirdrillingprocess,thisdensityisdescribedas“fullmineout.”AlleghenyDefenseProject,117WestWoodLane,Kane,PA16735(RILIh’oIwnv1ef(’ncpnro2AlleghenyDefenseProject,117WestWoodLane,Kane,PA16735(RIflLS4.-72wwwlIgohinvdpfpnconrcvInfigureaboveeachgreendotisonewell.Thisis“fullmineout.”ADPlearnedin2009aspartofaNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)processthatwasinitiatedontheANFforprivateoilandgaswelldrillingthattheUSFSpredictsthattherewillbe“fullmineout”on2/3oftheANF.Yellowareasinfigurebelowarepredictedfor“fullmineout.”AlleghenyNationa’ForestTransitionEnviromentalImpactStatementPartIIArea—4.c———..I—3Therearefrequentlyviolationsinthesedrillingdevelopments,whichareundiscovered,ormorelikelyignoredbythePADEP.‘Methaneisregularlyventedfromwellheadsinpublicareas.Figureaboveshows“fullmineout”wellspacingontheground.Inadditiontothe“conventional”oilandgasdrillingnowtheANFisbeginingtoseeunconventionalshalegasdrilling.ThereareatleastfourteenpermittedordrilledMarcellusshalegaswellswithintheANFproclamationboundary.ThefirstthreeNoticestoProceedforMarcellusshalegaswellsforoperationsonANFlandshavebeenissuedandthefirsttwowellshavebeendrilled.RoyalDutchShellhasbegundrillingunconventionalshalegaswellsontheANFandPennsylvaniaGeneralEnergyandNationalFuelGas(SenecaResources)aredrillingtheseshalegaswellsonstatelandin-holdings(i.e.,gamelands).ThestateforestsintheareaarealsobeinghithardbytheindustrywithEOGMarcellusshalewellsnowfragmentingtheMoshannonStateForestaridElkStateForestlandsadjacenttotheANF.1http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6155/p/salsalwebfcommon/public/content?contentitemKEY=2742http://or2.democracyinaction.or/o/6155/p/salsalweb/commonlpublic/content?contentitemKEY=2743http://or2.democracyinaction.org/o16155/p/sa1saJweb/common/ub1ic/content?contentitemKEY=40534‘..“.ifj-AlleghenyDefenseProject,117WestWoodLane,Kane,PA16735(R14’l7’wvwuIleohpnvtIpf.’nc’nroADPhasmonitoredthesesitesduringdifferentstagesoftheiroperations.Themassiveimprintsofunconventionalshalegasdrillingoperations—15to20acrespersite,withouttakingintoaccounttheundergrounddisturbancefromhydraulicfracturingwithhorizontalwellsradiatingoutonemileinmultipledirectionsfromtheborehole—clwarftheshallowwelldevelopmentsthathavedominatedthelandscapetodate.Eachwellusesbetween5and10milliongallonsoffreshwater(consumptiveuse—unavailableforfutureusebecauseofcontamination),whichoilandgasoperatorsseizefromsurfacestreamsoraquifers.Thisdrillingandfrackingwateristhenpollutedwithindustrychemicaladditives(somecarcinogenic)andisalsocontaminatedwithhighconcentrationsofsodium,chloride,bromide,arsenic,barium,otherheavymetals,andradionuclides.AlleghenyDefenseProject,117WestWoodLane,Kane,PA16735(X144S1-7S?3wwwI1pohpnv1ofnpnrci5Figure

above illustrates

shale

gas drilling

on state

lands adjacent

to the ANF All

of this industrialization

and destruction

of our natural

areas,

our communities,

and

our homes has impacted

public

health. We commend

the EPA

for taking

this

step,

but

it

is long overdue.

EPA

must

not delay

the proposed rule.

The industry

has

had enough

time

to live

by

the

old rules,

which

have facilitated

damage

to the health

of our families

and communities. The

case

of the Allegheny

National

Forest

clearly supports

the need

for

the EPA

to consider cumulative

impacts.

The problem

isn’t

one

oil and

gas well,

but rather

the thousands

of wells

and infrastructure

across

the landscape.

These

rules

take

a big

step forward

in addressing

those cumulative

impacts,

but

the EPA

must ensure

the collective

impacts

of

oil and

gas drilling

are fully addressed. The proposal

should

ensure

a consistent

level

of

air quality protection nationwide.

Some

states, including

Colorado

and Wyoming,

have already

taken

steps

to protect

air quality

from

oil and

gas drilling.

These

rules

will ensure

other

states realize

the same benefits.

The EPA

must ensure

that

we have

a consistent

floor

of protection

across

the country. The EPA

must strengthen

the proposed

rule: •

As

the

oil and

gas industry

is one

of the largest

sources

of methane pollution,

this

rule

must require

direct methane reductions

and controls. • Hydrogen

sulfide

is

a dangerous

air pollutant

with significant

health

effects

to

all who

are

in contact

with

it. This dangerous

gas

is currently

ignored

and must

be addressed immediately. • The

oil

and

gas industry

must

not

be allowed

to “flare”

or burn-off un-captured

gas

as this

is still

a significant

source

of

air pollution. Allegheny

Defense

Project,

I 17 West

Wood

Lane,

Kane,

PA 16735

6(RI11SwwwnrLy-.•1--JEPAmustensurethatallmeasuresaretakentocontrolharmfulemissions.Respectfullysubmitted,/s/CathyPedlerCATHYPEDLERAlleghenyDefenseProject,ForestWatchCoordinator117WestWoodLaneKane,PA16735(814)454-75237AlleghenyDefenseProject,117WestWoodLane,Kane,PA16735(R144-I-7vww9IIhonw1Pfncnr

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# 33(lb77 gz- ,.Y-’w’?cVZtL 1A.YrMarcellusconcernsresentPage1of3From:PaulaPollak<PauiaPoIIak@aoI.com>To:guthrie.joseph<guthrie.josephgmaiI.com>Subject:MarcellusconcernsresentDate:Sat,Apr30,20118:18amBelowarejoyconcernsregardingMarcellusandshailowwelldrilling:1.Thereneedstobea2yearbanorc:oraoriusrontrackingtoallowappropriatetimetodeveloplawsandregulationstobeputinplacetoprotectthepublic’ssafetyalongwithourfoodandwatersupplies.2.TherearenotenoughDEPinspectorsperwellsite.Currently,thereisonlyoneinspectorforapproximatelyevery101)wells.Eachcommunityshouldhavetheirowninspector.3.Distancesbetweenwellsitesandprivatewaterwellsshouldheincreased.Distancesofwellsitetopropertylines,wetlands,streams,etc.needreviewed.4.Flaringofwellsmusthemonitoredforpollutantsandradiationbeingreleasedintotheatmosphere.5.Wellsitesobtainedthrougheminentdomainshouldprovidepropertyownerswithaopropriatecompensationforlossariduseofland.6.Noiselevelsatwellsite,compressorstationsandprocessplantsmustbeaddressedalongwithlightingandhoursofoperationtoreducedisruptiontolocalcommunities.Aweltrecentlydrilledonanearbypropertytomyhomecauseda5weekdisruptiontooursleepduetobothnoiseandligrting.7.Retentionandremovaloffrackingfluids—Locksmustbeinstalledontankertrucksatthevalveandremovedon1ybyapersonatthedeliverypointtoberegisteredariddocumentedatpointofarrival.WesternPennsylvania’sgeologydoesnotlendItselftodeepwellinjection.TherecentincidentatatreatmentplantalongBlackLickCreekcreatedhighlevelsofcontaminantsdispersedintothecreek.8.Discontinuetheuseofdieselfluidsandot:hercarcinogensastrackingagents.Requirethedrillingcompaniestoprovidealistofallfluidsusedintheirfrackingprocess.Thislistshouldincludeproprietarychemicalsduetotheconcernforpublicsafetyandhealth.9.Swiftinvestigationandappropriatecompensationshouldbemadeavailabletopropertyownersexperiencingcontamination,lossofwater,etc.,duetonearbydrilling.10.Properinstaliationofwellcasinasisnecessarytoavoidleakingoffrackfluidsintoprivatewells.InnerandoutermetalsleeveswithASTMrequirementsshouldbeusedalongwithpropergradeandspecificatIonofconcreteincludingproperdepth.11.Temporary,on—sitehousingofworkersshouldnotbepermittedduetohealthandsanitaryconcerns.12.Theamountoffresowaterusedint’-iefr-ackirqanddrilllogprocesscanbeinthemillionsofgallons.NONEofthiswateriseverreclaimedorrecycledforfutureuse.Althoughpowerplantsandotherindustriesalsouselargevolumesofwater,nearly1005ofthatwaterisandcanberecycled.13.Trucktrafficandroaddamagemusthemonitoredandinspected.Allvehicles,regardlessofstateofregistration,shouidbelocallyandroutinelyhttp:1/mail.aol.com/34122-Ill/aol-6/en-us/mail/PrintMessage.aspx9/26/2011MarcellusconcernsresentPage2of3inspectedforsafety.Costofroadrepairsshouldbetheresponsibilityofthedrillingcompanies.Astate-widetaxshouldheleviedandusedtoprovidemoniestolocalmunicipalitiestomakerepairstodamacredroadswhendill]r.gcompailesareindefaultofmakirigtheserepairs.4.Airaridwatersamplesmustberoutinelyatwellsites,compressorstations,processplantsandfrackdisposalsitestomonitorforradiation,bromide,heavymetals,etc.15.Transmissionpipelines-right-of-waydistancesshouldbeestablished,distancesbetweenpipelinesandresidencesshouldbeestablished,propercompensationshouldbesetforlandownerbasedonfairmarketvalue($1perlinealfootisnotappropriate)16.Pirstrespondersmustbetrainedtohandlepotentialaccidentsatwellsitesaridtransmissionlines,alongwithanyandallothersitestreatingorhandlingthetransportationortreatmentofwastematerials.17.Oncethisgasisproduced,whereisitgoing?Over85%ofthisgasisplannedtobepumpedtoLouisiana,convertedtoLNGandshippedoverseas.Whyarewenotplanningtousemoreofthisresourcehere?16.Howistheradiationconnectedwiththegasby-productbeingremovedattheprocessingplantsforoursafety?Willtheremainingradiationlevelsmeethealtharidsafetystandardsnearbytheprocessingplants?19.Wellsshouldnotbedrillednearschools,hospitals,etc.MamontElementarySchool,WashingtonTwp.,WestmoreiandCounty,isapproximately1milefromtheBeaverRunMarcellusoperation.Thehighschoolcomplexisapprox1nately1milefromMcCutcheonEnterprises,wastecarriersforthefrackfinId.20.TheBeaverRunReservoiroperationhasapproximately15operatingwellswith45additionalwellsproposed.Howsafeisthetrackingprocessunderandaroundourcommunity’smaindrinkingwatersource?Willitcostusthesafetyandhealthofourwatersupplies?21.Drippansareneededatcondensatetanksandothercontainment,tanksorvesselswitha15%additionalvolumecapacitytopreventaccidentalspills.Shroudswithbreaching,fanandscrubberneedtobeemployedtocapturetoxicgasemissionsatwells,condensatetanksorothervesselsomittingtoxicgases.22.Rubberlinersinstalledatwellsit:esneedtoberemovedwithcareandsupervisionalongwithtoxinscontainedwithin,notbull—dozedintothelandasisthecurrentpractice.23.Reclamationofpropertyowner’slandisessentialtoreturnpropertiestooriginalstatewhenwellsiteequipmentisremoved.Thisshouldincludethereplacementoftopsoil,grass,treesandshrubswhichmayhavebeenremoved,etc.Manylandownersareleftwith10ormoreacresoftoxicshalewaste.24.PropertyvaluesaredeclininginareaswhereMarcellusdrillingisoccurring.AlreadymortgageinstitutionsarebeginningtorefusethelendingofmortgagemoniesduetotheproximityofMarceilusoperationstotheproperty.ResidentswillbegintoleavePennsylvaniainfavorofstateswithappropriateregulationtoprotecttheircitizens.25.Manyofthewellsiteworkersareout—of-stateanddonotpaytaxestoPennsylvania.WeneedtoensurethattheirincomesarebeingtaxedandcollectedinPennsylvania.Wealsoneedtoencouragethehiringofmorelocalcommunityresidents.http://mai1.aoI.com/34122-111/aol-6/en-us/maillPrintMessage.aspx9/26/2()iiMarcellusconcernsresentPage3of326.Mostoftheequipmentusedatwellsiteshasbeendesignedfortheruralenvironmentandrequiresoperationbydieselfuel.Whenotheroptions,suchaseiectricity,isreadilyavailable,weneedtoabandonthedieselandreducetheemissionsintotheozoneaswellasthenoise.27.ImproperinstalLationofwellcasingscancausecontaminationogroundwater.InnerandoutersteelpipesleeveswiththeproperASTMdesignationalongwiththepropergradeofconcreteandproperdepthmustbeinstituted.Ihaveworkedfor40yearsintheengineeringfieldwhichincludesexperienceinbothairandwaterpollutioncontrol.Theoilandgasindustrycreatespollutionjustasthecoalindustry.Thecoalindustrylocalizesenvironmentdamagetominesites,cokeplants,powerplantsanddisposalofflyash.Thegasindustryproposestodrillunderourhomesandfarmlandsusingthehorizontalfrackingtechniqueswhichcaneventuallyjeopardizeandcompromisethesafetyofourgroundwaterandfoodsupply.Withtheradiation,bromides,heavymetals,etc.beingemittedintothewaterandairduringthedrillingprocesses,weneedtobeconcernedforourfuturehealthandsafety.OurozonelevelslocallycoildpotentiallybecomehigherthanthoseinLosAngelesifunregulated.Theoilandgasindustrymustinstallproperairandwaterpollutionequipmentsuchasscrubbers,waterclarifiers,dustcollectors,etc.Otherindustrieshavebeenrequiredandprovidedthesesafetymeasures.Whynotoilandgas?Thankyouforyourattentiontomyconcerns.AndrewPollaka/HTML>http://mail.aol.comJ34l22-111/ao1-6/en-us/maiIJPrintMessae.aspx9/26/2011