ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT

Opposition of the issuance of a permit for the facility

Table of Content

Introduction3

PPC Planning Process4

Haudralic fracturing4

General5

Research Objectives5

Methodology6

Discharge types6

Municipal Agency Guidelines6

Broad Based Survey of Experts7

Results And Discussion8

Conclusions9

References10

Opposition of the issuance of a permit for the facility

Introduction

In 2002, the Water Resources Planning Act was enacted, It requires entities withdrawing more than 300,000 gallons of water over a 30-day period to register their water withdrawal. By registering water uses, DEP began the process of tracking this activity outside the Susquehanna and Delaware River basins, where interstate commissions have jurisdiction. As a result of the development of the Marcellus shale, in 2008 BOGM began requiring water management plans to identify where water would be withdrawn and the volumes of withdrawal. The purpose of this inquiry is to ensure that water quality standards are maintained and protected.

By law, DEP cannot issue permits for an activity that will violate the laws it administers. Because large withdrawals of surface water can, individually or cumulatively, impact water quality, DEP must assure that excessive withdrawals do not occur. DEP follows water withdrawal guidance promulgated by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) to ensure uniform statewide evaluation.

The technology to recover natural gas depends on undisclosed types and amounts of toxic chemicals.

he Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) also has a role in evaluating impacts within that river basin. The DRBC is in the process of promulgating regulations to address Marcellus shale well drilling within its jurisdiction. Studies are underway by Pennsylvania universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh, that are attempting to provide for the greater use of water impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) for hydraulic fracturing. In addition, Pennsylvania State University is conducting a study of groundwater before and after hydraulic fracturing operations. Industry has been testing wastewater from hydraulic fracturing flowback to establish a baseline of chemical quality through time. BOGM is expanding the Penn State study to additional producing areas and is participating in the other studies.

The Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act includes a provision that an oil and gas well operator is presumed to be responsible for pollution of a water supply if it occurs within six months of drilling and is within 1,000 feet of the well. One of the defenses against this presumption is a pre-drilling survey that documents baseline water quality. Proposed changes to the regulations will require results of such testing to be provided to the landowner and to DEP.

PPC Planning Process

Regulations at 25 Pa. Code §§ 78.55 and 91.34 require operators to identify potential risks and plan for the possibility of an accident occurring at the well site through a Prevention, Preparedness and Contingency (PPC) plan. The first objective in preparing and implementing a PPC plan is for the operator to review its operations and identify all pollutional substances and wastes, both solid and liquid, that will be used or generated, and identify the methods for control and disposal of those substances or wastes.

The second objective of the PPC plan involves recognizing that accidents ...