It started with a 2003 agreement by Washington County officials:
“WHEREAS, County made a determination that the leasing of oil and natural gas rights in the premises hereinafter described will be for the best interests of the County and authorized leasing of the same . . .”
And things went downhill from there.
Washington County resident Bob Donnan has been documenting the destruction of Cross Creek Park. His photos and narratives have kept us abreast of the “death by 1,000 cuts” that resulted from natural gas development in this public park. Bookmark this article and use it to prevent this from happening in your park.
“Alternative Waste Disposal”
Perhaps as an indicator of what will be left behind in Cross Creek Park, note the “alternate waste disposal” which is permitted by Pennsylvania DEP. It is a little like the disposal in a landfill, soaking up excess moisture via woodchips, limestone or other absorbent – BUT it’s buried on-site.
Apparently, DEP permits drillers to simply fold the waste pit liner over the sludge and add 18 inches of dirt over the liner. University of Pittsburgh’s R. D. Vidic described one hazard due to this short-cut to disposal: Radiation: Radium – 226 bonds with the Barium present. Locally called “toxic teabags”, this apparently allows the driller to walk away from future liability for environmental damage, even if the liner leaks.
According to the gas lease agreement:
“All trash, rubbish, or waste materials from each drilling site shall be removed and disposed of in a properly licensed solid waste site. All pits shall be filled with earth and developed per County specifications at Lessee’s expense upon completion of each well.”
The question remains: Unless the contents of the “Toxic Teabag” have been analyzed and declared safe, why would our DEP allow the process? The permits issued for the Cross Creek Park operation call for adding “Soli-Bond” as a solidifying agent prior to burial. While Mr. Donnan has observed some kind of gray powder being mixed with the liquids prior to burial, it is not known if this is the approved material.
Go to Mr. Donnan’s website; scroll one-third of the way down this page for the information on radiation test results and pit burials in Cross Creek Park:
http://www.marcellus-shale.us/Cross-Creek-Park-Gas-Wells.htm
Perhaps what’s at stake is best described by outdoor writer George Block, in the Washington Observer-Reporter. From his article “Cross Creek Lake Belongs to the People”:
I don’t remember my first dollar but I do remember my first trout. I don’t remember my income for 1965 but remember an eight-point buck. I don’t remember how much money was in my pocket that day four years ago as I sat on the patio with my 94-year-old mother. I was pointing to a Baltimore oriole in the apple tree and she was thrilled to see it. That was the last time we sat on the patio.
>>> R. Martin, Coordinator: www.PaForestCoalition.org <<< Mission: Good Stewardship of our Public Lands, Caring for what God has Created
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is insane, the white powder being mixed is lime to adjust or nutralize pH in drill fluid. They use caustic soda to raise pH, there are friction reducers, corosion inhibitors, radiation in shale, various polomers, and on and on. This is toxic and will resurface in the future and then gain access to water tables. This is criminal at best. No other group could pollute/destroy so much land, water and air. They are not helping the economy enough to justify the damage they bring to life in general. I used to be proud that I worked my way up the drilling chain, and was part of the oilfield. Now more and more I feel sick and fooled. We must read through the BS and make a stand for our land, childrens future and way of life in Appalachia. This is not positive progress.
We CAN create jobs that don’t poison us and all that is around us. See The Jobs Project: Unemployed Coal Miners Install Solar Panels In West Virginia:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/the-jobs-project_n_818006.html