NEW CASTLE —
A Lawrence County landowner offered advice to people considering signing Marcellus shale leases.
“Get multiple sources, read science journals and industry journals and try to find out the real truth,” Jim Litwinowitz urged a crowd of about 200.
He was among five speakers Wednesday at a meeting called “Fracking In Our Community.” The program in New Wilmington was hosted by the Fracking Truth Alliance of Lawrence and Mercer Counties, a citizens group.
Litwinowitz, a Hickory Township resident who had been approached early about a lease, organized neighbors who have met monthly for two years to learn all they could about signing drilling leases.
“I’ve signed a lease and I will get money,” he said, but urged people to educate themselves before signing.
“Most problems can be avoided by the leasing activities,” Litwinowitz said, urging landowners to be careful about what they allow in leases and what rights they give up.
“There are all sorts of things you can put in your lease to protect you.”
The Marcellus shale has been forming for 390 million years. It covers 95,000 square miles — 5,000 to 6,000 feet underground, according to figures provided by John Stoltz, a Pitt biology professor and director of its Center for Environmental Research and Education.
He, too, encouraged landowners to “make a sound decision” when signing leases.
People need to consider the size of the Marcellus shale resources, Stoltz said. After researching it for more than two years, “the thing that still surprises me is that people don’t realize how big this industry is.”
A typical well pad covers more than six acres, he said, and there will be a major well pad every 40 acres.
“This is not a small strip mine.”
Stoltz said a typical water impoundment is 10 acres and holds about 10 million gallons of fresh water.
On a particular drilling site there are dozens of subcontractors working, he noted, and if something goes wrong, “who do you talk to? It’s very important to know who the point person is.”
Shale drilling “is not just somebody drilling a well and recovering gas.”
While the industry can bring big money into an area, the area also can be impacted negatively, Stoltz noted.
“In order to get the gas you have to frack and drill and put a pipe down there.”
The fracking process involves pumping millions of gallons of water to break up the rock to release the gas, he said, and chemicals contained in the flowback are different than those going in.
He discussed how those liquids are treated and how they mix with other water treatment chemicals to re-enter public water supplies.
Also speaking were:
•Jill Kriesky of Pitt’s graduate school of public health. She said regulations for Marcellus shale are skimpy when it comes to protecting public health and most health issues addressed are for emergency services after a disaster.
•Douglas Shields, former Pittsburgh councilman, who urged landowners signing leases: “Don’t do it blind.” He also addressed the “weak regulatory climate” of the shale industry.
•Dave Kern, area manager of Kroff Well Services that treats flowback water. He explained the chemical components of the gas and the drilling and fracking processes and how well casings are constructed.
(Email: dmorris@ncnewsonline.com)
Closer Look
Related Photos
Discussion
Residents urged to use care when signing shale lease
- Closer Look
-
-
John K. Manna: Data shows decline in number of primary voters
Voter participation isn’t what it used to be. That’s nothing new, but there has been a significant drop in voting here in Lawrence County. And it’s happened suddenly, particularly in the so-called “off-year” elections.
-
Primary 2013: School board candidate tops campaign spending
Historically, spending by school board candidates has paled in comparison to those running for other local offices. But not this year, at least with one candidate — George J. Gabriel.
-
On the Record: A listing of today’s police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of police items and district judge reports.
-
Lawmakers looking at special education funding
The state hands out special education dollars under a flawed formula that gives schools the same amount of money, regardless of how many students need services or how intense and costly those services are, lawmakers said.
-
Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
-
Our Opinion: You should be frightened, outraged by IRS abuse of power
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones. But a more credible threat may be the Internal Revenue Service. This agency, responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing related rules, has the ability to make life miserable for the average individual.
-
Supervisors undecided on radio tower
The Neshannock Township fire department is waiting for the supervisors to decide whether it will get a new radio tower. Chairman Ralph Sheen said at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting he had gone to look at the tower on the Clen-Moore station after being told it is in disrepair.
-
Mahoning to be paid for Edinburg easement
Mahoning Township will get $53,000 for an easement on property in Edinburg. The supervisors unanimously approved a contract Tuesday allowing Pennant Midstream — a Marcellus Shale oil and gas development company — to run 100 feet of pipe through township-owned property off First Street.
-
Shenango board not raising taxes
The Shenango Area School Board has introduced a $15.8 million budget that requires no tax increase. The $15,819,792 spending plan for the 2013-14 school year is $43,012 higher than the current budget.
-
Shenango hires three teachers
The Shenango Area School Board hired three elementary teachers for the 2013-14 school year. They are:
- More Closer Look Headlines
-
