Overview

The Marcellus Shale is a rock formation that underlies approximately 2/3 of Pennsylvania and portions of New York and West Virginia. The shale is generally at a depth of 5,000 to 8,000 feet and is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. The gas has, until now, been considered too expensive to access, but recently developed drilling technology has made accessing the formation more feasible. 

Extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation requires drilling, both vertical and horizontal, along with a process called ‘hydraulic fracturing’.  After a well is drilled, large amounts of water mixed with sand, chemicals, and other fluids are pumped under high pressur into the well e to fracture the shale around the well. This process, often known as 'fracing,' allows the natural gas to flow freely toward the well.  Estimates for the amount of water used range from 3 to 7 million gallons per well for each time the well is fractured. Wells can be fractured up to 10 times each.

Issues

There are many issues associated with marcellus shale drilling. Just a few:

• The chemical composition of the fracing fluids. The drilling industry protects the components of the fracing fluid under a 'trade secrets' clause, and thus this information is not revealed to the public.
• The amount of water needed for fracturing. Here in the Youghiogheny River watershed, we have several streams that are potentially suffering from a decline in water quantity. Drillers are asking to withdraw water from our streams and rivers for fracturing, and given the quantity of water in question, this could negatively affect our watersheds.
• Groundwater contamination. Wells are supposed to be 'cased,' a process that seals the well bore off from any water bearing aquifers in order to protect the quality of nearby private water supplies such as springs and wells. Improper casing has led to widespread contamination of drinking water in the western United States.
• Increased erosion and sedimentation: Each well pad is between 3 and 5 acres, and clearing this much land can introduce invasive species, disrupt wildlife, and lead to increased sedimentation in streams and rivers. It is necessary to construct haul roads and pipelines which lead to further land-clearing activities; pipelines are also often maintained through the aerial application of herbicide.
• Treatment of fracing water: Fracing water contains, among other things, large amounts of total dissolved solids (TDS). A variety of salts make up the main components of TDS, and while not necessarily harmful to human health, high TDS creates a host of water quality-related problems. Drillers often dispose of fracing water at municipal sewage treatment plants which are generally not equipped to treat the levels of TDS found in the fracing water; thus, the TDS is discharged untreated. In 2008, the Monongahela River contained such high levels of TDS that PA DEP ordered sewage treatment plants to accept no more than 1% of their daily flow in fracing fluids, but elevated TDS levels are now showing up in waterways across the state.

DEP's Role

Drillers must obtain several permits from PA DEP and other agencies in order to proceed with well drilling. This information was compiled by the Sierra Club.

• Well Drilling Permit – The operator must obtain a drilling permit, pursuant to Pa. Code 78.11-33.
• Earth Disturbance Permit (ESCGP-1) -- The operator must obtain a permit for implementation of erosion and sedimentation controls, including stormwater management, if the site disturbance area is more than 5 acres. A plan and sedimentation control is required if the site is less than 5 acres.
• Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency (PPC) Plan -- The operator must have an approved spill prevention plan.
• Water Withdrawal Permits – DEP requires water allocation permits for large withdrawals of surface or groundwater.
• Pit Approval for Control, Handling or Storage of Production Fluids – The operator must obtain approval for storage pits under 25 Pa. Code 78.54-58
• Water Treatment, Reuse and Disposal – An operator who discharges to a stream must obtain a permit under the Clean Streams Law.
• Stormwater – An operator is required to meet DEP stormwater requirements, which are part of the Earth Disturbance Permit.
• Encroachment Permit – An operator must obtain a permit from DEP for construction, excavation or operation in a wetland, stream, or body of water.

Your Water: What Can You Do?

We are receiving many phone calls from people who own land adjacent to well sites. Their concerns generally are about protecting the integrity of their private water supplies. Here are a few ideas that can help:

• Periodically test your private water supply for quality and quantity. This is something that all homeowners on a private water supply should do, regardless of the occurrence of drilling. Read our short informational flyer on water to learn more.
• Become informed about when and where drilling will occur near you. The following DEP resources will assist you. For help with using any of these resources, please contact Krissy.
  • eNotice: Register to receive notice of gas well permits in your area. (www.dep.state.pa.us/enotice/)
  • eMap: This service maps proposed well sites. (www.emappa.dep.state.pa.us/emappa/viewer.htm)
  • eFacts: After drilling starts, monitor inspection reports and violations. (www.dep.state.pa.us/efacts/default.asp)
• Just say no to seismic testing: The process of seismic testing, which determines the extent of natural gas reserves, has no requirement for testing of nearby water supplies despite the fact that this testing, which involves detonating explosives underground, can impact water supplies. If you do decide to allow seismic testing on your property, ask that your water supply conditions be documented first and that all drill holes be immediately filled to prevent groundwater contamination.
• Have your water assessed for quantity and quality both before and after drilling. Use a DEP certified lab, and do not do this testing yourself--- ask that the lab send a technician to perform the testing. For more information or a list of labs, please contact Krissy. At a minimum, testing parameters should include:
  • arsenic
  • barium
  • benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX)
  • calcium
  • chlorides
  • hardness
  • lead
  • manganese
  • methylene blue active substances (MBAS)
  • oil and grease
  • sodium
  • strontium
  • total dissolved solids (TDS)
  • total suspended solids (TSS)

Other Resources

Penn State University's Cooperative Extension "Natural Gas Impacts"

PA DEP "Marcellus Shale"

West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Association

Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water

Our Publications