A blowout at a natural gas well in the Marcellus Shale in Western Pennsylvania last week has led to renewed calls for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing. The state Department of Environmental Protection Monday ordered EOG Resources Inc. to halt all gas drilling activities until the agency investigates last week's blowout that saw at least 35,000 gallons of drilling fluid gush out of the well and into the forest before the well could be capped, Katie Howell of Environment & Energy Daily reports.
In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency Monday, Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak, also the state's Democratic nominee for the Senate, urged EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to boost the agency's authority to "to the maximum extent possible to protect the health, safety and environment of Pennsylvania and our neighboring states." Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey echoed Sestak's concerns and highlighted the need for new regulations to ensure "drilling is done in a way that provides greater protection for Pennsylvania," Howell reports.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," injects water, sand and other chemicals into the ground to release natural gas in dense shale formations, unaccessible through other techniques. Amy Mall, a senior policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Howell the blowout illustrates the need for full disclosure of fracking fluids. "A million gallons blew all over the place," Mall said. "It's important to know what's in them." The industry-backed Marcellus Shale Coalition said in a statement, "MSC members are constantly working to enhance their operations, as well as working alongside regulatory agencies at all levels of government, to make certain that every stage involved in the shale gas production process is performed safely and responsibly." (Read more, subscription require)
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