I wouldn't call it unprecedented, but its definitely rare. EPA has been forced to cancel a public meeting because the venues that can hold the number of people they'll be attracting are a little too nervous about hosting it.
With three meetings in the can on its quest to gain insight into how to study hydraulic fracturing, EPA has to reschedule its meeting for New York. Originally scheduled for Thursday Aug. 12 at the University of Binghamton, then for Syracuse, its the meeting every anti-drilling activist in New York wants, but no public venue in New York wants to host.
The University of Binghamton actually tried to raise venue rent on EPA from $6,000 to $40,000 to discourage them from holding the hearing on their campus, once they had a reality check about what is likely to transpire when the meeting is held. Public safety folks in Syracuse told EPA it simply could not have enough security ready for this event on such short notice.
Rumor has it EPA, which apparently understands the problem completely, is expecting over 5,000 people. That's not a public hearing. That's a small rock concert.
Many who read my blog know that even in my attempts to be completely honest about my opinion and use my real identity in my discussions on drilling as to avoid anyone telling me I'm hiding my industry ties, I have experienced first hand the rage of many anti-drilling activists. I've been called some pretty ugly names by people I've shared my opinions with. I've had my life threatened by an activist from a prestigious institution. My evilness has been compared to that of the ultimate villain, former Vice President Cheney, in the online comments section of The New York Times. Twitter has blocked people from viewing my tweets on account of their anti-violence policy.
Most pro drilling people I speak with tell me I'm more than cordial and straightforward with my adversaries. At least more than they admit they would ever be. Many jokingly chide me for trying to share what I know with people who don't want to know it. Some former colleagues have been wholeheartedly concerned for my safety.
My point is this. I don't blame EPA a bit for rescheduling. Anti-drilling activists in New York are, to their credit, passionately dedicated to their view point. Quite frankly, without a real security presence, someone is likely to get hurt. Potentially seriously hurt.
I ask everyone planning to attend this meeting (and I know a number of you on both sides) when it is rescheduled to go in the spirit of true democracy -- to share ideas, regardless of how disparate they may be, not to insult those who do not share your view, and to refrain from any kind of violence or outbursts. Don't boo people or heckle them. Respect the liberties we've been given to share our ideas and opinions with our government in a way that would make our forefathers proud.
Finally, please remember what EPA is holding this meeting to do. They are looking for ideas on places to research the alleged impacts of fracturing. Give them what they need. Locations to study. They've heard every argument and theory about how fracing can poison water. That's the reason for the study in the first place.
Everyone -- activist or industry shill like me -- wants to see this study done correctly so this debate can put to rest once and for all.
No one needs to be harmed or demeaned in the process.
Showing posts with label Marcellus Shale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marcellus Shale. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
PA Looks for Probems at Union Sites, But Doesn't Find Any
After incidents in West Virginia and Clearfield, Pennsylvania, the talk in the Marcellus Shale in recent days has been, once again, all about the need for new and better regulations.
Amid the din, few probably heard that PA DEP Secretary John Hanger, after deploying his staff to investigate all six PA locations where Union Drilling (the driller at the West Virginia Chief Oil & Gas site in question) is operating, admitted that no violations could be found. None -- on six active sites.
That seems to lend some serious credibility to the strong possibility that the West Virginia accident was a very rare situation. Yet that information was buried in stories about the need for heavier regulation.
But here's a thought. Maybe its not more regulation we need, but better execution of the regulations in place.
What's happening at PA DEP right now is interesting. As you might remember, during last year's budget debacle, DEP lost a lot of jobs, in every area -- except in oil and gas. Jobs were preserved there and new ones were added to deal with the so called Marcellus boom.
Sounds pretty good right? Sure - unless you've been inside this agency (or another in the state system) and know how things work. The job cuts came shortly after DEP hired, and presumably trained, new recruits for the traditional oil and gas field offices in Northwestern and Southwestern PA, and began adding field inspectors (not permit reviewers mind you) to the new Williamsport oil and gas office.
Unfortunately, when jobs get cut in any DEP office, there is an interesting staffing dance that occurs to satisfy terms of union contracts. Basically, people with seniority can in essence "claim" the jobs of newer folks, like the recently hired in the paragraph above this one. So, once the budget issue started to settle and DEP started losing jobs, people from programs like water, air, etc, began claiming the jobs of the new oil and gas team, as well as those that were opened to staff up the Marcellus DEP team.
DEP programs are notorious for their ability to intermingle. So, while the oil and gas offices may have been getting DEP veterans in place of rookies with the layoffs and restaffing, they were still getting people who knew very little about the oil and gas program. So, after hiring and training rookies, they got virtually an entire new team to work with. And inside sources say that, because pressure was so high to get these "rookievets" out in the field inspecting, training consisted of something like handing each a copy of the oil and gas reg book and telling them to have at it.
So, before Mr. Hanger starts telling industry it needs to be better regulated to placate a minority of ever so vocal activists, he may want to make sure his inspectors are singing from the same song sheet. Anecdotal evidence says they are not -- and that some have completely misinterpreted or confused many of the existing oil and gas regs based on "experience" in other programs.
That's just hearsay from the field perhaps -- but then again, so are continually disproven claims that frac chemicals have contaminated drinking water. If those kinds of accusations deserve to be fully investigated by everyone under the sun every time someone thinks their water tastes funny, then so should any suspicion that DEP is inconsistent in its execution of regs -- either in favor of industry or in favor of activists (more likely under a secretary who came from a leading activist organization).
In the meantime, if those reporting on the Marcellus are truly interested in giving the entire picture to interested readers and viewers, they need to stop hiding information that vindicates industry players like Union in stories about the politics of drilling and fossil fuels. Instead of scaring people with stories that liken the West Virginia accident to the Gulf oil disaster, start showing a bigger picture of what an incident like this looks like in the larger picture of energy production.
In the meantime, kudos to Union for showing that the industry does indeed know how to do its job and do it right.
Amid the din, few probably heard that PA DEP Secretary John Hanger, after deploying his staff to investigate all six PA locations where Union Drilling (the driller at the West Virginia Chief Oil & Gas site in question) is operating, admitted that no violations could be found. None -- on six active sites.
That seems to lend some serious credibility to the strong possibility that the West Virginia accident was a very rare situation. Yet that information was buried in stories about the need for heavier regulation.
But here's a thought. Maybe its not more regulation we need, but better execution of the regulations in place.
What's happening at PA DEP right now is interesting. As you might remember, during last year's budget debacle, DEP lost a lot of jobs, in every area -- except in oil and gas. Jobs were preserved there and new ones were added to deal with the so called Marcellus boom.
Sounds pretty good right? Sure - unless you've been inside this agency (or another in the state system) and know how things work. The job cuts came shortly after DEP hired, and presumably trained, new recruits for the traditional oil and gas field offices in Northwestern and Southwestern PA, and began adding field inspectors (not permit reviewers mind you) to the new Williamsport oil and gas office.
Unfortunately, when jobs get cut in any DEP office, there is an interesting staffing dance that occurs to satisfy terms of union contracts. Basically, people with seniority can in essence "claim" the jobs of newer folks, like the recently hired in the paragraph above this one. So, once the budget issue started to settle and DEP started losing jobs, people from programs like water, air, etc, began claiming the jobs of the new oil and gas team, as well as those that were opened to staff up the Marcellus DEP team.
DEP programs are notorious for their ability to intermingle. So, while the oil and gas offices may have been getting DEP veterans in place of rookies with the layoffs and restaffing, they were still getting people who knew very little about the oil and gas program. So, after hiring and training rookies, they got virtually an entire new team to work with. And inside sources say that, because pressure was so high to get these "rookievets" out in the field inspecting, training consisted of something like handing each a copy of the oil and gas reg book and telling them to have at it.
So, before Mr. Hanger starts telling industry it needs to be better regulated to placate a minority of ever so vocal activists, he may want to make sure his inspectors are singing from the same song sheet. Anecdotal evidence says they are not -- and that some have completely misinterpreted or confused many of the existing oil and gas regs based on "experience" in other programs.
That's just hearsay from the field perhaps -- but then again, so are continually disproven claims that frac chemicals have contaminated drinking water. If those kinds of accusations deserve to be fully investigated by everyone under the sun every time someone thinks their water tastes funny, then so should any suspicion that DEP is inconsistent in its execution of regs -- either in favor of industry or in favor of activists (more likely under a secretary who came from a leading activist organization).
In the meantime, if those reporting on the Marcellus are truly interested in giving the entire picture to interested readers and viewers, they need to stop hiding information that vindicates industry players like Union in stories about the politics of drilling and fossil fuels. Instead of scaring people with stories that liken the West Virginia accident to the Gulf oil disaster, start showing a bigger picture of what an incident like this looks like in the larger picture of energy production.
In the meantime, kudos to Union for showing that the industry does indeed know how to do its job and do it right.
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