Friday, April 1, 2016

1: No Fooling: "Your water has been affected by drilling activities"





On Sept. 11, 2008, Craig and Julie Sautner, of 1101 Carter Road in Dimock, Susquehanna County PA, noticed something strange had happened to their drinking water. It had a funny odor, the color was a murky orange, and it was loaded with bubbles. All of this was brand new.(Source: http://citizensvoice.com/news/dimock-resident-relates-horror-story-1.1049626)

So was gas drilling in the area. Cabot Oil and Gas had just drilled 11 new wells in their township, including some which were permitted has horizontal wells into the Marcellus Shale.  (Source: PA DEP Spud Database: http://www.dep.pa.gov/DataandTools/Reports/Pages/Oil-and-Gas.aspx )

They made a formal complaint to the DEP five days later.
      
Here we have an excerpt from the actual determination letter to the Sautners, issued in 2009. It says,

Actual Sautner Determination Letter
 "On September 18, 2008, I collected a water sample from your well at your residence.... After reviewing the sample results and other information gathered during our investigation, the Department has determined that your water supply had been affected by drilling activities conducted by Cabot Oil and Gas, Inc. 
The Department is aware that Cabot Oil and Gas has installed treatment equipment in order to restore your water to pre-drill conditions". 

Why does the determination discussion restoring the water supply to pre-drill conditions? Because this language is in both Pennsylvania Commonwealth Law, and also in an addendum to the lease used by Cabot Oil and Gas.



The Pennsylvania Code (2009)

CHAPTER 78. OIL AND GAS WELLS

§ 78.51. Protection of water supplies.

 (a)  A well operator who affects a public or private water supply by pollution or diminution shall restore or replace the affected supply with an alternate source of water adequate in quantity and quality for the purposes served by the supply.

 (d)  The operator shall affirmatively demonstrate to the Department’s satisfaction that the quality of the restored or replaced water supply to be used for human consumption is at least equal to the quality of the water supply before it was affected by the operator.




The Gas Industry shills repeat:
 "There has never been ONE EXAMPLE of a case was fracking has contaminated a water well".
Question:
Has the PA DEP ever determined that Cabot Oil and Gas was responsible for contaminating an underground source of drinking water from gas drilling activities?

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