5.09.2011

Open Letter To President Obama-DOE's Committee To Make Hydraulic Fracturing Safe Should be Disbanded, and A Independent Committee With Citizen Stakeholder Representation Put In Its Place

Dear President Obama:

The DOE has recently formed a committee whose stated purpose is too make Hydraulic Fracturing safer, its unstated purpose seems to be a feeble attempt to placate members of the public who are up in arms over a industrial technology that is not fully understood, nor properly investigated and approved through scientific study. Secretary Steven Chu invited closer scrutiny of the legitimacy of this committee with three early signals that telegraphed the intent of the committee...to rewrap hydraulic fracturing in a way that makes it appear safe when in reality it is not.

1.  The time frame given to the committee to complete its work, and craft their recommendations...three months, with another three months to finalized their recommendations for a industry that intends to extract Natural Gas using Hydraulic Fracturing from over 350,000 square miles of our lands...most of private lands, or protected state and federal parks.

2.  Naming as Committee Chair one Mr. Deutch-director of Cheniere Energy, which operates a major liquefied natural gas terminal in Louisiana.  Could you place a more biased person in charge of this committee...someone who has a vested interest in seeing the expansion of Natural Gas extraction here in the United States.

3.  Look at Texas and its Barnett Shale play, or Pennsylvania and New York with our own Marcellus play. Look at the numerous citizen stakeholder groups such as CCSE (Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy) who are working diligently to have our voices heard on this important issue to our communities...yet, Steven Chu and the DOE in formation of this committee CHOSE not to give us a voice in the process.  One has to wonder what it is that the DOE and the White House want to hide from us?  The biased and pre-determined direction of the committee, or perhaps instead the committee will see documents that show hydraulic fracturing to be even more dangerous than we as citizens are currently being led to believe?

These three glaring facts as relates to the committee should be more than enough for you Mr. President to disband this DOE controlled committee, and instead form a Blue Ribbon Hydraulic Fracturing Committee to study the issue, give them ADEQUATE TIME to do their jobs, and summit their report...think 911 Commission.  However, there is much more, and even a cursory investigation of the facts shows the DOE is vested in the Natural Gas industry moving forward at all costs.  They show disdain for public health and protection of the environment, but instead are out touting proudly their involvement in the industry, pretty well taking credit for Modern Day Hydraulic Fracturing...this claim can be verified on their own website, looking at their own chest beating and credit taking.   Skipping over their horrible 1969 Atomic Fracturing experiment, we instead visit a page posted this year wherein they spell out their involvements in moving the Natural Gas industry to where it is today. (Link)

DOE's Early Investment in Shale Gas Technology Producing Results Today



Washington, D.C.A $92 million research investment in the 1970s by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is today being credited with technological contributions that have stimulated development of domestic natural gas from shales. The result: more U.S. jobs, increased energy security, and higher revenues for states and the Federal Government.

More than 30 years ago, fears of dwindling domestic natural gas supplies pushed researchers to examine alternative sources of natural gas such as Devonian shales, coals, and low permeability or "tight" sands. Recognizing the need for research and development to quantify these unconventional reservoirs and to develop ways to produce them, DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy invested in Devonian shale research from 1977 through 1992, matching technology to complex geology for various geologic settings.



Through programs focused on Eastern gas shales, Western gas sands, and methane from coalbeds, DOE developed and stimulated the deployment of advanced exploration and production technologies. These technologies recovered new gas supplies from unconventional gas resources by increasing per-well gas-recovery efficiencies and lowering unit development costs. 

DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) employed a detailed resource characterization and technology development approach that geologically partitioned each natural gas resource and matched technology to geology to chart a path for resource development. More than 25,000 feet of oriented core and well log data from 35 cored shale wells provided the basic core and geologic data used to prepare the first publicly available estimates of technically recoverable gas for the Huron shales in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.

In 1986, DOE collaborated with industry to achieve a significant milestone: the first air-drilled 2,000-foot-long horizontal Devonian shale well in the Appalachian Basin. This also marked the first recovery of core from a horizontal air-drilled shale well and the first successful use of external casing packers in an air-filled wellbore. Through 1992, DOE also worked with industry to complete three additional 2,000-foot-long horizontal wells containing multiple hydraulically fractured zones and to develop more efficient downhole tools, such as electromagnetic measurement-while-drilling and directional air hammer technology, both of which are currently used by the oilfield service industry.

Another example of early DOE leadership in the development of technologies applicable to shale gas development is fracture mapping—techniques for using seismic responses to identify the orientation and extent of hydraulically created fractures. Today, a number of companies successfully map hydraulic fractures, including many in the major shale gas plays. \
In a recent paper entitled Thirty Years of Gas Shale Fracturing: What Have We Learned?, DOE research is recognized for enabling several technology breakthroughs in shale gas development. Presented at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ 2010 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, the paper reviews more than 350 technical papers and presentations on shale-specific well completions, fracturing, and operations. The paper’s author, George E. King, Global Technology Consultant for Apache Corporation, credits DOE for its early leadership in the development of several key technologies that are driving the current growth in shale gas production, including reservoir characterization, horizontal drilling, and multi-stage fracturing and slick water fracturing.

DOE’s leadership in shale gas development is receiving similar recognition from others. According to Dr. Terry Engelder, Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University, DOE’s Eastern Gas Shales Research Program "helped expand the limits of gas shale production and increased understanding of production mechanisms . . . It is one of the great examples of value-added work led by the DOE." 



This article from the DOE website leaves no doubt...the Department of Energy is the MOTHER of modern day Hydraulic Fracturing, today's natural gas extraction means of choice THEIR BABY.  It is impossible for the DOE to be impartial in this debate, impossible for any committee on Hydraulic Fracturing created by them to be unbiased....they  are going to protect their baby that they have nurtured and moved forward for a period of over 30 years.  The DOE WANTS HYDRAULIC FRACTURING to move forward AT ALL COSTS, and the committee in its current make up has but one job...placate the public, trot out some false assurances, and put the petal to the metal when it comes to letting Hydraulic Fracturing move forward at full bore.

It is imperative that (in your words) we get this RIGHT when it comes to Hydraulic Fracturing, that the proper SCIENTIFIC (emphasis added) investigation of the processes involved in Hydraulic Fracturing gives us the assurances we need.  Let science lead the way forward, let science tell us that our Safe Drinking Water Supplies will not be compromised, let science tell us that our health will not be compromised by the use of carcinogenic chemicals deployed in the process.  Let a committee be formed that A) has one third of its make up average stakeholder citizens, B) one third from the science community (half from industry, half from the opposing spectrum) and C) that last third made up with equal parts government officials and industry types.  The number of members of this committee should be 18.

So Mr. President, I implore you...end the dog and pony show, disband the DOE's biased and prejudice committee that has been stacked in favor of the Natural Gas Industry.  Declare a Presidential Moratorium on the practice of Fracking for a period of at least 24 months, disband Steven Shu's biased committee and put together the Blue Ribbon Commission on Hydraulic Fracturing.

5.08.2011

Use Gas Industry's Wealth AGAINST THEM...GET THEIR FREEBIES!

The Natural Gas industry, even our own government are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on what could be described as America's GREATEST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN as they try to shape the general public's perceptions and expectations when it comes to Natural Gas, Hydraulic Fracturing, and the DAMAGE that will result from its wide spread use.  Well, it is time we in the Anti-Fracking camp start SPENDING SOME OF THEIR MONEY!  If you start looking around, you will find out that many Pro_Natural Gas Groups (funded by A) the natural gas industry and/or B) our TAXES) are willing to send you out a lot of FREE STUFF....now I know we do not really WANT THIS STUFF....but, every time one of us receives a freebie from their side, we are DEPLETING THEIR WAR CHEST in this fight.

As example, yesterday I received a nice hand written note with not one, but two bumper stickers from Energize WV.  Letterhead stationary and envelope...the time to write the note, put everything in the envelope cost them at least a few bucks...not much, but what if we started doing that in the THOUSANDS, and hitting multiple sites to collect their freebies?  Another example...Pro Natural Gas shill American Clean Skies (their whole entire board is made up of Oil Industry board members, and 20 million has been steered their way) is so anxious to get their answer to Gasland out into the hands of the public, they sent me a FREE CD COPY OVER NIGHT DELIVERY!

If you know of industry FREEBIES, leave us a comment with their name!


OMFG...Corbett Cronies THROTTLE FREE SPEAK....Deny Anti Frackers Voice At Committee Hearing


If a picture is worth a thousand words, this damning video is priceless...seems that the Pro-Natural Gas folks inside the Pennsylvania Governor's office will stop at nothing to silence those opposed to Natural Gas Fracking. Sure if I told you that the governor instructed staff to have two sign up sheets...one inside the room for PRO NATURAL GAS FOLKS, and one outside for ANTI FRACKERS (who were not allowed in to sign the other sheet), and told you that they then called up folks from the FIRST LIST ONLY, you would say I was a conspiracy nut...well, watched the video, and you decide. FACE IT FOLKS, WE ARE BEING RAIL ROAD'ED TO HELL ON A FRACK HIGHWAY.

5.07.2011

The Frack FUCK Primer...Do Not Let DOE Committee Fool You


DOE trotting out Fracking Committee dog and pony show for public consumption.  Sorry, but do not buy into this supposed IMPORTANT Committee....you do not form a committee of this magnitude, and then give it just three months to review fracking if the outcome of the committee's findings are not already pre-determined. The three articles below will give you a quick PRIMER on FRACKING.

More on Fracking
More Fracking Problems: Surface Blowouts as Gas Wells Likely to Increase
Natural Gas Far Less Green Than Claimed - Fracking Emissions 1000s Times Higher Than Reported
Natural Gas From Fracking Emissions Can Double Those From Coal

Government and Big Business Using Propaganda to BRAINWASH Public on Natural Gas

Thank God for Gasland...it was and is a wake up call, hopefully one that America hears, hopefully one that sees us as private citizens get galvanized behind an issue like we have not done since the protests against the Vietnam War.   Leave no doubt, our lands are under siege, the Natural Gas industry with the help and full backing of our government (local, state and federal) government willing to stoop to any level to frack our lands.  We as citizens are under attack, a full bore Propaganda Campaign targeted at us, telling us how good Natural Gas is for America, how green a fuel it is...BOTH LIES, both claims meant to play on emotions, divide our communities into us and them camp as battle lines are draw, neighbor against neighbor, while the Natural Gas industry does and end around, selling the concept of Natural Gas as a clean green PATRIOTIC fuel to our children, finding insidious means to take their message right to our children in the schools.

I would suggest one do some research, begin looking at the wealth of reports and data out there that show we are being sold out, that the decision to drill for Natural Gas in New York's Marcellus Shale already made, the government merely placating us for now hoping to avoid armed confrontation, troops being used to protect Natural Gas companies like Chesapeake Energy and their access to our lands for the purpose of extracting Natural Gas at all cost...for now, they have time, time to use commercial, pamphlets, and committees filled with Natural Gas Industry insiders that have been charged to write guidelines for drilling...all of these meant to brainwash us into blind acceptance of our fate, brainwash us into believing the lie that Natural Gas is a clean green fossil fuel that is GOOD FOR AMERICA.  

Take a look at this week's announcement from the White House about their new Natural Gas committee...the purpose of the committee is not to study Hydraulic Fracturing, but instead is a committee who's sole purpose is to find ways to EXPEDITE the drilling of our lands, for us to acquiesce to the landman, sign their leases like good Patriotic Americans.  At almost every stump speech now, he hammers on NATURAL GAS and increasing its production as is witnessed by this quote from his appearance in Indiana:

"If we’re serious about meeting our energy challenge we’re going to have to do more than drill.  And that’s why the real solution is clean, homegrown energy.  The real solution is advanced biofuels -- and there’s a lot of good biofuel work being done here in Indiana.  It means that we’ve got to have natural gas vehicles.  We’ve got a lot of natural gas that can be produced here in the United States of America.  It means making our cars and trucks more energy-efficient, because if we use less oil, that reduces demand; that brings the price down; and you will see the impact at the pump.  That’s what’s going to make a difference and that’s why what you’re doing here is so important."

Forget the safety issues, don't worry about (un)Natural Gas companies spoiling the land, and poisoning our drinking water...DRILL BABY DRILL, and President Obama is LEADING THE CHORUS.  With orders from the White House, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new committee on Natural Gas, and this committee was/is charged with bringing Natural Gas to the market place AT ALL COSTS...

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, seeing increased domestic natural gas production as a linchpin in its long-term energy strategy, has named a panel of experts to find ways to make hydraulic fracturing, a fast-growing method of extracting natural gas, safer and cleaner. 

Giving lip service to safer and cleaner, the Obama White House wants Natural Gas, and they wanted it FAST.  As you read up on this new committee, read about its charge, you realize we are being conned...as example, the committee has been given only NINETY DAYS to present a plan to get more natural gas to market in a faster way...in short, DRILL BABY DRILL. As this is going on, those of us living at ground zero here in the Marcellus Shale are being deluged day and night with on-the-air PROPAGANDA as commercial after commercial touts Natural Gas as a Patriotically GREEN energy source...this onslaught times so that our children are FORCED to see, participate in and be brainwashed themselves...imagine an adult, articulate, versed on the issue, opposed to FRACKING having their child come in and say, "Mommy, we should let them drill for Natural Gas on our property, it's a CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE, and America needs the energy."

Before America races headlong into raping our lands in the name of Natural Gas, I have a few questions for the industry, for our politicians, for President Barack Obama.

1.  Is it fair to used Pooling to force property owners to accept drilling using Hydraulic Fracturing under their lands...even when they OWN THEIR MINERAL RIGHTS?

2.  Is it fair to use a drilling method that you know will drive down the property values of those living in these new Gas Drilling Fields?

Will be Imprisoned For Opposing Fracking?
3.  Is it fair to force Hydraulic Fracturing on communities, is it fair to even let the industry use this technology when you know that said technology will negatively impact the drinking water supplies of many of the communities which will be fracked?

4.  In the name of National Energy Security, is it right and moral for the US EPA and other regulatory agencies to let Natural Gas companies use FRACKING CHEMICALS that are known carcinogens that cause cancers, birth defects and other health issues too access this resource?

5.  Just how much collateral damage in despoiled land (including in our state and national parks), in ruined drinking water supplies, in lost lives is acceptable in the name of Natural Gas?  Have we learned NOTHING from the nuclear disaster in Japan?  Have we not learned that you cannot simply assumed the worst case scenario will NEVER HAPPEN?

I ask you America...at what cost Natural Gas?





5.03.2011

Forget The Cheney Loophole...2005 Energy Act A Financial Gravy Train For Gas Industry

Ever heard of RPSEA? Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, which was created to fulfill terms of Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 (Section 999), of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), and it seems the BIGGEST JOB of RPSEA in the name of R&D is to throw FIST FULLS OF AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS at both the Oil and Gas industry, why making sure that citizen stakeholders HAVE NOT SEAT AT THE TABLE!  Take a gander at their membership, and then picture millions upon millions upon millions of your tax dollars being handed over to these folks. (on list...BP America, EXXON, Chesapeake Energy)

RPSEA Members
Acute Technological Services, LLC Advanced Resources International, Inc. AeroVironment, Inc. Altira Group LLC
American Gas Association Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Apache Corporation Apex Spectral Technology
APS Technology, Inc.
Baker Hughes Incorporated Bill Barrett Corporation BJ Services
BP America, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Cameron/Curtiss-Wright EMD
Campbell Applied Physics
Capstone Turbine Corporation
CARBO Ceramics, Inc. Centre For Marine CNG, Inc.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Chevron Corporation City of Sugar Land Colorado School of Mines
Colorado Oil & Gas Association ConocoPhillips Company Conservation Committee of California Oil & Gas Producers
Correlations Company CSI Technologies, Inc.
DCP Midstream, LLC
Deepwater Structures, Inc.
Deepwater XLP Technology, LLP
Delco Oheb Energy, LLC Det Norske Veritas (USA)
Devon Energy Corporation
Drilling & Production Company
EnCana Corporation
EnerCrest, Inc. Energy Corporation of America Energy Valley, Inc.
ExxonMobil Corporation
Florida International University Gas Technology Institute GE/VetcoGray Granherne, Inc.
Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council
GSI Environmental, Inc.
Gunnison Energy Corporation Halliburton
Harvard Petroleum Corporation Houston Advanced Research Center Houston Offshore Engineering, LLC Houston Technology Center
HW Process Technologies, Inc. Idaho National Laboratory Independent Petroleum Association of America
Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States Indepedent Petroleum Association of New Mexico
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Intelligent Agent Corporation
Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission Jackson State University K. Stewart Energy Group
Knowledge Reservoir, LLC Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Leede Operating Company
Los Alamos National Laboratory Louisiana State University Marathon Oil Corporation Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Merrick Systems, Inc. Mississippi State University
Nalco Company Nance Resources
NanoRidge Materials, Inc.
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
Natural Carbon, LLC Nautilus International, LLC
New England Research, Inc. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology New Mexico Oil & Gas Association
NGAS Resources, Inc. NiCo Resources Noble Energy, Inc.
Novatek, LLC
RPSEA Draft Annual Plan 87 July 2009
Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association OTM Consulting Ltd.
Oxane Materials, Inc.
Petris Technology, Inc. Petrobras America Inc.
Petroleum Technology Transfer Council
Pioneer Natural Resources Company QO, Inc.
Quanelle, LLC Quest Integrated, Inc.
Rice University Robert L. Bayless, Producer LLC Rock Solid Images RTI Texas Sandia National Laboratories Schlumberger Limited Shell International Exploration & Production Simmons & Company International
SiteLark, LLC Southern Methodist University
Southwest Research Institute
Spatial Energy
Stanford University
StatoilHydro Strata Production Company Stress Engineering Services Inc. Technip Technology International
Tejas Research & Engineering, LP
Tenaris Texas Energy Center Texas A&M University Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association
Texas Tech University The Discovery Group, Inc.
The Fleischaker Companies
The Ohio State University
The Pennsylvania State University
The University of Kansas
The University of Oklahoma
The University of Texas at Austin The University of Tulsa The University of Utah Titanium Engineers, Inc.
TOTAL Exploration Production USAUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Houston University of Michigan University of South Carolina University of Southern California VersaMarine Engineering, LLC
Watt Mineral Holdings, LLC Weatherford International Ltd. WellDog, Inc. Western Standard Energy Corp.
West Virginia University Williams Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Wright State University

Why Did DOE Use Our Tax Dollars To Produce Pro SHALE GAS Literature?

How many of you know that the DOE (with our tax dollars) has been subsidizing the Natural Gas Industry since its inception?  How many of you know that the DOE has been doing the Natural Gas Industry's Research and Development FREE OF CHARGE for DECADES?  How many of you know that right now, the DOE is using OUR TAX DOLLARS to produce slick eight pages PRO SHALE GAS pamphlets for the Natural Gas Industry?  When is this Natural Gas industry WELFARE GOING TO END?

New Shale Gas Brochure Now Available!
A new brochure, Shale Gas: Applying Technology to Solve America's Energy Challenges, has been released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. The brochure explains the origins of shale gas and maps the locations of shale gas plays in the United States. Included is a timeline of important milestones in the development of shale gas—from the first U.S. commercial natural gas well in 1821, through the technological advances of the 20th century, to today’s growth in production. Further collaborations will focus on safety, environmental sustainability and quantifying the risks of exploration and production activity.

See the free Pro SHALE GAS handout here.

Battlement Mesa...The Tragic HISTORY of Natural Gas....Would You Believe Nuclear Bomb FRACKING?


A cursory look at the DOE, and its various sub-agencies dedicated over to Natural Gas, and you realize they have a Pro Natural Gas Industry bias that should see them STEP ASIDE when it comes to any issue involving decisions about protecting Human Health, our Environment, and our FRESH WATER SUPPLIES...simply stated, they cannot be trusted.  Imagine if you will using Atomic Bombs to FRACK for Natural Gas...far fetched right? INSANE RIGHT?  Would never happen?  WRONG, it did happen!  Back in 1969 as the DOE looked for peaceful uses for the Atomic Bomb....talk about an OXYMORON!  Now, all these years later, our Federal Government is actually wanting to let a new company drill for natural gas in the same area of the Rulison Site where in 1969 this NUCLEAR FRACKING turned out to be a dismal failure, the gas extracted so radioactive it could not be used.

LOL....Read This DISCLAIMER Found on DOE Report Claiming State Regulations Designed To Keep Our Water Safe

I surf the internet looking for things that interest me...what interests me, is protecting our environment, our SAFE DRINKING WATER...so, I am surfing the net today, and come across a DOE link to a report with the title of, "State Oil and Gas Regulations Designed to Protect Water Resources".  Now knowing how FRACKING can cause serious damage to our Safe Drinking Water supplies, I am thinking to myself...hmmmm, I should check this FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REPORT OUT!  The first thing you really see to read of all things is a DISCLAIMER!...please read the disclaimer, and tell me just how much FAITH you have in the rest of the report as presented.

DISCLAIMERS
1. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The view and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof

2. The electronic version of this report contains hyperlinks to documents, reports, presentations, websites and other reference materials. The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) does not warrant the viability of any hyperlinked reference in the report. The text of the Addendum does not represent the full or official published version of a state’s rules or regulations and is provided for reference purposes only. The Addendum is current through August 1, 2008.
 So, a report prepared by and for the United States government by an agency of the Federal Government, and the first thing you do is state that you do not make any warranty, express or implied about the accuracy of the report, and state clearly FOR THE RECORD that said report does not necessarily state or reflect the views of the United States Government or any agency thereof...AND OUR TAXES PAY FOR THIS KIND OF BUFFOONERY? 

Just Whose Side is DOE On? Are They Trying To Stop EPA From Regulating FRACKING....SEEMS THAT WAY

Is the DOE working in collusion with the Natural Gas Industry (think RICO) to see that regulations on the Natural Gas industry either A) do not happen, or B) if they do happen, ARE WEAK?  According to a cursory read of a DOE POLICY POSITION PAPER, one would think so.  Lets look at some of their bullet points in this paper, and you the reader can judge for yourselves.

Significance/Potential Impacts

More restrictive regulation of hydraulic fracturing, which may not increase the protection of underground drinking water could have a deleterious effect on the supply of natural gas in the U.S.-especially now, when the country is counting on natural gas to meets its growing energy requirements in an environmentally responsible manner.


The folowing apply:

  • More stringent hydraulic fracturing regulations have increased Alabama's compliance costs.  If these regulations are widely enacted, costs are expected to rise in all states.
  • Industry is expected to challenge increased regulation, which will re-direct large sums of capital frm E&P budgets to legal services.
  • Currently, efforts are being directed towards reaching a legislative solution.
  • Delays in issuing permits, and commensurate delays in well stimulation and gas marketing, can be expected.
  • Cost increases associated with added regulation will drive up the wellhead cost of gas by at least a like amount; consequently, consumers will pay more for energy.
  • Even the possibility of more restrictive regulation of hydraulic fracturing demands that additional Research and Development (R&D) funding be set aside for the advancement of technologies to offset potential increases in gas extraction costs.
It seems to be pretty damning, seems to suggest that the DOE has decided LESS REGULATION of the Natural Gas industry is a GOOD THING...for the industry.  Another damning piece of information, is the DOE's admission that more stringent regulations may not do any more good in protecting our DRINKING WATER...this is damning, as it is a TACIT admission on the part of the DOE that THEY KNOW OUR WATER WILL BE DAMAGED.  So, if even more regulations, more stringent rules are not going to protect our SAFE DRINKING WATER, the only thing left is BANNING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.

On the next page of this report, the DOE admits that more stringent regulations for Hydraulic Fracturing could impact the Natural Gas Supply...OK, which is more important to most Americans?  Interrupting the Natural Gas Supply, or keeping our limited supplies of FRESH CLEAN WATER SAFE?  Then, in the little box, they tell us that the SCNG (Strategic Center for Natural Gas) is working WITH THE INDUSTRY, and keeping an eye on the EPA, and will review ALL THEIR WORK PRODUCT...WHY? To make sure it does not IMPEDE THE INDUSTRY?

Think I am CHICKEN LITTLE...let's look at some more DOE words on Natural Gas:

Oil and natural gas are the lifeblood of our economy, accounting for more than 60 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. To meet projected demand, our Nation has a vital interest in ensuring that competitively-priced domestic natural gas and oil remain part of the U.S. energy portfolio for decades to come.

Again, the question has to be asked...at what cost do we ensure competitively priced domestic natural gas? Is it OK to make small rural communities and our lands SACRIFICE ZONES for the greater societal good?Another question...if we are not going to be forced to allow the Natural Gas industry to rape our lands, ruin our communities, if this decision has not already been made on a National Level, why is it that the Strategic Center for Natural Gas was founded in 1999 with the SOLE PURPOSE of assuring abundant, economical, domestic supply of Natural Gas?  More importantly, why does the SCNG game plan CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY INPUT, and ZERO INPUT FROM CITIZEN STAKEHOLDERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS?...our taxes providing MILLIONS if not BILLIONS of corporate welfare to the Natural Gas Industry, and with a wink and a nod letting them know they can rape our communities.

Curious...could someone from SCNG tell me from their own slide what it means when they say they ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT WATER?...below was copied from the linked report above.

Gas E&P Program Highlights
• Deep Horizontal Well
− Intersected 400 open fractures at 15,000’
− Produced over 6.4 bcf in three years
− Encountered significant water
− CD available

For those that are wondering...just how much ACCESS TO NATIONAL POLICY is the DOE, the SCNG giving the industry?  Well, they have a slide pointing out ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES for the Natural Gas Industry to DRIVE NATIONAL POLICY AND REGULATIONS, while affording NO OPPORTUNITY OF REAL MERIT TO BOTH CITIZENS and ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS....

Options for Industry Participation
• Advisory Committees
− Hydrates program
• Roadmapping
− Infrastructure, hydrates, and many others
• Cooperative Agreements
− Joint industry projects, individual firms, etc.
• Consortiums
− Advanced turbines, carbon products, SWC
• National laboratory partnership
− NGOTP, hydrates, ultra-clean fuels

Now, if you wonder just how much of our MONEY is supporting the Natural Gas industry, is being used to shape policy and regulation that assures CHEAP WELL HEAD COSTS of extracting Natural Gas, lets take a peak at some of the numbers FROM 2002!...it has gone up DRAMATICALLY as we provide the industry with Natural Gas WELFARE!

Within NETL, the mission of the Strategic Center for Natural Gas is to conduct comprehensive science and technology development in the areas of natural gas supply, infrastructure, and utilization, as directed by national policy. From a funding standpoint, the overall DOE natural gas budget in 2001 was $238 MM of which roughly $125 MM was managed by SCNG. Of that $125 MM, about $26 MM was used for upstream programs, $8 MM for midstream, and $90 MM downstream. About $24.3 MM was directed towards E&P and methane hydrate projects, a number that jumped to $30.5 MM in the 2002 budget signed by the President.
The question becomes...What pressure is our Federal Government putting on local, state governments, and some Federal Agencies to do as little regulation of the Natural Gas industry as they can get away with, short of insurrection of the citizens who's lands and lives are being destroyed?

5.01.2011

Get On The Ban Wagon Anti-Fracking Rally

Another MUST WATCH You Tube Fracking Video

In our on going efforts to educate the public to the risks of FRACKING OUR LANDS, we are always on the look out for worthwhile things to share with our readers...we especially like You Tube video presentations, as they are an EASY TO SHARE educational tool you can share with your family, friends and neighbors.  Tonight, found this one to be a great example of tools you can add to your own arsenal of weapons in combating the (un)Natural Gas Industry's PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN going on here in New York State.


IF you would like an example of Natural Gas PROPAGANDA, there is no greater flim flam artist than T.Boone Pickens who has been trying to sell us (un)Natural Gas snake oil now for a few years...ask yourselves, can you really trust a BILLIONAIRE OIL MAN when it comes to ANYTHING?

Great Anti Frack Organization Meeting Today in North Branch

FRACKING is a World Wide CONCERN
On my way home today, made a significant detour over to North Branch, NY for a Volunteer Organizational meeting hosted by Catskill Citizens.  First, please visit their website.  Secondly, consider donating to their cause, as these folks are working VERY HARD to reach out to the community, educate the public to just what FRACKING is, and to persuade our politicians in Albany to do the right thing.  

My biggest regret today is that I did not have my camera along with me, so have to plan a second trip to the area in and around North Branch...if you want to see just what is at risk as the (un)Natural Gas industry plans a FRACKING ASSAULT on our lands, you could not ask for a better example than the drive along 17B out of Monticello toward North Branch.  Beautiful lush farm land, steams and rivers shaded by majestic trees, fly fishermen knee deep in rushing waters, a trout on the line.  Saw one American Bald Eagle, and so many hawks that I lost count of them.  It is truly God's Country, and the Natural Gas industry wants to despoil it extracting Natural Gas to sell to China...YES, IT IS TRUE...as example, Chesapeake Energy has been selling LARGE SHARES of it's own holdings in the Marcellus Shale to overseas investors interesting in shipping it overseas, the largest deals being made with Chinese State Owned CNOOC.

Just here in lower New York State, we need to awaken and educate some EIGHT MILLION CITIZENS to the risks of Fracking, educate them on just what it is they stand to lose...both in natural beauty, and more importantly in clean fresh SAFE DRINKING WATER....to do that, organizations like that need your support, and your donations...just the yard signs that THEY HAND OUT FOR FREE are four dollars each, and trust me, the Natural Gas industry is giving away their own signs that read, "Friend of Natural Gas"...so it is imperative that organizations like Catskill Citizens have the ability to get their own signs out in peoples yards, imperiative that they have the resources to put a No Fracking button into the hands of every citizen they can find willing to wear one.  Hopefully, those reading this blog will get involved in whatever way each of you can.

Which brings me to ONE LAST REQUEST in this article.  I have been charged with a task...start compiling a list of Wolves in Sheep's clothing Environmental Groups, or Pro Natural Gas organizations that are a FRONT for the Natural Gas Industry, are wholly, or mostly FUNDED BY THE INDUSTRY...if we are to fight their PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN, we have to identify their FALSE FRONT ORGANIZATIONS.  So, if any of you know of organizations being FUNDED BY THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, please email me their Organizational Name, and if you have it a link to their website.  You can send the information to:  fracktoidnews@yahoo.com All email will be kept confidential, but every organization identified and verified as being funded by the Natural Gas Industry will be A) put on a widely distributed list, and B) featured in our newest blog project, "FRACKTURDS".