May 6, 2011
Randy C. Huffman, Cabinet Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Dear Secretary Huffman:
RE: Specific Natural Gas Drilling Permits in the Monongahela
River Valley
We are writing on behalf of the WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds
Compact to request your immediate attention regarding recent permits
granted for the drilling of Marcellus shale gas wells immediately
across the Monongahela River from the City of Morgantown in Monongalia
County. We have a number of major concerns about the location of
these proposed gas wells.
The three primary concerns are:
(A) any leakage, seepage, spillage, or blow-out of liquid pollutants
would be a direct threat to the water intake of the Morgantown Utility
Board (MUB), that serves the greater metropolitan area of nearly
100,000 people, including many residential and business areas, and the
entire populace of West Virginia University ( about 40,000
people). MUB supplies to Morgantown, Westover, Granville, Laurel
Point, Scotts Run, Star City, Pleasant Valley, Cheat View, and
Stewartstown as well as Milan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the Ft. Martin
and Longview power plants.
(B) the diverse air emissions including controlled and inadvertent
releases, fugitive emissions, blow-outs, and accidental incidents that
represent a major threat to the people and property here in the
Monongahela River valley.
(C) fire and explosion hazards, as evidenced by a number of incidents
in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania; this includes
the flash-fire in Washington County (PA) on February 23rd that resulted
in serious injuries to three workers, two of whom were WV residents;
and the recent Marcellus well blow-out in Bradford County (PA) which
spread toxic fluids over a wide area despite the engineering and
operating best practices of the drilling company involved. This
also resulted in a temporary halt to fracking by this company in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
In view of these real and potential diverse problems with Marcellus
well drilling operations, we request immediate actions that address the
above issues including:
(1). A full explanation of the permit review and evaluation
process and its results with regard to permits for Marcellus wells MIP
No. 4H and 6H, as well as any others in the Monongahela River valley in
Monongalia County.
(2). A determination as to whether the State of West Virginia can
place a hold on these permits until such time as a full and complete
evaluation, with public input if possible, can be accomplished. Whether
or not a hold can be placed (and we believe that it can be), an
engineering risk assessment study needs to be performed on the well
drilling permits specified above to determine worst-case incidents.
Contingencies must be established so that the water treatment and
alternative supplies can be put in place for the cities involved;
evacuation plans in case of fires, explosions, temperature inversions,
or other occurrences; and air, water, and noise monitors for health and
safety protection at the near-by Westwood Middle School, as well as
local residences and businesses and the adjoining cities.
(3). A proposal from the WV Department of Environmental
Protection to prevent the granting of future permits that represent
direct threats to the public health and safety, in any part of the
State of West Virginia;
(4). A meeting with you, in Morgantown or Charleston, to discuss the
extent of the threats that these proposed Marcellus wells represent to
the Monongahela River valley, to the MUB public water supply, and to
the atmosphere over Morgantown, Westover, Granville, West
Virginia University and the various residential-commercial-industrial
areas in this vicinity.
We believe that these permitted wells plus those that may be added, can
present a significant and real threat to the health and safety of
residents of this area. Your office is empowered to take substantive
actions when such threats to public health and safety occur; and, we
herewith request that you do so without delay. What can we do to
be of assistance at this critical time? Please let us know as
soon as possible whether a meeting with you would be best held in
Morgantown or Charleston. Thank you for your help at this
time.
Duane G.
Nichols
Barry G. Pallay
Duane G. Nichols,
Co-Chair
Barry G. Pallay, Co-Chair
330 Dream Catcher
Circle
124 Diamond Court
Morgantown, WV
26508
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304)
599-8040
(304) 599-2077
cc: Open Letter, Governor, City of Morgantown, MUB, Compact Groups