DEP Issues Report on Short-term Air Quality Impacts from Marcellus
Shale Operations in Northeast PA
No Emission Levels Found that would constitute a Concern to the
Health of Residents
PA-DEP Release
31 January 2011
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Mark Carmon, Department of Environmental Protection Northeast
Regional Office, 570-826-2511
HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection today released
a report on a four-week air quality study conducted near Marcellus
Shale natural gas operations in Susquehanna and Sullivan counties.
“This short-term study of the air emissions at surveyed sites shows no
emission levels that would constitute a concern to the health of
residents living near these operations,” DEP Director of the Bureau of
Air Quality Joyce Epps said. “This study provides us with good
information as part of our ongoing effort to gauge the impact these
operations have on our air quality, public health and the environment.”
The report notes that the sampling effort was not meant to address
potential cumulative impacts.
DEP’s assessment focused on concentrations of volatile organic
compounds, including benzene, toluene and xylene, which are typically
found in petroleum products. The department also sampled for other
pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide near natural
gas extraction and processing sites.
The sampling was conducted the weeks of Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 14 and
Oct. 25. An evening sampling event was held Oct. 6. DEP’s mobile
laboratories were used and the equipment was set up downwind of the
target sources during early morning and late evening hours, which is
when the department received the most complaints from residents.
The agency collected background samples at Sones Pond in the Loyalsock
State Forest in Sullivan County.
The air monitoring surveys near natural gas operations in Susquehanna
County were conducted at a completed and operating gas well (Cabot’s
Gesford 2V/7H) on Carter Road in Dimock Township; two compressor
stations (Cabot’s Lathrop and Teel stations near Springville); and at a
well site being fracked (Stone Energy’s Loomis well site) near Lawton.
Those surveys detected the main constituents of natural gas – including
methane, ethane, propane and butane – as well as low levels of
associated compounds such as MtBE, carbon monoxide and methyl
mercaptan, the odor-producing compound.
In addition, DEP used a specialized infrared camera that can detect
emissions of certain pollutants from a source that otherwise may be
invisible to the naked eye. That equipment did detect fugitive
and direct emissions from the well equipment at the Carter Road site.
Overall, DEP’s air sampling did not find concentrations of any compound
that would likely trigger air-related health issues associated with
Marcellus Shale drilling activities in the northeast region.
DEP also conducted similar air-monitoring studies near Marcellus gas
facilities in north-central Pennsylvania. Those results are currently
being evaluated. Results from a study in southwestern Pennsylvania were
announced in November 2010.
To view the report, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us
and click on “Regional Resources,” then on Northeast Region and choose
the “Community Information” link on the right side of the page. Or
CLICK HERE for a copy