Natural Gas Drilling: Public Forum to Address Water Protection

The public is invited to a forum called "Can We Protect Our Water?" to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the auditorium at Ambridge Area High School. 

Steve White, a member of the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee, said experts will speak about the history of Marcellus Shale, the rapid development of gas drilling and the risks and challenges that hydrofracking operations in the Service Creek watershed would pose. 

Panelists will answer questions written on cards available at the beginning of the forum. After the panel there will be an opportunity for comments and discussion. 

The Service Creek watershed and the Ambridge Reservoir are designated as specially protected for high-quality water and protected for cold water fishes. The J.C. Bacon dam impounds Service Creek, forming the Ambridge reservoir, the source for the Ambridge Water Authority, which provides water to 35,000 customers, including , ,  and . White said the reservoir is also a major source of in the Pittsburgh area. 

White, a pilot who has taken aerial photos of the location, said gas drillers have leased more than 1,400 acres in the watershed and reservoir area. He said it's just a matter of time before a permit is issued within the watershed because drillers would benefit from being close to the water resource.

White said the Ambridge Water Authority has stated it won't supply drillers with water, but private owners around the area also feed the reservoir. 

"If people want to do this in their backyard that's fine, we can't stop that, but we should be able to stop it from happening to a big drinking water resource like this," he said.

Efforts to help protect the watershed include petitioning Gov. Tom Corbett and local state representatives to help protect the watershed. White said the awareness committee also hopes to form a network of volunteers who are able to research permits and review more quickly some of the plans coming through to take faster action. He said drilling companies have become so efficient at the process that they apply for a permit and are up and drilling within three weeks. 

The April 21 forum is sponsored by the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee and Western PA Conference United Methodist Church Board of Churches Society.

Panelists

Daniel J. Bain, PhD, Asst. Professor Dept. of Geology and Planetary Science, U. of Pgh; PhD. in Geography and Environmental Engineering Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore  

Geology/hydrology – How does the geology and hydrology of this watershed respond to hydrofracking. What are the risks from above ground spills to the reservoir. What are the risks from subsurface migration to the reservoir.

Erika Staaf, BS Environmental Studies, Bucknell University, Clean Water Advocate for Penn Environment, Pittsburgh

History – What is the history of the impact on water resources of hydrofracking operations in Pennsylvania.

Jill K. Kriesky, PhD Economics, Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, Senior Project Coordinator for the Center for Healthy Environment and Communities

Public Health – What are the known public health impacts of hydrofracking operations, especially in regard to water.

Emily A. Collins, JD, Pitt Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Supervising Attorney at Environmental Law Clinic, formerly Public Interest Council of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

Legal – What is the federal, state, and riparian common law framework governing the Service Creek watershed, Service Creek and the Ambridge Reservoir.