Marcellus Water Issues Protection of drinking water Fracing chemicals Adequate wastewater treatment Photo courtesy – Paul Hart, Hart Resource Technologies, Inc Impact of water withdrawals Surface Water Impacts Regulations and enforcement Bryan Swistock, Water Specialist, School of Forest Resources

Background slide to show folks when and where Marcellus gas drilling is occurring. Our research focused on the areas where drilling has been most prevalent.

Seismic Testing Stipulate setbacks Retire holes left after 3D Water testing 2-D is the simplest and least expensive 3-D seismic is used in very large areas– multiple square miles 3-D involves the use of a small explosive charges that are set off at given intervals. Perhaps the size of ¼ stick of dynamite

Setback Distances to Water 500 feet to a drinking water supply (was 200’) 300 feet to a “blue line” stream (was 100’) 300 feet to wetlands > 1 acre (was 100’) 1000 feet to public water supply source Additional protections for storage of chemicals within 750’ of water Outside designated FEMA floodplains New setbacks do NOT apply to wells proposed for existing pads where one well permit has already been issued

Other Updated Regulations Require pad spill containment systems Increased setbacks to streams and wetlands to 300’ Increased setback to PUBLIC water supply to 1,000’ Prohibit pads in FEMA floodplains Increased bonding (based on well bore length) Website to list confirmed water supply contamination from fracing

Marcellus Gas Drilling Waste Fluids Drilling fluids, brine, flowback, production fluid Chemistry is high variable in time and space Salt (sodium, chloride) High total dissolved solids (TDS) Metals (barium, iron, manganese, etc.) Oil and grease Organic carbon Detergents Sediment Radionuclides (gross alpha, radon, etc.) Collected in pits or tanks Photo courtesy – Paul Hart, Hart Resource Technologies, Inc

Protection of Drinking Water Supplies Existing Regulations Protection of Drinking Water Supplies 500’ setback to water supplies (remains 200’ for existing pads) Pit and tanks for waste fluids Certified mail notification if water supply is within 3,000’ of gas well (was 1,000 feet) Freshwater protection string installed to protect groundwater Casing/cementing regulations updated effective February 2011 Background on regulations related to protecting private water wells near Marcellus drilling. Through survey responses by water supply owners and mapping of Marcellus wells related to water wells, we wanted to determine to what degree existing regulations were being followed. Important to also mention that nearly everything on this list is proposed to change (new 500 foot setback, new 2500 foot presumed responsibility distance, etc.) Illustration courtesy Range Resources

Presumed Responsibility Industry water testing 2,500 feet (new) 1,000 feet (old) Presumption for 12 months after fracing or alteration

Additional Actions to Protect Water Landowner leasing stipulations Greater setbacks to water Use of tanks vs. pits for wastewater Use of spill containment systems Pre + post-drilling testing of ALL water Water flow measurements Proper retirement of seismic holes Access to water (and payment) No surface lease? Voluntary water testing and documentation Reporting obvious problems (sediment, tastes, odors, loss of water, etc.) and report problems to DEP and gas drilling company

Total Dissolved Solids Post Drilling Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L)

Penn State Cooperative Extension Resources http://extension.psu.edu/water