1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

11. Penn State Cooperative Extension Resources