Entries by FracTracker Alliance

Marcellus a Focus of the PA Progressive Summit

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January 22-23, 2011 marked the weekend for the PA Progressive Summit hosted in Pittsburgh, PA. Of the many speakers and topics, discussing the potential impacts of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale was of high importance. In case you missed the conference, below are the various Marcellus presentations: Conrad Volz |  Erika Staaf […]

When Messages are in Opposition, Risk Communication Difficult

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By Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH – Communications Specialist, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH); Doctoral Student, GSPH Two reports were issued yesterday by credible sources regarding the safety of natural gas drilling in shale formations. The one was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of […]

FracTracker Tutorial 1 Now Available!

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Interested in knowing more about how this FracTracker system works? If so, here is a great introductory tutorial by Drew about FracTracker’s blog and maps. This comes at a great time, since the DataTool just logged over 1,500 registered users! For a read-only version of how FracTracker works, click here. And be sure to check […]

Tracking the Effects on Farms

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By Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH – Communications Specialist, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC), University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH); and Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) Student, GSPH If done improperly (or in excess), shale gas drilling has the potential to contaminate ambient air, surface water, drinking water, and/or ground water. […]

Save the Date: Dr. Ingraffea to speak in Pittsburgh on March 18th

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  Dr. Tony Ingraffea Unconventional Gas Development from Shale Plays: Myths and Realities A. R. Ingraffea, Ph.D., P.E. Dwight C. Baum Professor of Engineering Weiss Presidential Teaching Fellow Cornell University Friday, March 18, 2011 — 3:00 PM Swanson School of Engineering, Benedum Hall, Room 921, University of Pittsburgh Abstract We will explore some myths and […]

Upcoming Event: “Fracking” Our Food: A New Threat to Sustainable Farming

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  Speaker: Sandra Steingraber Speaker: Sandra Steingraber – “Morgan Lecturer” World Renowned Ecologist, Author and Cancer Survivor A reception and book signing will follow. New Date! February 3, 2011 — 7pm Dickinson College, Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Carlisle, PA In this lecture, Steingraber will explore the tangled relationship between petrochemicals and farming, with a special […]

How is PA handling shale gas wastewater?

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  Jim Riggio, plant manager for the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, shows a sample of solid materials removed from the Beaver River during treatment Dec. 15 at his plant. On January 3rd, Associated Press writer, David Caruso, criticized the efforts underway in Pennsylvania to protect surface waters from shale gas drilling wastewater – especially because in most […]

PA Water Quality Monitoring Efforts – A Meeting Summary

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Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap By Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH – CHEC Despite the concerns that shale gas drilling can or has deteriorated our water quality in the Marcellus Shale region, I think it is also important to recognize the incredible efforts underway to improve and protect our water. A few weeks ago, […]

Exploratory Gas Drilling in the Delaware River Basin

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The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has been preparing to defend the appropriateness of the commission to regulate any “exploratory” gas wells drilled in the Delaware River Basin (DRB). Instead, the gas industry, which was questioning DRBC’s right to oversee such matters, has withdrawn from the hearing scheduled for January 18, 2011. It is not clear […]