Notable upcoming events and other announcements

FracTracker Alliance

New Data.FracTracker Feature: Collecting Data with Forms

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Data.FracTracker users are now able to create a form (either as a link or an embed into another page) where people can enter new records into an editable dataset. This has applications for those of you who brave the elements collecting data in the field.

We at CHEC are very excited about this new, incredibly important feature and would like to thank Rhiza Labs for developing it. To learn more about how to use a form to enter data into Data.FracTracker click here, or press the “DataTool” button at the top of this page to try it out yourself.

FracTracker Alliance

FracTracker Webinar Reminder

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Today we will be hosting Webinar #7 in the FracTracker training series. This afternoon’s webinar will cover the various programs working in collaboration with the the FracTracker system, a quick piece about the Data Index, and changes to the blog that are coming soon.  If you can’t make the webinar, the recording will be available online after the event here.

Webinar Details

Date: Monday, May 16, 2011
Time: 12:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Meeting Number: 646 482 139
Meeting Password: FTwebinar7

To View & Listen to the Webinar Using Your Computer

  1. Go here.
  2. Enter your name and email address.
  3. Enter the meeting password: FTwebinar7
  4. Click “Join Now”.
  5. You will see instructions for joining the audio portion of the meeting by phone or computer.

To Listen to the Audio Portion Only

(Use this option only if the first one does not work on your computer.)

  1. To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the meeting, or call the number below and enter the access code.
  2. Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239
  3. Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300
  4. Toll-free dialing restrictions.
  5. Access code:646 482 139

Webinar Tips

If you have not participated in any of our previous webinars, please click here to make sure you can view UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files prior to the launch of the session today.

For questions concerning this meeting, please contact Samantha Malone in advance of the scheduled meeting time at: slm75@pitt.edu.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to the recording, do not join the session.

FracTracker Alliance

Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project: Visual Assessment Training

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an outreach, assessment, & monitoring initiative

Thursday, May 19th
Hosted by Mountain Watershed Association

Do you want to help prevent pollution from Marcellus Shale Development in your community? Our visual assessment training provides information on permit tracking, air and water pollution, using FracTracker, safety, and filing a complaint with DEP.

When:  May 19, 2011 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Where:  Bridgeside Point Building, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

For more information about the training, please contact Veronica with Mountain Watershed Association: 724-455-4200 (ext. #4), veronica@mtwatershed.com. Learn more about the project here.

FracTracker Alliance

PASA Marcellus Shale Choices Workshop Series

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Part 1 – Integrative Decision Making for Farmers & Land Owners

May 17: Jefferson County; May 18 McKean County; May 19 Allegheny County; May 20 Greene County – 10:00am – 3:30pm

Farmers and rural landowners are a key group impacted by the Marcellus Shale gas development, as they continue to steward their land in the complicated environment of Marcellus Shale gas play.

PASA, with funding from the Colcom Foundation, has developed a series of action-oriented trainings throughout western Pennsylvania to help farmers, rural land owners, and other citizens make informed, holistic decisions, understand legal issues, and engage in environmental monitoring and local organizing efforts related to Marcellus Shale Gas issues within their communities.

In the first workshop of this series, Byron Shelton, Holistic Management Educator, farmer, rancher and owner of Landmark Decisions in Buena Vista, Colorado, will guide participants in learning a reasoning process that will help them establish a unique farm/rural land steward goal and make decisions to move them toward that goal. This decision-making process integrates the needs of the people that are involved, the economics of the situation, and the environment.

Over the course of the day, participants will develop their own farm or land-based goal. They will then test potential choices and actions to measure how these decisions move them toward their intended goal. While participants may consider the impacts and potentials of Marcellus Shale development in light of their overall goals, these tools are applicable to a much broader scope of decisions and choices – all of which involve ultimate movement toward the unique goal of the farm, landowner, family, or business situation.

Cost:

  • Registration Fee: $45 per farm/family
  • PASA Members: Free
For more information and to register online: Click Here

About Byron Shelton: Byron Shelton, a Holistic Management Certified Educator, and rancher in Buena Vista, Colorado, is the owner of Landmark Decisions which provides facilitation and decision-making training in Whole Farm Planning using Holistic Management™ Financial Planning, Ecosystem Processes Management, Grazing Planning and Monitoring, and Land Planning in family, business, agricultural, natural resource, and community settings.

FracTracker Alliance

The Future of FracTracker

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Dr. Conrad Dan Volz. Photo credit: Brian Cohen

The Center for Healthy Environments and Communities has received a lot of inquiries regarding the various reports that CHEC’s director, Conrad Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH, is leaving the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. This is indeed true, but many of the reports are misleading as to why and what this means for FracTracker. Since Dan’s decision inevitably affects CHEC and FracTracker, we thought it best to post a blog discussion about it.

What’s next for Dan Volz?

PopCity, a fantastic and local e-magazine and website, recently interviewed Dan on the subject after hearing the news that he is not renewing his faculty contract at GSPH, and therefore can no longer serve as the director of CHEC. Here are some of the excerpts from their discussion:

Are you walking away from the concerns you’ve been raising about Marcellus Shale drilling and the dangers it poses to our health and the environment?

Not at all. My intention is to be more of an advocate for public health around the issue of Marcellus Shale.

I am leaving the university to work on these greater questions. It’s time that someone rose up and spoke out about environmental policy and how it’s not only playing out in Southwestern Pennsylvania, but the world…

Will you continue your work with FracTracker?

This has yet to be worked out. I’m leaving the university. FracTracker is a tool for citizens and environment organizations, as well as the industry and government, to look at the potential impacts of this process. It is managed by CHEC. The software license is owned by the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds… Certainly I will be participating as a citizen can on FracTracker. I may have a more formal arrangement in the future.

Project Partners:  CHEC  |  Foundation for PA Watersheds  |  Rhiza Labs  |  The Heinz Endowments

FracTracker Alliance

2011 Deans Day Awards

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Archived

This article has been archived and is provided for reference purposes only.

April 7 and 8th marked the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s annual academic poster competition for students to highlight their research and public health practice.

This year, several Center for Healthy Environments and Communities members competed:

On the day of the Deans Day awards ceremony, April 15th, Samantha received the Rosenkranz Award for the project judged to be the most significant contribution to the public health field, as well as the overall Dean’s Day third place award in the doctoral category. Drew received the EOH Keleti Award for environmental excellence. Congratulations to Sam and Drew, as well as all of the Dean’s Day award winners.

FracTracker Alliance

Volz Senate Hearing Committee Testimony and Presentation

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Conrad Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH was asked by Senator Cardin to testify today before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and its Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, Joint Hearing on “Natural Gas Drilling, Public Health and Environmental Impacts.”

You can watch the proceedings on C-SPAN or view Dr. Volz’s Testimony and PowerPoint. Below is an excerpt from his testimony:

My testimony today will cover three critical public health and environmental policy areas related to unconventional natural gas production:

First is the unregulated siting of natural gas wells in areas of high population density,and near schools and critical infrastructure. Unconventional gas extraction wells arehighly industrialized operations that have public health preparedness risks of catastrophicblowout, explosion and fire. Any of these incidents can create an Immediately Dangerousto Life and Health (IDLH) condition for adults or children in close physical proximity.The unregulated siting of unconventional natural gas extraction wells and productionfacilities in residential neighborhoods and near critical infrastructure is unwisepreparedness policy, especially in light of federal and state efforts to reduce risk fromterror attacks on USA citizens and critical infrastructure.

Secondly, the higher rates and differential patterns of oil and gas act violations fromMarcellus Shale gas extraction operations, as compared to conventional oil and gas wells,suggests a much greater impact to drinking water and aquatic resources. Marcellus Shalegas extraction wells have between 1.5 to 4 times more violations than their conventionalwell counterparts per offending well, including more serious violations and violationsthat have a direct impact on water quality and aquatic resources. Marcellus Shale gasextraction wells are more likely to have violations for:

  • Failures to minimize accelerated erosion, implement erosion and sedimentation plans, and/or maintain erosion and sedimentation controls.
  • Discharge of pollution to waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • General violations of the Clean Streams Law.
  • Failure to properly store, transport, process or dispose of a residual waste and -Failures to adequately construct or maintain impoundments holding gas extractionflowback fluids containing toxic contaminants.

The third problem public health and environmental policy area to be addressed is thedisposal of gas extraction flowback fluids, carrying a plethora of toxic elements andchemicals, in inefficient “brine” treatment facilities and Publicly Owned TreatmentWorks (POTW’s) [commonly called sewage treatment plants], which dischargeeffluent into surface water sources. Studies of the effluent from a commercial facilityin Pennsylvania that treats fluids only from gas and oil operations shows discharge of 9pollutants in excess of nationally recognized human and/or aquatic health standards into anearby stream.

Full Testimony  |  PowerPoint

FracTracker Alliance

Bucknell MSI Publications Database

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Archived

This page has been archived. It is provided for historical reference only.

The Bucknell University Marcellus Shale Initiative (MSI) announces a new educational resource: the MSI Publications Database, a web-based clearinghouse that references and summarizes primarily print-based publications on the Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction and related topics.

The Marcellus Shale, a geologic formation containing natural gas spanning NY, PA, WV, OH, and VA, is undergoing rapid development as a major US energy source. The use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to release the gas qualifies the extraction to be termed “unconventional.” The Bucknell University MSI, directed by Carl S. Kirby, Professor of Geology, was created in 2010 to support Marcellus Shale-related research in the physical sciences, social sciences and humanities at Bucknell.

The MSI Publications Database covers primarily print-based publications as these are the most reputable sources of information to date. The database contains links to publications as well as short summaries of each publication. The database also explains the differences among publication types and how to access and retrieve copyrighted publications. As the database grows, it will also include more references to publications that are not directly related to the Marcellus Shale; such publications might feature other unconventional gas extraction such as the Barnett Shale, hydraulic fracturing, potential health issues, or address socioeconomic changes in energy boom towns.

The MSI Publications Database is intended to serve the public as well as regulators, industry, citizens’ groups and academics who want to know more about the background and potential impact of the development of this resource. The Initiative is dedicated to updating the database as rapidly as resources allow. This database does not provide coverage of websites, blogs, news articles, newsletters, or other media. Partners in this effort include the Forum for Pennsylvania’s Heartland, the Degenstein Foundation, and Geisinger Center for Health Research.

The MSI is the fourth and newest initiative of the BUEC. The MSI will also facilitate teaching and additional public outreach efforts. Because an avalanche of information is reaching the public through the web and other media, the MSI also has a long-term plan to critically evaluate this information. This effort is currently in development.

FracTracker Alliance

Dr. Volz presented potential impacts of shale gas extraction at EPA hearings

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As part of the U.S. EPA’s investigation into the safety of hydraulic fracturing, a process used to extract natural gas from underground, CHEC’s director Conrad Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH presented at the U.S. EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Study Technical Workshop 3, Fate and Transport on March 28 and 29, 2011. Extended Abstract | Presentation

FracTracker Alliance

New Collaboration with Pitt’s Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law

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Archived

This article has been archived and is provided for reference purposes only.

FracTracker is proud to announce an exciting collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law. PJEPHL is the nation’s leading academic journal covering the convergence of environmental and public health legal issues. Its staff is made up of hard working students from the University of Pittsburgh, along with several University faculty advisors.

Check back soon for updates or read the most recent articles by the PJEPHL in 2011.

Contact information: Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law University of PittsburghSchool of Law, 3900 Forbes Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260