Proof is in the eye of the beholder

After more than two years of study, the EPA released a draft report indicating that groundwater contamination may have resulted from hydraulic fracturing in Pavillion, Wyoming.  The report emphasizes that this is just the first step in the analysis and that the data is open for a 45-day public comment period and a 30-day peer review.  Residents of Pavilion have long complained of health issues related to a natural gas field owned by Encana.   Not surprisingly, Encana, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW), and politicians quickly took aim at the report, finding fault wherever they could.  But do they hold themselves to the same standards?

Encana questioned EPA’s methodology stating that results were likely caused by “problems associated with...drilling and sampling.”  PAW called the results “unsubstantiated” and “irresponsible.”  Senator James Inhofe (R) called them “premature” and raised questions “regarding EPA’s data and methodologies.”  They have all demanded more independent testing and peer review.

This national story quickly brought to mind the cases of contaminated water in Connoquennesing Township that implicate REX Energy.  On December 3, 2011 the Butler Eagle published a story on the front page that lead with “Well water is fine for human use.”  It is based on a report prepared by AMEC from Sewickley, PA; an engineering consultancy firm contracted by Rex.

Although the AMEC report was dated October 10, 2011, Rex Energy did not release their findings to the homeowners until December 2, 2011 and only after attending a meeting to discuss the report with the Butler Eagle.  The homeowners were not invited to this or any other meeting to discuss the report.  They received a packet via UPS.  This begs the questions, who was the report produced for?  The homeowners or the press?

The cited report contains several serious flaws.  The report clearly states that the report was solely based “on data provided to AMEC by Rex Energy” and that “AMEC inferred likely groundwater flow.”  No one from AMEC ever contacted the landowners to verify well depth, date of complaints, current conditions, or to request other tests done by the homeowners or the DEP.  AMEC never set foot on the properties to take a water sample nor did they oversee the sampling or the testing.  Did AMEC even verify the calibration of the test equipment?  How could they?  The testing was done by Environmental Service Laboratories Inc. (ESL) based out of Indiana, Pa.  The samples were taken and the tests completed before August of 2011 often without oversight by DEP (against the DEP agents’ wishes).  The results were then sent to Rex.  According to their website “ESL is a proud member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.”  Is this what an “independent study” looks like?  Was this report vetted by peer review and public comment? Would this report stand up in court?

Nonetheless, the result of this report and others like it is that six families in Connoquennesing Township will stop receiving potable water after the New Year, including a three-year-old girl, a newborn and, a pregnant mother and no one has stepped up to question the  validity of the report.  Where are our local officials?  The press?  The DEP?

Although REX Energy has operations in Wyoming, is unknown whether or not REX Energy is a member of PAW as PAW refuses to disclose their membership (in fact, when asked for a list of their members the PAW representative on the other end of the phone’s first response was to laugh and say, “You don’t have enough money to know that.”)

How is it that the natural gas industry demands high standards of proof and transparency from others yet hides behind secrecy, stretched-truths, and assumptions when the shoe is on the other foot?

Drill Go Away!

My name is Kimberlie McEvoy, I live in Connoquenessing Township, Butler County, Pa and I have BLACK WATER. 

 

Kimbery McEvoy and her daughter Skylar talk about the negative effects fracking has had on their once quiet and simple community. Kim and her neighbor Janet have both been affected by natural gas drilling near their homes. They spent the day surveying and filming the changes. A security guard from REX Energy attempted to chase them off of a public road for taking pictures.

My nightmare started in February of 2011 shortly after REX Energy, a State College based company, started to drill for natural gas. They used a technique called “high volume hydraulic fracturing” to drill two horizontal wells.  The wellheads are approximately one mile from my home.  Up until this point, I had clean, drinkable water.  There were no other changes in the area.  The drilling was the only thing that changed in my environment. 

The first indication that our water was contaminated happened in the shower.  One day, the water was a light gray and had a slight odor of sulfur.  This was just the beginning.  As the days went on, the water turned black and the odor intensified, taking on metallic odor and taste.  My fiancé Peter and I were forced to endure these conditions.  We had little alternative.  My dogs refused to drink the water out of their bowl, preferring to go thirsty or wait to be let outside to drink from a mud puddle. Looking back, they obviously knew what I would later discover; I wish that I had headed their warning.  Soon my hair stared to fall out, my fingernails grew downwards wrapping themselves around the front of my fingers, and I would become dizzy-almost passing out-in the shower. 

Peter complained of pains in his legs, and his sinuses hurt. Thankfully, I listened to mother’s intuition and refused to allow my then two year old daughter to bathe in the water. I would take her to a friend’s house or give her a sponge bath with bottled water or baby wipes. Later a physician told us that the symptoms Peter and I were experiencing were those of arsenic poisoning.

I called Book and Proch, a local water well driller to have them check the water in my well.  They advised me to call REX Energy.  I did, and in three days my water was tested.  Without showing me the results, they brought a water buffalo-an above ground water tank-to my residence.  Later I found out the tests showed elevated levels of manganese, iron, and ARSENIC in my water.   They assured me that I was the only person having water problems.

It was the summer of 2011 when I experienced my first flaring.  It was frightening it to see that giant flame coming out of the ground.  I cried at the thought of what additional hardships this new chapter might bring to my family.  We became prisoners in our own home.  If any of us spent more than five minutes outside we became dizzy.  The air was thick and dense, almost suffocating.

With few options, I decided to take my concerns to my township.  I showed them pictures of black water in my bathtub.  The supervisors told me that they would check into my concerns.  They also told me that nobody else was having any problems with their water; that I was the only one.  I soon discovered that that this was not true.  A few days later I found people in my community with similar problems.

It is now November of 2011 and there are over a dozen people in my community with water buffalos.  Others are having similar problems but do not have water buffalos.  One family’s previously health dog began vomiting up blood and died on the floor.  Tests on their water showed toluene, a man-made toxin used in paint thinner.  They had a water buffalo for a short period until REX Energy and the DEP decided that their water was safe to bathe in.  They remove the buffalo and now bring in bottled water for drinking only.  Another neighbor has spent over $7,000 trying to take care of the problem on his own.

Just like in my case REX Energy told them that gas drilling is not to blame for the water contamination.  Instead they point at natural causes like too much rain, decomposing leaves, or slugs crawling in the wellhead.  Do they think we are stupid? I have lived here fifteen years and never had problems like this. I worry myself sick that one day they will come and take our water buffalo, like they have to others who have complained, and my family will be left without clean water. At times, the stress and depression are worse than the physical ills from which we suffer.  I don’t know what it is like to sleep anymore.  It is unbearable.

God gave us clean air and water so we can survive, and now those gifts are being taken from all Pennsylvanians in the name of greed.  Even though I will lose thousands of dollars, I have decided to attempt to sell my home. According to my realtor, my $120,000 home is now worth $60,000.  This is not enough to pay off my remaining mortgage. 

I walk through this world feeling sad and homeless.  For peace of mind, Peter and I have decided to move to Oregon where there is no shale. Although Pennsylvania is my home, I can no longer live in a state that doesn’t care about its people or environment.  We cannot afford to lose any more of our hard-earned money and I must protect my little girl.  I am thankful for all the wonderful people I have met and who have supported me.  I am still going to try to help others afflicted by this wrong, albeit from a safe distance.  To anybody reading this please speak out on the matter of drilling.  Our very freedom depends on it.

Thank you,

Kimberlie McEvoy