Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

America may never be completely energy independent, but domestic natural gas reserves could help the nation move further away from its dependence on oil and gas imports. That’s the message Sara Banaszak, senior economist with the American Petroleum Institute, has for citizens in the Marcellus Shale region of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Banaszak met with The Times Leader editorial board on March 23 to deliver that message, as well as to discuss environmental concerns that have arisen as a result of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. She called the Marcellus Shale play’s outlook as an unconventional fuel “robust,” mainly because the lowest costing gas in North American right now have been already produced. According to industry experts, the Marcellus Shale field is the second largest unconventional gas reserve in the world.

Banaszak stated that she understood the environmental concerns especially when considering potential water pollution, but said regulation is already in place to help protect waterways. Once land is leased to natural gas companies, said Banaszak, those companies must have a drilling plan which addresses water protection issues before they are even granted a permit.

Banaszak also addressed the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process, which has caused much concerned for environmentalists and residents in the Marcellus Shale region. She said that fracking has been used since the oil industry was in its infancy, and as recently as 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency deemed fracking a safe practice. “I think this concern is misplaced,” said Banaszak. “These are the same chemicals we see in our everyday use.” Banaszak added that any water contamination, including well publicized incidents in Susquehanna County, were as a result of poor surface management, not a result of fracking itself. “From the industry perspective, no accident and no amount of pollution is acceptable,” she said.

Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation, the company Dimock residents claim is responsible for the alleged water contamination in Susquehanna County, is not one of API’s corporate members, said Banaszak

Still, Banaszak admitted that the industry contains inherent risks. “Any industrial process is dangerous and anything we do will have an impact on the Earth,” she said.

Yet the economic potential cannot be ignored, she said. For example, 50,000 jobs were created in Pennsylvania as a result of natural gas drilling in 2009. That number is expected to rise to 98,000 this year. That economic boost is why Pennsylvania lawmakers cannot afford to impose a severance tax on natural gas companies. “If you impose a tax, you get less investment and the government could see less revenue,” she said.

“This is an opportunity that is sort of unprecedented,” Banaszak concluded.” Not just for Pennsylvania, but for the entire country.”

ACOG hosts DEP official

Abington Council of Governments will host a public forum April 1 on Marcellus Shale drilling. The event will feature Scott Perry, deputy director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management. Perry will address concerns about natural gas drilling and leasing in the Abingtons and surrounding areas.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Clarks Summit Fire Hall, 321 Bedford St. It is free and open to the public.

Abington Council of Governments is comprised of 14 member municipalities in and around the Abington area which discuss and cooperate on government issues. ACOG also presents forums on a regular basis to keep the public informed on local issues. This will be the second Marcellus Shale forum presented by ACOG. The group in February hosted Michael Pokalsky of Pennsylvania Drilling Consultants LLC.

– by Mauri Rapp