Gasland on HBO, Snowmaking, and Ski Resorts

[catskills]

Anyone concerned about their ski resort being too close to hydrofracturing gas wells and possibly contaminating the water used to make snow at that ski resort?

Who has seen the HBO documentary call Gasland. ?

I certainly would not want to inhale man made snow in the air tainted with the chemicals patented by Halliburton Corp for the purpose of hydrofracturing gas wells.

Natural gas developers, like the ones filing permits to drill in the Marcellus shale region of the Northeast, use a process called hydrofracturing to extract gas. The process will mean water withdrawals of up to 3 to 9 million gallons per well, some from areas near high-quality trout habitat. Even aside from the water consumption, the “fracing” process leaves behind toxic tailings to taint habitat and drinking water further with arsenic, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, benzene, toluene or xylene.

 

[legalskier]

The pause that refreshes....

Gas drilling moratorium passes NY Senate
August 04, 2010 4:59 PM
ALBANY -- While environmental groups celebrated passage of a gas-drilling moratorium in the state Senate, an industry group said it needlessly delays work already held up for two years during an environmental review. The measure would ban hydraulic fracturing in deep, horizontal gas wells until May 15, 2011. The aim is to allow more time for the Department of Environmental Conservation to finish its review and new permitting guidelines. It's expected to pass the Assembly in the fall, but Gov. David Paterson won't say if he'll sign it.****
http://www.cbs6albany.com/articles/groups-1276918-albany-moratorium.html

 

[Angus]

making a few assumptions so anyone feel free to correct me but isn't most water for snow-making coming from surface ponds/lakes that are re-charged via streams and rainfall. I wouldn't worry too much about water and associated contaminants leaching to the surface. If you're concerned maybe you should bring your drinking water from home. I didn't realize that this type of gas/oil recovery was prevalent in NY state - definitely a hot topic out west - but then they rely on natural snow. Many of the underground water resources have already been contaminated by mining operations - Leadville CO is a perfect example.

 

[darent]

what us worry? a government agency will thoroughly review the procedures to make sure that no contamination will occur. same as the government oversight of deep water drilling in the gulf!!

 

[mondeo]

I still use my polycarbonate Nalgene.

 

[catskills]

making a few assumptions so anyone feel free to correct me but isn't most water for snow-making coming from surface ponds/lakes that are re-charged via streams and rainfall. I wouldn't worry too much about water and associated contaminants leaching to the surface. If you're concerned maybe you should bring your drinking water from home. I didn't realize that this type of gas/oil recovery was prevalent in NY state - definitely a hot topic out west - but then they rely on natural snow. Many of the underground water resources have already been contaminated by mining operations - Leadville CO is a perfect example.

PA has a lot of ski areas, a lot of hydrofracturing, and a number of surface streams that have already been reported impacted by hydrofracturing. You are right that NY state has not seen much hydrofracturing activity to date, That could change in a heart beat if NY state laws let it happen.

The problem is that large oil corporations like HESS have recently started investing in the many small companies that have been doing hydrofracturing gas mining. Big OIL has a tendency to persuade law makers to get what ever the hell they want.

 

[Angus]

a number of surface streams that have already been reported impacted by hydrofracturing.

wondering though if the source of surface stream/water source pollution is from surface operations or from the liquid used in the hydrofracturing leeching back to the surface...

I've read that out West, regulatory bodies (state and federal) have had difficulty getting any information re: the ingredients of what's being injected into the ground based upon "competition sensitive" claims.

 

[catskills]

wondering though if the source of surface stream/water source pollution is from surface operations or from the liquid used in the hydrofracturing leeching back to the surface...

I've read that out West, regulatory bodies (state and federal) have had difficulty getting any information re: the ingredients of what's being injected into the ground based upon "competition sensitive" claims.

Its highly likely the surface streams were polluted by illegal dumping of the millions of gallons of toxic water they need to get rid of for each gas well. Obviously nobody knows for sure. they just know the streams that are now toxic.