Marcellus Industry Coalition Investment To Prevent Pollution

Concerned for a predicted pollution of fresh water with the natural gas and other pollutants by the Marcellus industry coalition’s oil well project, the Altoona water authority is of the opinion to conduct a study of the land involved in Marcellus oil well project to avoid any problems in future. The project is located in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The water authority has sought to take help of Hydrologist Jim Casselberry in this regard. The study which will be conducted will cover a 66 square miles of watershed land. To prevent any untoward environmental consequences, companies are also investing $30 million to $40 million in multi well pads.

#-Link-Snipped-# The main objective of the study will be to observe and opine about the rock structure of the land and to estimate the amount of risk encountered. The Hydrologist is also to mention the steps of regulatory management in case the involved risk is higher. The Altoona water authority holds 18% of the land involved in this oil well project. Its concerns are hence justified.

The important regulatory body up on the future of this project is Department of Environment protection (DEP). It has already clearly stated that no pollution of fresh water resources will be tolerated under Oil and Gas Act and the Clean Streams Law. Regarding the project, the spokes person for DEP Mr. John Repetz said that this was not the first time that such a project is been undertaken, the oil companies have drilled wells in many places before this safely.

In the ongoing environmental concerns, there are also people in support for Marcellus industry coalition.  Dave Yoxtheimer, the extension associate with Penn State University spoke about the general misconception of people regarding loose regulatory concerns oil industry. He was of the opinion that industry would of course do all in its power for safe guarding the environmental resources and stop the possible water pollution.

The possible side effects of the project include the brine being mixed with ground water at a higher level from that at the lower levels. The possible solutions include a proper liquid sealing of the pipelines. Another thing is to use perfectly sealed aquifers to contain leakage of Methane and prevent the chances of explosion.

It seems that the existing mechanisms even after being strong enough would prove to be effective only if the companies and people involved in the project take over moral responsibility of creating and maintaining secure methods to prevent water pollution. The investment by companies is perhaps the proof of that.

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