The document presents insights from Brian Oram, a professional geologist, on the impact of coal and gas drilling in Pennsylvania during a wellness and water conference. It discusses community education and outreach initiatives focused on water quality, as well as the importance of monitoring and regulation in oil and gas extraction. Key issues highlighted include environmental provisions for lease holders, baseline testing for water and soil quality, and promoting energy and water conservation efforts.

1. Coal/ Aggregate (MTR)
and Gas Drilling
My PA Perspective
Presented at:
Wellness and Water 2013
June 29 – 30, 3013 ~ WV Wesleyan College,
Buckhannon, WV

2. Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),
Professional Soil Scientist (PA and WV), LicensedProfessional Soil Scientist (PA and WV), Licensed
Well Driller (PA)Well Driller (PA)
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Water Research Center
http://www.water-research.net
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
http://www.carbonwaters.org
Presented by

3. Water-Research Center
Education and Outreach Program funded byEducation and Outreach Program funded by
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
Outreach ProgramsOutreach Programs
• Environmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens andEnvironmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens and
Local MunicipalitiesLocal Municipalities
• Water Quality Help Guides – Information LibraryWater Quality Help Guides – Information Library
• Community and Business Outreach ProgramsCommunity and Business Outreach Programs
• Low Cost – Informational Water Testing Program with National LaboratoryLow Cost – Informational Water Testing Program with National Laboratory
• Citizen Monitoring Programs- Developing Low Cost Water Quality SensorsCitizen Monitoring Programs- Developing Low Cost Water Quality Sensors
• Targets Young Adults, Watershed Organizations, Coalition, EnvironmentalTargets Young Adults, Watershed Organizations, Coalition, Environmental
Groups, Professionals, and KidsGroups, Professionals, and Kids
http://www.water-research.net

4. Carbon County Groundwater
Guardians
The Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
(CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer,
environmental education organization which
provides homeowners with information on
private wells, water quality and quantity,
and septic systems
Not an Advocacy Group
1. Education
2. Fact Based Approach
3. Scientific Method
4. Target Education of Kids and Families
5. Delivery Statewide

5. B.F. Environmental
Consultants Inc.
• Professional Consulting Services in the areas of water
quality, soils, stormwater, geology, aquifer analysis, and
land-development.
• Baseline – Chain-of-Custody- Sourcewater Protection
• Expert Testimony
• Online Training in Alternative Energy
• Professional and Educator Training
• Water Treatment Process/ Product Development
• http://www.bfenvironmental.com

7. Our Work on Coal Legacy Issues
1. Education and Awareness – Kids
2. Developing Innovative Solutions for Use, Mitigation, and Treatment
(Local Agencies, Professionals, Researchers)
3. Mine Land Reclamation and AMD Treatment
4. Assisting in Health Based Research, such as Polycythemia vera and Private
Well Water Testing and Analysis.
5. Events – Rain Barrel Workshops and Energy Expos (2009 and 2010)

8. Mine Water Treatment System
and Water Reuse
BEFORE
POW Process
AFTERBefore

9. Oil and Gas

10. Shale Gas
No – We don’t want this situation - This
mindset is Causing Grid Lock? We ALL
Live Downstream !
Our Drinking
Water
The Match Of the Century – Pick a Side and
Lets See Who Wins.

11. • Citizen Groundwater and Surface Water
Database For PA (Community Action)
What is in the Database?
Go to http://www.carbonwaters.org or
http://www.water-research.net

12. This is Drinking Water in PA?
What about this Health Crisis in PA?
Iron / Manganese
Bacteria
Sediment / Gases
Corrosion
50% Other
50%

13. Our Work – Education and Outreach Fact
Based – No Spin Zone
• Speaking to Lease Holder and Land Trusts Groups
• Speaking to Advocacy Groups/ Watershed Groups –
Working on Sourcewater Protection Committees –
Industry Groups, Local Agencies
• Educating Private Well Owners on Baseline Testing,
Chain-of-Custody, Citizen Science
• Commenting and Recommending Regulatory Changes
• Developing Education and Training Materials

14. Action Needed Oil and Gas Issues
(Top 7 Issues- West Virginia)
1. Containment – Closed Loop Drilling, Lined Drill Pad,
and Full Containment on Using Frac Tanks – no lined
pits for flowback water. (Full Containment)
2. More Oversight and Public Disclosure.
3. Industry - Repair Roads and Upgrade Infrastructure
4. Monitoring and Tracking Water Withdrawals and
Waste Disposal (Cradle to Grave).
5. No Burial of Materials or Cutting On-site – Surface
activities should be survey located and recorded on
the deed for the parcel.
6. Proper emergency response and monitoring plans
7. Cement bond logging and integrity testing for wells.
Short List of Common Problems

15. Action on Oil and Gas Issues
(others)
• Weakness in Most State Regulations
– Not Treating and Reusing the Flowback Water and NO Water
Management Plans
– Not Using Degrade Water Sources for Hydraulic Fracturing
– Baseline Testing is Very Limited
– Not Requiring Cement Bond Logging and long-term
monitoring/testing.
– Fines and Fees are TOO Low and inadequate oversight
– Limited Baseline Testing – Testing should be at Predrilling, 3
months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 year, etc.
– Spills and Releases not properly reported, documented,
investigated, cleaned up, and no final report.
– Use lined pits contaminated water and permitting disposal in
place!
Short List of Common Problems

16. Lease Holders
• Lease Holders
– Attempt to add more Environmental Provisions into your lease.
– This should include baseline testing of water, soil, and air
quality.
– Attempt to include surfacewater monitoring and monitoring and
testing surrounding well owners.
– Include requiring liners, closed loop drilling, Frac Tanks, etc
– Join a Surface Rights or Royalty Owners Group
– Work with Your Community – Develop or Form a Community
Matters Group to Help Deal with Nuisance Issues, Complaints,
and Concerns
– Good Best Management Manual On Oil and Gas at
http://www.pinchot.org/gp/Marcellus_Shale

17. Surface Owners
• Join a Surface Owners Coalition
• Lobby for Changing Mineral/Gas Rights Law- Give more
control to the Surface Owner
• Develop Surface Owners Rights
• Change Municipal Authority by Changing Planning Code
• Implement Zoning for Secondary Growth
• Develop Sourcewater Protection Programs
• Get Informed, Ask Questions, and Comment on
Proposed Regulatory Changes
• Education and Increase Awareness for Energy Efficient,
Push for an Energy Policy
• Work as a Community- Get Baseline Testing Done NOW
• Form a Citizens Groundwater / Surfacewater Database –
like http://www.water-research.net

18. My Suggested Approach On
Energy and Conservation Issues
• We Produce Twice the Amount of Energy We Use – 50%
Waste
• Promote Water and Energy Conservation (Target Kids)
• Encourage the Purchase of Energy Efficient Products (Target
Kids)
• Promote Groundsource Heating and Cooling (Use Severance
Taxes or Impact Fees to Promote Energy Efficiency)
• Support Renewable Energy Research (all options on the table)
• Develop a Long-Term Energy Strategy for the Country
• Form a Groundwater Guardian Group – like
http://www.carbonwaters.org

19. Educating the Community
Electronic Copy (pdf) or Link to
a copy at http://www.water-research.net
Also:
1. New Portal –
http://www.private-well-owner.org
2. New Web-portal on Methane Gas Migration
And Mitigation
Help Promote the Citizens Groundwater
Surfacewater Database to Your Community
Partners. Link to:
http://www.carbonwaters.org or
Pennsylvania Groundwater Forum (facebook)

20. Good Links
• www.wvsoro.org
• www.fracktracker.org
• www.fracfocus.org
• www.netl.doe.gov
• Ours
– http://www.bfenvironmental.com
(Baseline Testing)
http://www.water-research.net
(Informational Water Testing)
http://www.private-well-owner.org
(Private Well Owner Support)
Report Accidents and Spills
WV DEP Spill Hotline – 1-800-642-3074
EPA Eyes on Drilling – 1-877-919-4372

21. Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG),
Professional Soil Scientist (PA and WV), LicensedProfessional Soil Scientist (PA and WV), Licensed
Well Driller (PA)Well Driller (PA)
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Water Research Center
http://www.water-research.net
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
http://www.carbonwaters.org
Presented by

22. Coal/ Aggregate (MTR)
and Gas Drilling
My PA Perspective
Presented at:
Wellness and Water 2013
June 29 – 30, 3013 ~ WV Wesleyan College,
Buckhannon, WV