As a follow-up to a meeting in October, 13 environmental groups this week urged the Department of Environmental Protection and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to tighten natural gas drilling requirements covering Marcellus Shale in nine different ways.

The groups include the Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited, Pennsylvania Campaign For Clean Water, Center for Coalfield Justice, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, Clean Water Action, Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Mountain Watershed Association, PennEnvironment, Sierra Club and the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper.

"We understand that natural gas drilling could potentially be a major new source of revenue and business development in Pennsylvania. At the same time, however, the undersigned organizations are concerned that this drilling must be done in a manner that does not damage our state’s natural resources, particularly our water resources and the plants and animals that they support.

"If the rush to drill is allowed to go forward without adequate permit conditions and oversight, it could irreparably and unnecessarily harm habitat and water sources, de-watering streams, damaging water and air quality, fragmenting forests and impacting threatened and endangered species in some of the most pristine parts of our state."

The groups recommended nine different changes to drilling requirements:

-- Multiple impacts from drilling should be considered;

-- Cumulative impact from multiple drilling operations should be considered;

-- Water withdrawals cannot be allowed to de-water streams or aquifers;

-- Frac water must be treated, not just diluted, before it is discharged;

-- Some areas should be off limits for wells and pipelines;

-- Stormwater runoff must be addressed;

-- Public accountability for chemicals used;

-- Erosion and sedimentation control measures must be inspected; and

-- DEP needs sufficient staff to process and enforce permits.

A copy of the letters to DEP and to SRBC are available online.

See other stories on: SRBC rule changes adopted, proposed DEP well drilling permit fee increases.

12/5/2008