The FracTracker Alliance will hold an online meeting February 3 related to its EPA-funded project to deploy FLIR cameras for use in monitoring methane emissions from oil and gas facilities.

The EPA funding will expand upon an ongoing community-science project launched in 2020 that uses low-cost monitors to provide data for a variety of pollutants associated with unconventional shale gas development and petrochemical-related industries that have rapidly proliferated in Western Pennsylvania.

Of particular interest to the project at this stage is information on the use of drones by nonprofit, communities and even individuals for environmental monitoring.

Ted Auch, Project Director, is seeking information on all aspects of using drones, including equipment, cost, deployment techniques and policies and experiences.

The first meeting of the Environmental Monitoring Working Group for the project will be February 3 starting at 2:30 p.m. 

Click Here to join the meeting via Zoom.  Meeting ID: 974 3259 5447 and Passcode: 108885. The meeting will also be available by telephone by calling 1 305 224 1968 using Meeting ID: 974 3259 5447 and Passcode: 108885#

For more information on the project, the meeting or to share information ahead of the meeting, contact Ted Auch by sending email to: auch@fractracker.org.

Visit the FracTracker Alliance website to learn more about programs, initiatives, upcoming events and more.

(Photo: Image of methane emissions from pipeline compressor station in Fayette County.)

Related Article:

-- EPA Announces More Than $4.27 Million For Community Air Pollution Monitoring Projects In Pennsylvania

PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 21 to 27  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 28  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 28 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

Related Articles This Week:

-- House Republicans Name Advocate For Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Rep. Martin Causer Chair Of House Environmental Committee  [PaEN]

-- DCED’s Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Advisory Council Meets Feb. 16  [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases Bid Solicitation To Plug 19 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Forest County All At Taxpayer Expense  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil And Gas Wells

-- DEP Issues Revised Air Quality General Permit For Natural Gas, Oil-Fired Small Combustion Units Up To 100 Million Btu/Hour; Benefits Oil & Gas Industry  [PaEN]

-- Natural Gas Industry, Senate Republicans Launch Effort To Unleash The Industry, Reduce Regulation, Call For Automatic Approval Of Permits, Limit Public Comments  [PaEN]

-- Damascus Citizens For Sustainability Files Lawsuit Challenging The Delaware River Basin Commission Fracking Wastewater Rule Generally And For Allowing Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Creating Widespread Pollution  [PaEN]

-- PUC: Act 13 Per Well Drilling Impact Fee To Increase For Calendar Year 2022 Nearly 28% For Unconventional Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Seeking Information On Use Of Drones For Environmental Monitoring Work; Feb. 3 Online Meeting Set On Oil & Gas Facility Monitoring Project  [PaEN]

-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community  Feb. 1 Monthly Eyes On Shell Meeting. 7:30 p.m.

[Posted: January 24, 2023]

1/30/2023