On November 2, Gov. Josh Shapiro and CNX Resources Corporation President and CEO Nick Deiuliis announced a first-of-its-kind statement of mutual interests that will further heighten the company’s operational disclosures in collaboration with state environmental regulators and the public.

The Governor’s Office said the agreement helps further a promise Gov. Shapiro made as Attorney General to advance commonsense measures that prioritize public health and safety and ensure the natural gas industry is performing its work in line with the highest standards.

Under the statement of mutual interests, CNX will implement a temporary program to definitively measure emissions and heighten chemical disclosure, while temporarily enhancing safety zone setbacks for new wells near homes, schools and hospitals during the data collection phase.

These actions, which address several recommendations of the 43rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury released in 2020.  Read more here.

2020 Grand Jury Report

Gov. Shapiro said at the press announcement, “The public deserves answers and the public deserves accountability. In the course of our investigation, the grand jury found evidence that the manner in which some other natural gas companies were operating endangered public health and safety.

“As you recall, criminal charges were filed and those companies pled.

“The grand jurors also issued recommendations on how we could protect public health and safety in Pennsylvania.

“Those grand jurors, they did incredible work. They're you and me, they're Pennsylvanians, and they heard gut-wrenching testimony from many Pennsylvanians.

“Folks who dealt with contaminated water and air pollution and suffered severe health consequences that they believed were a result of fracking happening near their homes.”

“Now, it's been about three years since that grand jury report was released.

“I've repeatedly called on lawmakers in the General Assembly to take action on the grand juror's common sense recommendations.

“Look, while we might not all agree on every recommendation in the proposed reforms, it's been three and a half years and nothing has changed in the General Assembly.

“In fact, they haven't even taken a vote.”

I’m Tired Of Waiting

“I'm tired of waiting and I know the Pennsylvanians are tired of waiting as well, so when I was elected governor, I went to work to build on the important work of the grand jurors.”

“Over the past several months, my administration has engaged in a series of discussions with CNX and its CEO and president Nick Deiuliis. Nick came to the table and made clear to me that he wants CNX to be a leader on transparency and on safety.

“We engaged in a really thoughtful and constructive dialogue over many months, and today I'm proud to be here in Washington County to announce an historic collaboration between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and CNX.”

Study Of Gas Well Sites

Through CNX and the Department of Environmental Protection’s groundbreaking collaboration, DEP will be able to conduct the most intensive independent study of unconventional natural gas wells in the nation.

CNX will provide DEP with unprecedented access to two future CNX well sites, allowing for in-depth independent monitoring of the air emissions at both locations before, during, and after development of the new wells.

This will make it possible for communities to understand the facts about natural gas development with more transparency than ever before, said the Governor’s Office.

As part of this collaboration, CNX will also collect and transparently report, in real-time via a public website, air quality data beginning with its NV110 producing well pad located in East Finley Township, Washington County, and expanding to its facilities in all phases of well development through six months of the production phase.

The company intends to expand elements of this monitoring and disclosure across its Pennsylvania operational footprint.

“My Administration is setting a new standard for Pennsylvania’s natural gas to be produced in the most responsible and sustainable way anywhere in the world and showing that we can get things done by collaborating,” said Gov. Shapiro. “As Attorney General and now as Governor, I have listened to the voices of Pennsylvanians concerned about their health and safety and I’m delivering on the promise I made to them to secure these protections. With this collaboration, CNX is leading the industry in showing how we can reduce pollution and ensure the health and safety of our communities while still maintaining Pennsylvania’s central role in the nation’s energy economy.”

“In place of endless speculation and dueling rhetoric, CNX seeks to change this paradigm by open-sourcing facts, science, and data to all stakeholders and creating mutual trust which can serve as the basis for cooperation and real environmental and economic progress in the Commonwealth,” said Nick Deiuliis, CNX Resources Corporation President and CEO. “This unprecedented approach to operational transparency is good for resident health, the industry worker, economic development, energy security, the environment, and community investment. We aim to lead the natural gas industry into a new era of sustainable domestic energy production, and that effort begins with this historic collaboration.”

Deiuliis called this new openness “radical transparency” at the press announcement and added--

“First, when you are the tip of the spear, it comes with both an opportunity as well as a responsibility. We're going to learn a lot with radical transparency, and when we see something unexpected or atypical, we're prepared and committed to acting in a way where we engineer and design our way to even better performance.

“Radical transparency in the data provides, inevitably makes the process of natural gas manufacturing better, and it is definitely going to be a catalyst for continuous improvement.

“Second, final thought, imperative for us, is CNX to be able to use radical transparency to make the recent rhetoric speculation, any sensational headlines, to basically make them obsolete.

“To definitively confirm, for all stakeholders, that there are no adverse human health issues related to responsible natural gas development, and to confirm what we already know, that the natural gas industry is essential, it's responsible, and it's inherently good for society.”

Provisions In Statement Of Mutual Interests

Specifics of this collaboration include--

-- Expand Safety Setbacks From Gas Wells While Data Is Collected: CNX will voluntarily expand its no-drill zones in Pennsylvania from the required 500 feet to 600 feet for all sites and increase them to 2,500 feet for sensitive sites including schools and hospitals, while data is collected.

The Statement Of Mutual Interests says, “CNX expresses its intention to: (1) voluntarily refrain from drilling any new unconventional gas well within 600 feet, measured horizontally from the vertical wellbore from any existing building as defined in Act 13 including any residential building; and (2) voluntarily refrain from drilling any new unconventional gas well within 2,500 feet, measured horizontally from the vertical well bore, from an operational School or Hospital.”

“Specifically, for purposes of this Statement of Mutual Interests, CNX defines a “School” as a building, the principal use of which is a public or private facility offering educational services from preschool to 12th grade (or any subset thereof) that provides regular in-person attendance for enrolled students, and that meets any applicable school licensing, teacher credentialing, or any other requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, CNX defines “Hospital” as a building, the principal use of which is a health care facility licensed as a hospital by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

-- Air & Water Quality Monitoring: CNX will engage in intensive air and water quality monitoring to accurately assess environmental impacts. The Administration will follow the facts and data provided through this air and water quality monitoring, along with all other relevant facts and data, to inform the necessity of any additional setbacks or other future policy changes.

-- Disclose Fracking Chemicals: CNX will publicly disclose all chemicals intended to be used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before they are used on site [“subject to trade secret claims by chemical manufactures”];

-- Regulating Natural Gas Gathering Pipelines: Supporting the regulation of any gathering lines, as sought by DEP to inspect for corrosion;

-- Waste Transport Safety Measures: Supporting, in conjunction with third party waste haulers, additional safety measures for the transport of waste from unconventional well sites;

-- Provide Real-Time Emission Facts: CNX will provide open-sourced, real-time emissions facts and data to all stakeholders including industry workers, community members, state and local government, and other interested parties informing a comprehensive health response regarding natural gas development in Pennsylvania;

-- Refrain From Hiring DEP Employees: CNX will refrain from hiring Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees from regional offices covering CNX operational areas for two years after those employees leave the Department.

Gov. Shapiro added at the press announcement, “Look, CNX it should be lost on no one, is the first company in Pennsylvania to step up and make these voluntary commitments, but I do hope they will not be the last.

“You can be profit minded and you can meet your obligations to your shareholders and employees and also protect public health and public safety. CNX is proof of that.

“This is a model I believe for other companies in Pennsylvania and I invite them all to join CNX in this commitment.

“At the same time, I'm renewing my call to lawmakers to act. We need lawmakers from both parties to come together and get something done in this space.”

DEP To Pursue Regulation, Policy Changes Immediately

Gov. Shapiro said at the announcement, “As we wait on them [lawmakers], my administration will build on this announcement and start advancing three of the grand jury's recommendations through DEP's existing legal authority.

“I've authorized DEP to begin the necessary rulemaking and make policy changes to add new requirements for the disclosure of chemicals, improve the control for methane emissions and protect against corrosion in [natural gas] gathering pipelines.

“But many of those other recommendations can't be implemented through a regulatory process or a policy change, for those lawmakers must act.

“Through this collaboration, we'll be able to provide lawmakers with data and a common set of facts that all sides can hopefully agree on.

“And hopefully Nick and I are modeling the kind of behavior that we need more of in the General Assembly where both sides come together, they talk, they actually listen to one another, and they find common ground that helps our fellow Pennsylvanians.”

In the written press release, the Governor’s Office described the recommendations DEP is to pursue as--

-- New requirements for the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling;

-- Improved control of methane emissions aligned with forthcoming federal policy;

-- Stronger drilling waste protections, including inspection of secondary containment; and corrosion protections for gathering lines that transport natural gas. 

Gov. Shapiro concluded his remarks at the announcement by saying, “Look, there are far too many people demigoding in our politics today. They make noise and they demand purity rather than actually focused on getting things done.

“We're showing a different approach here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, holding firm to our beliefs for sure, but proving that we can actually work together to get things done.

“And I hope this is yet another example of how we can do big things in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“I want to thank you for being here today. I want to thank you for having faith in this process, faith in leaders in a whole bunch of different sectors, from government to the private sector.”

The Governor’s Office said this announcement is a next step in the Shapiro Administration’s continuing work to address climate change and protect Pennsylvanians’ Constitutional right to clean air and pure water.

Gov. Shapiro recently announced that Pennsylvania is the only state in the country to secure two regional clean hydrogen hub projects, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.

The two hubs will create more than 41,000 total good-paying jobs between them and ensure Pennsylvania continues to be an energy leader for decades to come.

Earlier this year, the Shapiro Administration announced an updated environmental justice policy, which expanded the criteria to better include concerns of Pennsylvania communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts and created an updated mapping tool that allows DEP to more accurately identify which communities qualify for environmental justice protections.

Grand Jury Report Background

The Grand Jury Report was released by then Attorney General Shapiro in June 2020 after what he said then was a two-year investigation uncovered systematic failure by government agencies in overseeing the fracking industry and fulfilling their responsibility to protect Pennsylvanians from the inherent risks of industry operations.   Read more here.

“Our government has a duty to set, and enforce, ground rules that protect public health and safety. We are the referees, we are here to prevent big corporations and the powerful industries from harming our communities or running over the rights of citizens,” said then Attorney General Shapiro. “When it comes to fracking, Pennsylvania failed. Now it’s time to face the facts, and do what we can to protect the people of this commonwealth by encouraging the Department of Environmental Protection to partner with us and by passing the Grand Jurors’ common-sense reforms.”

The announcement in 2020 said in addition to exposing failures on the part of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health, the Grand Jury made eight recommendations to create a more comprehensive legal framework that would better protect Pennsylvanians from the realities of industry operations.

The Grand Jury recommendations included--

-- Expanding No-Drill Zones: Expanding no-drill zones in Pennsylvania from the required 500 feet to 2,500 feet;

-- Chemical Disclosure: Requiring fracking companies to publicly disclose all chemicals used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before they are used on-site;

-- Gathering Pipelines: Requiring the regulation of gathering lines, used to transport unconventional gas hundreds of miles;

-- Assess Air Quality: Adding up all sources of air pollution in a given area to accurately assess air quality;

-- Safe Transport Of Waste: Requiring safer transport of the contaminated waste created from fracking sites;

-- Comprehensive Health Response: Conducting a comprehensive health response to the effects of living near unconventional drilling sites;

-- Limit Revolving Door: Limiting the ability of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees to be employed in the private sector immediately after leaving the Department;

-- Direct Criminal Jurisdiction: Allowing the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General original criminal jurisdiction over unconventional oil and gas companies.

In April, an Inside Climate News article quoted a spokesperson for now Gov. Shapiro as saying the Governor’s Office supports the key recommendations in the Grand Jury Report.  Read more here.

Click Here for a copy of the Grand Jury Report.   Read more here.

House Hearing This Week

On October 30 the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held its first-ever hearing on the health and environmental impacts of the shale gas industry and legislation increasing safety zone setbacks around gas infrastructure.

The legislation being considered is House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) increasing setback safety zones from shale natural gas drilling sites and infrastructure from 500 to 2,500 feet or more, based on the recommendations in the Grand Jury report and the latest science.  Read more here.

Sen. Yaw: Bill Expanding Setbacks ‘Stupid’

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, issued this statement in reaction to the House hearing this week--

“Earlier today, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 170, which would expand setback requirements for natural gas wells in Pennsylvania to between 2,500 – 5,000 feet.

“It is often said that we cannot legislate against stupidity. That is true but we can stop stupid legislation from becoming law. 

“Should House Bill 170 or any similar legislation pass the House of Representatives, it will not be considered in the Senate.”  Read more here.

Reactions

PA Environmental Council President Davitt Woodwell spoke at the announcement and released this statement--

“Today’s announcement demonstrates that partnership, continuous improvement, greater public transparency, and strong regulatory standards are not just aspirational – they are attainable and essential toward meeting the commitment made to all Pennsylvanians under Article I, Section 27 of our state constitution.”

“We agree with Governor Shapiro that Pennsylvania can be a leader in the clean energy transition.  But it’s not a given, nor is it a challenge that can wait for tomorrow.

“It’s about doing things right today. Reducing methane emissions, strengthening waste control measures, and enhancing monitoring and public reporting will pay dividends now and in the future.

“We applaud the commitments made today by the Governor and CNX, and look forward to working with all stakeholders to see these critical initiatives effectuated.”  Click Here for the full statement.

“I think they are going further than any other company,” said David Woodwell, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.  “Are they earth shattering? No. But are they still important? Yes.”  Read more here.

Environmental Defense Fund Senior Director Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Jon Goldstein issued this statement--

“Environmental Defense Fund applauds Governor Shapiro for today’s commitment to address methane emissions from oil and gas operations through speedy adoption of the soon to be finalized federal methane rules and his announcement of efforts toward better, more transparent oil and gas air pollution and chemical disclosure data. Reducing the oil and gas industry’s methane emissions is essential for the future of Pennsylvania’s climate and public health.”

Clean Air Council Executive Director and Chief Counsel Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., released the following statement:

“Clean Air Council strongly supports Governor Shapiro’s decision to move forward in implementing the commonsense public health and environmental standards recommended by the 2020 Grand Jury to better protect Pennsylvania residents from oil and gas operations.

“For far too long, the gas industry and too many elected leaders have shown a disregard for the harm the industry is causing to residents’ health and the environment. It is past time that our leaders adopt protections from this industry.”

“We applaud Governor Shapiro’s leadership in recognizing the need to further reduce methane pollution from the gas industry, and look forward to supporting him and the DEP in tailoring the forthcoming federal rules to ensure they address the concerns of Pennsylvania residents affected by the gas industry.”

“The Council encourages the Governor to additionally propose regulations to require setbacks that better protect residents and our natural resources from harmful gas infrastructure.

“DEP has the legal authority, scientific evidence, and public support needed right now to adopt setback distances that prevent this infrastructure from being built too close to our homes, schools, hospitals, streams, and wetlands.

“To demonstrate how the industry needs to do more, the Governor announced a partnership with the gas company CNX Resources, which agreed to disclose its chemical use and better monitor its emissions, something that residents in areas affected by fracking have been demanding for years.”

The York County-based Evangelical Environmental Network released this statement on the Statement of Mutual Interests signed by Gov. Shapiro and CNX natural gas taking steps to better monitor air emissions from certain shale gas drilling operations--

“Clean air and pure water are a constitutional right and are essential to defending our children’s health and lives from the multiple threats imposed upon them by the fossil fuel industry.

“While this industry has committed many wrongs, we as evangelical Christians believe in forgiveness and second chances.

“The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him…” (Daniel 9:9)

“The Evangelical Environmental Network and our over 150,000 pro-life supporters thank Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro for prioritizing public health and safety by taking a monumental step in addressing the 43rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury report and recommendations.

“We are also grateful for the promise he made as Attorney General to advance commonsense measures that ensure the natural gas industry is performing its work in line with the highest standards.

“By taking action to right its wrongs, CNX Resources has a chance to prove itself and change its ways moving forward in its collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

“This is an opportunity to move past the company’s previous record to a new promise to better defend the health and safety of our children across the Commonwealth.

“More than 1.5 million people–including over 200,000 children–live, work, and attend school within a half mile health threat radius of active oil and gas production operations in Pennsylvania.

“Medical studies show toxic emissions from these sites are particularly harmful for children, pregnant women, and their unborn children.

“Additionally, methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere and is responsible for 25% of the human-produced warming we experience today.

“The higher temperatures we are seeing in the U.S. and around the world worsen smog and ozone, threatening adults and children with respiratory or cardiac issues and increase the spread of vector-borne diseases like Lyme Disease.

“We want children to be born healthy and unhindered by the ravages of pollution before they take their first breath.

“Of these impacts, fossil fuels are the most serious threat to children’s health worldwide.

“While this collaboration is the first step in the right direction, there is still more work to be done.

“It is clear that stronger safeguards are critical for defending our children’s health. The first step would be to require drilling sites to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, playgrounds, and homes.

“This should be standard, not something done voluntarily.

“Secondly, we must change bonding requirements to at least the average well site restoration cost of $75,000, up from the current bond of around $2,500.

“This puts the greater burden on the well operator to clean up their mess instead of walking away and sticking the burden on us, the Pennsylvania taxpayer, and on our children whose health is threatened by the toxics that spill into our air, water, and soil from these abandoned wells that number more than 300,000 in Pennsylvania alone.

“We at EEN will stand with Governor Shapiro and offer our support for finding solutions for all threats to God’s children.

“Together, let’s work to enforce our Commonwealth Constitution for all Pennsylvanians.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Act 3:19)”

Conservation Voters of PA released the following statement from Molly Parzen, Executive Director--

“The safety protections and proposed policies announced today are based on the findings of a grand jury report issued by the state Attorney General’s Office under now-Governor Shapiro.

“That report echoes the longstanding concerns of the environmental and scientific communities – and of local residents - that fracking has serious negative health impacts on the communities that host drilling sites.

“The agreement announced today is a step toward addressing these urgent safety concerns, and we thank Governor Shapiro for his determination on this issue.

“However, today’s announcement is only a small step in better ensuring Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air and pure water.

“The fact of the matter is that the worst players in the oil and gas industry will never agree to voluntary safety measures that are stringent enough to protect impacted communities.

“Instead, we’ve seen this industry fight with all its might to resist even the most basic safety regulations.

“That’s why we’re urging the legislature to respond to today’s announcement by finally acting to implement the grand jury’s recommendations across our commonwealth.

“For years, powerful oil and gas companies have aligned with pro-polluting lawmakers to block critical safety legislation.

“It’s high time for floor votes on legislation, championed by pro-environment leaders in Harrisburg, designed to improve the safety and public health of the children and families impacted by fracking wells.”

The Center for Coalfield Justice issued this statement on the announcement--

“This is not CNX’s hero origin story. Voluntary action by companies who have repeatedly broken their promises should never replace real action by our elected officials and regulators.

“Communities deserve true accountability: they deserve to have past harms acknowledged and repaired, and they deserve a path forward that they can count on.

“This announcement is too little, too late, and conveniently comes as CNX seeks carte blanche to develop “blue” hydrogen throughout the region as part of the ARCH2 hub.

“Between their drilling and midstream operations, CNX has racked up more than 400 violations since the 43rd statewide Grand Jury report and policy recommendations were released, according to data collected by FracTracker Alliance.

“The company has also been criminally charged with violations of the Air Pollution Control Act in Washington County.

“CNX committed crimes in our county. Why should we believe or trust them now? How will they be protecting the health of citizens that live next to their facilities including pig stations? Why haven’t they ALWAYS been protecting the health and safety of residents and workers?” said Jodi Borello, whose family has been deeply affected by CNX for over a decade. “Governor Shapiro owes victims of this industry a visit to their homes so he can see and hear for himself the facts of what it is like to live next to this industry.”   Read more here.

“Corporations like CNX put profits above our health and communities. Hydrogen produced from fracked gas perpetuates our reliance on fossil fuels, which means that families in the region will continue to suffer from increased respiratory health issues, higher rates of childhood lymphoma, and lower birth weights associated with shale gas development.

“The recent release of the Pennsylvania Health and Environment Study further strengthened the consensus surrounding the health impacts of fracking.

“Ironically, as Governor Shapiro himself said regarding the 43rd statewide Grand Jury report, “[this is] about the big fights we must take on to protect Pennsylvanians — to ensure that their voices are not drowned out by those with bigger wallets and better connections. There remains a profound gap between our Constitutional mandate for clean air and pure water, and the realities facing Pennsylvanians who live in the shadow of fracking giants and their investors.”

The Better Path Coalition had this to say about the announcement--

“Governor Josh Shapiro is putting his faith and the fate of Pennsylvanians in the hands of a company that has been cited with 1555 violations since fracking came to the state, including 34 so far this year.

“One month ago, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to CNX Gas Company LLC, a subsidiary of Consol Energy, for making unauthorized water withdrawals to support shale gas fracking operations for 17 days between May 6, 2023 and July 6, 2023 totaling 389,518 gallons.

“According to the announcement, CNX, a subsidiary of Consol Energy, has agreed to follow the recommendations proposed by the Grand Jury Shapiro convened during his stint as Attorney General.

“They’re calling it "radical transparency" which means essentially that the industry will be allowed to collect and distribute the data on air quality and methane emissions. 

“This is the "data" that will, they claim, prove that there are no negative health impacts from "responsible" gas drilling. The effort is being compared to the discredited Center for Sustainable Shale Development.

“Shapiro claims that he has listened to the voices of Pennsylvanians who are concerned about their health and safety. It’s time for him to listen to the science.

“Thousands of studies, reports, and investigations, including his own DOH’s study released in August, more than validate the concerns of Pennsylvanians, many of whom are not worried about hypothetical risks, but are living with the grim realities of what the methane gas industry has done to them and to their loved ones.

“Following the “Look, I fixed it” narrative used by past governors, Shapiro is claiming that the half-measures he is proposing will keep people safe while allowing the fossil fuel industry to continue to do business as usual.

“It was a foolish narrative when other governors used it. It is even more foolish now when it is imperative that we transition as rapidly as possible to renewable energy. He is wasting time we don’t have.”

Upcoming Events:

-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- AP: PA To Partner With CNX Natural Gas Driller On In-Depth Study Of Air Emissions, Water Quality

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Shapiro Announces Agreement With CNX On Fracking Health Measures, Says New Regulations Coming

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: CNX Natural Gas Company, Gov. Shapiro Find Agreement On Monitoring Program Where Legislators Cannot

-- WTAE: PA Partners With Natural Gas Driller On Air Monitoring Amid New Regulatory Push

-- Observer-Reporter: CNX Resources Corp, Shapiro Administration Announce Transparency Initiative

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Announce Monitoring Agreement

-- Inside Climate News - Jake Bolster: PA Governor Announces Collaboration With CNX Natural Gas Drilling Aimed At Increasing Transparency

-- Washington Examiner: PA Gov. Shapiro Partners With Natural Gas Giant

Articles Related To CNX:

-- Natural Gas Pipeline Pigging Facility Malfunction Dec. 27 Released 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas; Same Facility Plagued Community With Blowdowns 3 Times A Day, 7 Days A Week For Nearly 10 Years Until Criminal Charges Brought Against CNX  [PaEN]

--  DEP: CNX Gas Pays $310,000 Penalty For Violations During, After Pipeline Construction In Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses $200,000 In Penalties For Drilling Wastewater Spills By CNX In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP Settlement With CNX For E&S Violations In Greene, Washington Counties Yields $180,000 Streambank, Fish Habitat Project [PaEN]

-- DEP: CNX Gas Company Agrees To Pay $175,000 Penalty For Uncontrolled Methane Leaks At The Shaw Well In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- CNX Gas Company Pays $250,000 Penalty For Marchland 3 Pipeline Violations In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses CNX Gas Drilling $433,500 For Violations In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- CNX Gas Pays $450K In Penalties For Washington County Water Withdrawal Violations  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reaches Settlement With CNX On Well Plugging Violations At 141 Conventional Coalbed Methane & Gas Wells, 5 Unconventional Gas Wells In 4 Southwest Counties [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Violation To CNX Gas Company For Unauthorized Water Withdrawals For 17 Days From Beaver Run Reservoir In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

Articles Related To Announcement:

-- Gov. Shapiro: We Need Stronger Laws To Deal With The ‘Corporate Greed’ That Let Oil & Gas Operators Get Away With Abandoning Wells For Far Too Long [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’  [PaEN]

-- House Environmental Committee To Hold Oct. 30 Hearing On Bill Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Shale Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Infrastructure Based On Latest Science, Grand Jury Report  [PaEN]

-- AG Shapiro: Grand Jury Finds Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Citizens During Natural Gas Fracking Boom  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 - Fire At PA General Energy Shale Gas Well Pad; 5 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Replugging Shale Gas Well  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - November 4  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 57 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Nov. 4 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- Gov. Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Company Sign Statement Of Mutual Interests To Monitor Air Emissions At Drill Sites, Extend Safety Setbacks While Data Is Being Collected; DEP To Move Ahead With Some Reg Changes  [PaEN]

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Thanks Gov. Shapiro For Defending Children's Health Thru An Agreement With CNX Natural Gas; Believes In Repenting Of Sins, 2nd Chances  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Editorial: Is Shapiro’s Voluntary Agreement With CNX The Right Move For Gas Well Safety? [‘We do not trust foxes to guard henhouses’]

-- Attorney General Henry Announces Criminal Charges Against Equitrans For 2018 Natural Gas Explosion That Destroyed Home In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board  [PaEN]

-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference  [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Mariner East 2X Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Being Repaired After Dent Discovered In Chester County During Maintenance Check  [PaEN]

-- PUC Issues Emergency Order To PA American Water To Operate Troubled East Dunkard Water Authority In Greene County; Lawsuit Filed Alleging Water Tainted By Mine Drainage, Shale Gas Operations  [PaEN]

-- Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force Issues Report On The Best Ways To Increase Exports Of PA's Natural Gas; Minority Report Rebuts Need For LNG Facility, Outlines Impacts  [PaEN]

-- Protect PT Holds Nov. 11 Workshop On Living Near Shale Gas In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

[Posted: November 2, 2023]

11/6/2023