State asks driller to use "best practices" to stem fires.

[Divernan]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After finding that mismanagement led to recent flash fires at storage tanks on two Marcellus Shale gas well drilling sites, the state Department of Environmental Protection is asking drilling companies to "voluntarily" follow best practices to control the highly volatile vapors.

The request was made in a March 21 letter by DEP Secretary Michael Krancer sent to all shale gas drilling companies in the state.

The two-page letter released Thursday cited a Feb. 23 flash fire that injured three workers at a Chesapeake Energy Marcellus Shale well drilling site west of Avella, Washington County, and another fire a year ago at an Atlas Energy well site in Hopewell, also in Washington County.

Chesapeake said in a statement Thursday it "will comply fully with the planning measures and Best Management Practices requested in the letter."




Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11092/1136526-503.stm

---

In GOP Governor Corbett's Pennsylvania, Big Oil doesn't merit any fines or penalties when workers are injured and local environment polluted due to Big Oil's mismanagement, resulting in what even Krancer described as "significant threats to public health, safety and the environment". Krancer just sends a letter (doubtless coordinated in advance with, if not drafted by Big Oil) saying, "Pretty please, play nice, and stop improperly managing condensate, and voluntarily adopt a list of "best practices".

Krancer's letter was released on March 21st, and that very same day, Chesapeake Energy released a statement saying it would fully comply with "the planning measures and Best Management Practices requested in the letter." If Krancer had not gotten pre-approval from Chesapeake Energy(CE), CE would have refused to make any statement until its legal dept. had carefully analyzed DEP's request. Corporations are required to exercise due diligence under such circumstances. That does not happen the same day - never! You would get some statement that CE had received the letter and was taking it under careful advisement and would carefully review DEP's request.

MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
This letter constitutes malfeasance in office, i.e., the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of public trust).

DEP's letter removed ALL threat of legal actions, i.e., enforcement, fines, penalties. Does anyone need to think twice about the fact that immediate notification of local emergency management and municipal officials in the event of an emergency (in these cases, explosions and fires causing personal injuries to workers) should be MANDATORY? And failure to do so should carry punitive fines and shut down of a facility while said failure is investigated?

Corbett has gutted DEP. About all that's left for the DEP inspectors to do is sit around flash fires at storage tanks and sing Kumbaya.

Another day, another fresh environmental hell from Corbett/Krancer!

[No Elephants]

1. Another of millions of examples of why taxing the rich at higher rates is not unfair.

In pursuit of their own wealth and self indulgence, they use up everything from people, to highways and bridges, to clean air and water, to our ability to have organic food anywhere, ever .

"Unfair." "Class warfare." What drivel. They don't pay for what they use. Never have. Never wlll.

[LawnKorn]

2. The "best practice" would be to go to clean, renewable energy and stop drilling altogether

We need to cap on carbon pollution, and we can start by ending this environmentally destructive practice of hydraulic fracturing. Wind and photovoltaic solar energy will help reduce carbon pollution will ignite the transition to clean energy, end our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, and put America on a path toward economic recovery. If we have our own domestic source of clean, renewable energy, it will create tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. Consumers and businesses will benefit from stable energy prices, and carbon pollution can be brought under control. Now is the time for action. The economy can’t wait. The climate crisis can’t wait.

[pasto76]

3. best practice actually has a lot of weight behind it

In a court that wasnt friendly to the industry, examples of how any other company, or analogous trades handle volatile vapors would be damning evidence of their failure to comply.

that being said, allowing anyone to get hurt to fatten up the bottom line is deplorable. Is OSHA not involved in this? because they should be. Our current OSHA would not be so forgiving.

[Arctic Dave]

5. That would depend on two words, "should" and "shall".

"Should" gives the directive no teeth at all, "shall" is what will hold up in court.

[Divernan]

6. The DEP letter only "suggests", according to report.

And violations of best practices would only come before a court IF the DEP brought an action. However, Governor Corbett has named Krancer, an energy executive/assistant general counsel for Exelon Corporation as Secretary of DEP. Krancer has been gutting the agency left right and sideways since he came to office a not quite 3 months ago. At this point, none of the DEP inspectors are allowed to write up violations on any Marcellus Shale operations until Krancer has PERSONALLY REVIEWED AND APPROVED THEM. In other words, whom should the citizens believe, the "lying eyes" of the field inspectors, or the bought-and-paid-for shill of Big Oil appointed by the similarly bought and paid for GOP governor?
(In case you've never heard the expression, uttered by the philandering husband caught in flagrante delicto by his wife - "Who you gonna believe, baby? Me or your lying eyes?")

In other words, Krancer/Corbett are highly unlikely to ever bring any court action against the Marcellus shale operators. And even if they did, and happened to find an honest judge in the lower courts, the wealthy operators could just appeal to the State Supreme Court, which has a conservative GOP majority of judges.

Who's His Daddy?
Krancer (rhymes with cancer) basically bought his Cabinet appointment via his father, Ron Krancer's campaign contribution of $300,000 to Governor Corbett. Krancer's wife threw in a piddly $6,500 to Corbett as well.
Daddy Krancer has been a long time high roller when it comes to supporting conservative Republicans, including Rick Santorum, Toomey & Cantor

[hatrack]

4. Will the state EPA be instructed to say "Pretty please?"

:puke:

[Divernan]

7. The DEP(Dept. of Environmental Protection) is the state version of the EPA

At this point, DEP field inspectors aren't allowed to issue violations against the Frackers.