[Mark / Ohio]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-31/northeast-ohio-earthquake/52307134/1

They're not really strangers to small earthquakes in that area but they have seem to become more frequent of late. Sounds like man may be part of the problem. Why they would even consider waste brine injection or any other "fracking" for NG/oil wells in an area with a known fault I have no clue. Seems like common sense would dictate to do so would be asking for trouble. :duh:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/geosurvey/earthquakes/860131/860131/tabid/8365/Default.aspx

 

[jbrumberg]

We will be responsible for our own extinction. My hometown of Williamsport, PA is now an R&R/coordination site for a lot of fracking activity in the area. I am very concerned what is going to happen to both the aquifers and surface water. There was a plan to use the shallow well fracking saltwater as a road de-icer. I could go on.

Our dependence upon fossil fuels is causing a lot of risk taking.

 

[joshc]

Why is that everyone is quick to blame the oil and gas industry? With all of the government regulations and constant watch of the DEP, it is very difficult to contaminate anything. If you only knew the money spent by these companies to keep the enviornment safe and clean. Without the oil and gas fields, areas like Williamsport and Mansfield would be hurting.

 

[jbrumberg]

joshc- I really have no arguement.

"Without the oil and gas fields, areas like Williamsport and Mansfield would be hurting."

I agree. Williamsport has a very bad track record of exploiting its natural resources historically. It was the "Lumber Capital of the World" at one time. That was until all the old growth forests were completely decimated and the hills denuded. There was no replanting, and the wood industry then moved on to other states.

I see no differences between the regulators and the regulatees- they're all in bed together. There's a revolving door between lobbyists and the governmental regulators. In my cynical view the regulations develop from the aforementionned relationships. This arrangement does seem to work in most cases. I will add that nowadays, for a lot of reasons including regulations and increased awareness of the environmental impact related to resource development many of the resource developers are careful to minimize damage to the environment (and in some cases even improve upon the pre-existing situation). This takes money- it's the cost of business. It's the unforeseen events that worry me- it seems to me that we always have to play "catch up/cleanup" when unforeseen factors impact upon resource development and recovery.

We do need these energy resources, we need real science not politicoscience regarding energy use and development, and we do need to develop alternative energy resources.

I will end this caffeine driven post by adding that PA has a very strong outdoors and sportspeople minded political clout. I put my faith in their strength to see that this becomes a "win win" situation for everyone.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

I did not mean for this to turn political as it will be locked or deleted if it goes too far in that direction. I was mearly questioning some of the practices in use. However I'm sure there are guys a lot smarter then I keeping tabs on it.

 

[joshc]

Very well said jbrumberg. I do feel the door swings both ways. It's a shame that politics plays such a big role no matter the industry. Good and bad in both directions I guess.

Mark from Ohio, you brought it up. If you feel to use your "power" to lock or delete, go for it. It's a simple thread on a forum. Not an issue.

 

[jbrumberg]

Thanks for the compliment. It seems that both you and I have the same passion, and really the same goal here. I agree. :trink39:

 

[Mark / Ohio]

...Mark from Ohio, you brought it up....

Yep, your the second one to tell me that. I also just had to add my little editorial to it as well. So far though I think we are all skirting inside the forum rules. :trink39:

(Anything even remotely oil and fuel related understandably tends to be a real touchy subject that can go full blown political bashing in a heart beat. Thus why as an after thought I decided to drop the caution note about politics in hopes that would keep things more centered around the science. Right or wrong I think of this section as good as any place to occasionally discuss other geosciences.)

Here's more updated stories on it:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/scienc...arthquake-wastewater-well-fracking/52368620/1


This one was just on the 6pm news:

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20120107/NEWS01/201070305/Mayors-team-up-against-wells



The news on it is going more political even as we speak. So I will withhold further editorial to avoid having to give myself a warning. :fing32:

 

[U.S.A Tractor Joe]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-31/northeast-ohio-earthquake/52307134/1

They're not really strangers to small earthquakes in that area but they have seem to become more frequent of late. Sounds like man may be part of the problem. Why they would even consider waste brine injection or any other "fracking" for NG/oil wells in an area with a known fault I have no clue. Seems like common sense would dictate to do so would be asking for trouble. :duh:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/geosurvey/earthquakes/860131/860131/tabid/8365/Default.aspx

Not only that, but they built the Perry Power Plant on the fault as well.