Published: June 24, 2009 12:08 am      

Natural gas focus at forum

Marcellus Shale drilling discussion held at FSU

FROSTBURG — Nearly 100 stakeholders, including property owners, business professionals, elected officials and others gathered on Tuesday to learn how best to take advantage of the natural gas deposit known as the Marcellus Shale.

The informational forum was jointly sponsored by the chambers of commerce in Allegany and Garrett counties and The Greater Cumberland Committee and was hosted by the Compton Science Center at Frostburg State University.

One issue raised is whether the Maryland Department of the Environment is ready and able to issue permits as applications are submitted.

Ed Larrimore, program manager for MDE’s mining program, said many aspects of a natural gas drilling permit are similar to mining permits or other components of jobs permitted by MDE.

He acknowledged there was “not a lot of experience” among agency workers in the specific field but said site visits to nearby projects have been beneficial.

“I don’t know that we’re totally prepared today,” Larrimore said. “We don’t have that much geologic information that’s reliable. But I’m not worried.”

No applications have yet been submitted, he said, and there were checks and balances in the process to ensure a thorough permitting process.

One of those steps is a guaranteed public hearing, something not offered by Pennsylvania or West Virginia.

Larrimore said the state will consider the setbacks from the wellhead, or surface entrance, of a project from property boundaries and structures. The state also will require an applicant to identify fresh water zones, form erosion and stormwater control plans and what steps, if any, will be necessary in order to contain drilling fluids.

Companies such as Samson Resources Co., currently operating in Somerset County, Pa., also will need to identify public safety plans in case of emergency.

Larrimore emphasized three elements MDE does not regulate — hours of operation at a project site, truck traffic to and from a project site or lease issues between an applicant and landowners.

To that end, state Sen. George Edwards encouraged landowners who might want to lease mineral rights to energy companies to obtain legal advice.

Pamela Tokar-Ickes, Somerset County commissioner, said she was “really amazed” when first presented with information on the Marcellus Shale in August 2008. As an elected official, she and her colleagues have had to consider potential or likely impacts on the local economy, environment, workforce, housing and tourism, among a host of other issues.

She also learned that natural gas is not forever.

“Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Tokar-Ickles said of the nonrenewable energy source.

Lou D’Amico, executive director of Independent Oil and Gas Association, said the drilling of the Marcellus Shale, which is under much of Garrett County and parts of Mineral and Allegany counties, will undoubtedly have an enormous economic impact.

D’Amico said conservative projections show up to 100,000 jobs could be created in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. Some officials put the estimate closer to 250,000 jobs.

He said communities’ primary concerns often revolve around water supply and possible contamination. But companies like his use about half the amount of water per day than caretakers of a professional golf course, he said.

D’Amico said treating the used water “is going to be a big challenge” but not an impossible one. Another obstacle is rural roadways.

They weren’t designed “for the impact we’re going to have,” D’Amico said of “hundreds of loads of water” and “dozens of loads of equipment” at each drill site.

But Samson is rebuilding roads in rural Somerset County, he said, and “the end result is a better highway system.”

Stephen Trujillo, operations and government affairs manager for Samson’s Marcellus Shale project, said he expects permits to drill in Maryland to be received in 2010.

For information on the Marcellus Shale project in Somerset County, go online to www.pamarcellus.com.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.