St. Clair Twp. officials oppose drilling in Beaver Creek park

St. Clair Twp. officials oppose drilling in Beaver Creek park

CALCUTTA

Although St. Clair Township trustees said they understand the importance of the economic impact of the shale industry on the local economy, they approved a resolution declaring opposition to logging or surface location of well sites within Beaver Creek State Park.

The resolution states that although House bills 133 and 153 allow for logging and drilling in state parks and parks, including Beaver Creek State Park, are designated “Tier 1” for drilling purposes, “this resolution protects Beaver Creek State Park in its present state, from logging and drilling activities that will change the character of the park,” because “the citizens of Columbiana County adamantly support the protection of the irreplaceable natural area.”

In the resolution, trustees state they will “exercise our authority and influence to prevent such activities by any and all parties within Beaver Creek State Park.”

Acid spill cleanup at NE Pa. gas-drilling rig

PITTSBURGH

Environmental officials are overseeing the cleanup of a 4,700- gallon hydrochloric-acid spill at a Chief Oil & Gas drilling site in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection said some of the July 4 spill flowed through a field and reached a small tributary of Towanda Creek, according to spokesman Daniel Spadoni. The site is about 80 miles northeast of Scranton.

Most of the unnamed tributary was dry, but a few minnows were killed. No acid reached Towanda Creek, Spadoni said. Dams were constructed in the tributary and were left there as a precautionary measure, and are still in place.

Kristi Gittins, a spokeswoman for Dallas-based Chief, said only a very small portion of the spill ever left the containment area of the well pad. She said Chief will continue to see what, if any, additional cleanup is needed. At the time of the spill, the crew had completed the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of the well, and were preparing to leave.

3 drilling protesters arrested in Pa.

CLEARFIELD, Pa.

Three protesters demonstrating against hydraulic fracturing at a state forest were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Authorities say 24-year-old Hanna Morgan, of Hartland, Vt., 27-year-old Michael Luurtsema, of Elwood, Ind., and 24-year-old Grace Pettygrove, of Eugene, Ore., were arrested in Moshannon State Forest in central Pennsylvania and charged with disorderly conduct.

Jeremy Hamilton, a spokesman for the Bureau of Forestry, says the road to the rig is now open.

EQT Corp. spokeswoman Natalie Cox says the Pittsburgh-based company shut down the rig for a short time, primarily for safety reasons.

Hopeful Hovde calls for tax reform

MILWAUKEE

Hedge-fund manager Eric Hovde says as a U.S. senator, he would reform the tax system, fight for broad deregulation and encourage fracking.

Hovde is one of four Republicans vying for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. Hovde is a political newcomer with deep pockets. He has already put $4 million of his own money into his Senate bid.

At a candidate forum in Milwaukee, Hovde said the government cannot continue to mismanage its finances and needs to significantly reduce regulations and stop the Federal Reserve Bank from monetizing the debt.

Hovde also released a TV ad targeting two of his opponents. He accuses former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann of attacking him with mudslinging ads to distract attention away from their own poor records.

The Republican primary is Aug. 14.

Sand supplier, railroad to build ND terminal

MAKOTI, N.D.

The Canadian Pacific railroad and a sand supplier plan to build a new rail terminal to supply sand for oilfield fracking operations.

Fracking is used to produce oil in western North Dakota’s Bakken oil shale formation.

The process involves pumping water, sand and chemicals underground at high pressure to break up shale rock and allow the oil to flow.

The Canadian Pacific and Smart Sand Inc. of Pennsylvania announced they are building a terminal near Makoti, about 40 miles southwest of Minot. They hope to have it finished early next year.

It will be used to unload sand shipped from Smart Sand’s sand mine in southwestern Wisconsin, near Oakdale.

Governor says fracking may lead to cleaner fuel

ASPEN, Colo.

Gov. John Hickenlooper says hydraulic fracturing to free natural gas is safe and could lead to cleaner fuel for cars.

Hickenlooper said the procedure that has led to environmental concerns and protests over drilling on public lands produces natural gas that is cleaner if drilling is done properly.

Talisman Energy to pay $62,000 fine

PITTSBURGH

A gas drilling company is paying a $62,000 fine for reporting violations in Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says in a release that Talisman Energy USA discovered the violations at 52 gas drilling sites and reported them to the agency. The violations were for failing to file safety information about hazardous chemicals stored at the sites.

The EPA says Talisman, which is based in Canada, corrected the violations swiftly.

Talisman says in a statement that it appreciates the opportunity to work with EPA to fairly resolve the matter.