New Resources
Methane Leaks Erode Green Credentials of Natural Gas - by Jeff Tollefson. Nature. (January 2013)
Research on Production and Disposal of Waste Materials fom Gas and Oil Extraction in Pennsylvanai Marcellus Shale - Penn State Copperative Extension (January 2013)
Ecology
Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Bradford and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010 - by E. T. Slonecker, L. E. Milheim, C. M. Riog-Silva, A. R. Malizia, D. A. Marr, and G. B. Fisher. USGS. (9/5/2012)
Using Soil Health Indicators to Follow Carbon Dynamics in Disturbed Urban Environments: A Case Study of Gas Pipeline Right of Way Construction - by Robert Schindelbeck and Harold van Es, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University. (2011)
Environmental Dangers of Hydro-Fracturing the Marcellus Shale - by Robert Myers, Lock Haven University. Website accessed November 29, 2010.
New test assesses impact of gas drilling, pipeline construction on soil health – Cornell Chronicle (3/31/10)
Reptile, Amphibian and Small Mammal Species Associated with Natural Gas Development in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia - USDA Forest Service paper NRS-10. By: Moseley, K.R., Ford, W.M., Edwards, J.W., Adams, M.B.
Energy Development Threats to Conservation - Land Trust Alliance
Emissions and Air Quality
Greenhouse Gas Footprint of Natural Gas - In the Spring of 2011 an article entitled, “Methane and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations,” by Howarth R., Santoro T., and Ingraffea A. appeared in Climatic Change. In early 2012 there will be two articles published in Climate Change Letters. One will be a commentary on the Howarth, Santoro, and Ingraffea article written by L. Cathles and a response to that from R. Howarth. These articles are now up and can be found by clicking here (Cathles) and here (Howarth).
Readers will note that the reports differ significantly in their conclusions. At Cornell, we support rigorous intellectual discourse and understand the value of different perspectives, which is an important part of scholarship.This website strives to bring relevant information to the public without taking a side in the controversial fracking debate.
Venting and Leaking of Methane from Shale Gas Development: response to Cathles et al., by Robert Howarth, Renee Santoro, and Anthony Ingraffea, published in Climatic Change (January 2012)
Robert W. Howarth, David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cornell University Co-Chair, Committee on Energy & Environment, Council of Scientific Society Presidents:
Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Analysis of Natural Gas Extraction and Delivery in the United States - presentation by Timothy J. Skone, P.E., National Energy Technology Laboratory, Office of Strategic Energy Analysis and Planning, U.S. Department of Energy. (5/12/2011)
Methane and the Greenhouse-Gas Footprint of Natural Gas from Shale Formations - online peer-reviewed article by Robert Howarth, Renee Santoro, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University and Anthony Ingraffea, School of Civil Engineering, Cornell University. (March, 2011)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry: Background Technical Support Document - from Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emmissions and Sinks: 1990 - 2008, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 430-R-10-006) (April 15, 2010).
Fugitive Emissions - from Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 2008, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 430-R-10-006) (April 15, 2010).
Emissions from natural Gas Production in the Barnett Shale Area and Opportunities for Cost-Effective Improvements by Al Armendariz, Ph.D. Dept. of Environmental & Civil Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Jan. 26, 2009.
Texas State Agency Backs SMU Ozone Study
Air Pollution Advisory Issued: The Air Quality Division of Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality is issuing an air pollution advisory beginning Wed., Feb. 27, for the Upper Green River Basin in Sublette County.
Sublette County Reaches EPA Ozone "Non-Attainment" Status
Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality Interim Policy on Air Quality Compliance & Permitting Procedures. (Details situation, and role of gas companies, and permitting procedure)
Ultra Petroleum Cited for Air Quality Violations (Wyoming)
Public Health
Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health in New Solutions Vol 22(1) Michelle Bamberger & Robert E. Oswald (2012)
Videos of the 2nd Annual Conference: Health Effects of Shale Gas Extraction, Hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pa. - November 18, 2011
- Donald S. Burke, MD - "Welcome Message and Introduction to the Marcellus Shale"
- Bernard D. Goldstein, MD - "Public Health, Sustainability and the Marcellus Shale"
- Allen Robinson, PhD - "Regional air pollution emissions from the development and production of Marcellus Shale"
- Adam Law, MD - "Endocrine and Metabolic Disruption"
- Charles Werntz, DO, MPH - "Worker Health Concerns in Marcellus Shale Work"
- William Burket, CFPS - "Industry Safety Initiatives and Community Emergency Preparedness"
- Simona Perry, PhD - "'It’s like we’re losing our love': Documenting and Evaluating Social Change in Bradford County, PA during the Marcellus Shale Gas Boom (2009-2011)"
- Kathy Brasier, PhD - "Community Impacts of Natural Gas Development in the Marcellus Shale: A Research Summary"
"Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective" in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment by Theo Colborn, Carol Kwiatkowski, Kim Schultz, and Mary Bachran (9-20-11)
Natural Gas Drilling: Public Health and Environmental Impacts - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing held on April 12, 2011. View the testimony or view the archived webcast.
Natural Gas and Un-natural Consequences: the Health Risks of Shale Gas Drilling
Presentations focusing on chemicals used in hydrofracking and their potential impact on human health. Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), Dryden, NY, February 23, 2010.
Reclamation
Evaluation of Reclamation Efforts from Pipeline Right of Way Construction Using the Cornell Soil Health Test - Robert Schindelbeck and Harold van Es, What's Cropping Up? Vol.20 No.2, Cornell University.
Waste Disposal
Study of the environmental hazard caused by the oil shale industry solid waste - by L. Pollumaa, A. Maloveryan, M. Trapido, H. Sillak, A. Kahru, Altern Lab Anim. 2001 May-Jun;29(3):259-67
General
Marcellus Shale Multi-State Academic Research Conference Proceedings - participating universities: Cornell, Penn State and West Virginia. Paper sponsored by Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (May 10-11, 2011), Altoona, PA.
The Future of Natural Gas: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study - interim report including findings and recommendations from a study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (June 25, 2010).
Recommendations for Responsible Oil and Gas Development - Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (2008).