The time for public comment is now

Dear Friends and Fellow PA residents,

Many of you join me in your concerns about what the gas well industry, now moving into our state with warp speed, will do to our way of life here in Pennsylvania.

Some of you may have driven up Butternut Grove, the "No Outlet" road at the base of Blessing Mountain - along the Loyalsock Creek.  Many of you have also hiked the Blessing Mountain trail to Jacoby Falls, with access off Wallis Run Road.   Soon, Butternut Grove and the mountain will be overtaken by diesel trucks hauling gas drilling equipment, toxic chemicals up and millions of gallons of toxic water down.  The forest land atop the mountain has been leased by PA to the gas industry. Air pollution, water pollution, the industrialization of the rural landscape and forest fragmentation are sadly here to stay, on Blessing Mountain and throughout the state.

There is nothing we can do to stop this drilling.  The permits have been issued, and construction begun. The only question that remains is, "Where will the millions and millions of gallons of water needed to fracture these wells come from?" The gas company has been given a permit to buy the water from the borough of Montoursville, but they are looking for a cheaper way. They have also submitted a permit to draw 918,220 gallons of water per day (yes, nearly one million gallons daily) out of the Loyalsock Creel at the confluence of a little run just north of my property.

If granted, what will this do to the creek? I'm not a biologist - and cannot say. What is the force of the draw, how will it effect the delicate ecosystems of the creek, and what do lower water tables mean for the Loyalsock, the Susquehanna and the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed, as hundreds of these permits will be sought? Again - I can't answer those questions.  Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the folks granting the permit are answering those questions either.

The time for public comment is now. I am beseeching you to write to Harrisburg and tell your story. What does the Loyalsock mean to you? Do you kayak, fish, swim?  Can you share a photo that puts a human face on this issue? What concerns do you have about the issuing of this "Consumptive Use" permit?  Please write.

The gas industry has set a goal of 1 well per every 20 acres in Lycoming County. That 40,000 gas wells. Each one can use up to 9 million gallons of water . Do the math. That's 360,000,000,000 (360 BILLION) gallons of water. Where will it come from? What price will be all pay when such a precious resource is used in this way? And perhaps most importantly, what will happen to this drilling water after it is used to fracture the wells and returns to the surface contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals and high levels of radiation? In truth - no one knows.

For now, Paula Ballaron, an employee of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission has a decision to make. Ms. Ballaron is gathering comments from scientists and ordinary people like you and I regarding this consumptive use of Loyalsock Creek water.  Please write a simple letter, or send an email. Refer to the specific permit you are writing about - and tell Ms. Ballaron in your own words why she should say "no" to this request. The details you need appear below. Thank you so much for your willingness to invest your time to help preserve the creek.

My sincere gratitude,
Barb Jarmoska

WHO: Pennsylvania General Electric Company, LLC, 120 Market St. Warren PA 16365
WHAT: Permit submitted to withdraw 918,220 gallons of water daily from the Loyalsock Creek.
Water will be used to hydrofracture gas wells on COP Tract 724 (Blessing Mountain - Butternut Grove)
WHERE: Creek water to be pumped out at the Dry Run confluence, about 3.5 miles north of Rt. 973
RESPOND TO:
Paula Ballaron
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 North Front Street, Harrisburg PA 17102-2391
717-238-423      pballaron@srbc.net