EARTHWORKS
2010 National Peoples Oil and Gas Summit Report
compiled by TechieR; choose speaker’s name to access audio as MP3 format

November 19–20, 2010 • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

About this Report:
To listen to an MP3 audio presentation, click on their name/talk; length noted in (mm:ss)
Slide shows, supporting documents provided as PDFs (if available)
Speaker credentials link to affiliate websites (if available)

Welcome and Introductions

Introductions by Nadia Steinzor, Marcellus Organizer, Earthworks OGAP

Welcome (16:30)
Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Councilman

Opening Remarks (13:20)
Gwen Lachelt, Director, Earthworks OGAP

Summit Overview (13:25)
Jim Fitzgerald, Summit Facilitator

Panel 1:
Health impacts from drilling, fracking, waste pits and gas production

Panelists share real-life stories of health impacts being felt by citizens living with gas development, information on drilling and fracking chemicals known to have health impacts, as well as approaches for surveying community health impacts.

Facilitator: Sharon Wilson, Earthworks Texas OGAP (3:30)

View additional information (external links)

• Read Poisoned families: Four case studies of the impacts of dirty drilling in the Barnett Shale by Sharon Wilson (TX OGAP)
• Find out about the Pavillion Area Concerned Citizens and the results of the Community Health Survey in Pavillion, Wyoming.
• Download the Health Survey used by Wilma Subra in DISH, TX, and the report Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents.
• Read TEDX’s manuscript Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective, which has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Panel 2:
Community socioeconomic impacts of natural gas development

This session will include information on the range of socioeconomic impacts and benefits that have been felt in communities already affected by natural gas drilling and production, as well as strategies that can be taken to reduce socioeconomic impacts in communities.

Facilitator: Kari Matsko, Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project (3:21)

View additional information (external links)

• National Geographic article featuring Steph Hallowich: A dream dashed by the rush on gas
• Pike County Courier article: Houses for Shale: New mortgages unavailable for properties with gas drilling leases
• Unanswered Questions about The Economic Impact of Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale: Don’t Jump to Conclusions (J.M. Barth)
• Energy and the West, a series of reports by Headwater Economics that includes:
  • Impacts of Energy Development in Wyoming with a case study of Sweetwater County
  • Impact of Energy Development in Colorado with a case study of Mesa and Garfield Counties
  • A critical look at Fossil Fuel Extraction as a County Economic Development Strategy
  • An examination of tax policies and Energy Revenue in the Intermountain West (1 MB report) and four other reports.

Lunch Keynote (32:35)
Jeanne Shenandoah, Onondaga Nation, and Joseph Heath, General Counsel for the Onondaga NationHeath PDF

Panel 3:
Strategies for reducing community and environmental impacts

This panel will discuss approaches for protecting communities, watersheds and wildlands from the harmful impacts related to gas development.

Facilitator: Gwen Lachelt, Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project

View additional information

• Read the CELDF press release Pittsburgh Bans Natural Gas Drilling (Nov 16), and view a copy of Pittsburgh’s Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance, which was drafted by CELDF and Councilman Doug Shields
• Find out about the federal prohibition of drilling and mining in the Valle Vidal area of New Mexico
• e-handouts related to Jordan Yeager’s presentation:
  • Nockamixon Gas Drilling Ordinance
  • MPC603 Zoning Ordinance
  • DRBC Hearing Request
  • First Amended Notice of Appeal
  • Range Res. vs. Salem Township
  • Arbor vs. Nockamixon, and
  • Huntley vs. Oakmount
• Excerpts from La Plata County’s Oil and Gas Regulations
• OGAP’s model county regulations for CO, NM and MT

Panel 4:
When the landman comes knocking — Strategic options for individuals and communities

This panel will address some of the options available to landowners and mineral owners related to leasing, surface use agreements, pipelines and forced pooling.

Facilitator: Bruce Baizel, EARTHWORKS (3:34)

View additional information (external links)

• Read some background on Terry’s struggles with the industry.
• Find out What Surface Owners Should Know When a Landman Wants To Put a Pipeline Across Your Land (Dave McMahon)

Dinner Keynote (41:48)
Lois Gibbs, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (CHEJ)

Panel 5:
Web-based tools for information sharing and documentation

These panelists will provide information on some web-based tools for sharing information and data, as well as innovative ways to present and package information.

Facilitator: Alan Septoff, EARTHWORKS

View additional information (external links)

• Visit the SkyTruth web site; check out the SkyTruth Oil Spill Tracker Project
• Visit the FracTracker site; the FracTracker handout tells you more about FracTracker and how to register
• Familiarize yourself with the MIT extrAct tools:
• WellWatch (Watch the How-to video for WellWatch)
• Landman Report Card (Watch the How-to video for Landman Report Card)
• News Positioning System (Watch the How-to video for News Positioning System)

Compilation Notes: Background information extracted from the Earthworks People's Oil and Gas Summit Agenda. PDF of PowerPoints provided by the speakers at the Earthworks OGAP website. Audio recorded at the summit by TechieR. Originators of materials reserve all rights under International Copyright Law. This site is intended for educational and research purposes only.