Fracking at the Airport

The photo to the left is from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW), where a whole lotta fracking has been going on.

Above and to the right is a map of well pads and horizontal bores beneath DFW. Each “dot” is a well pad. The horizontal bores go right under DFW buildings and runways. Kind of makes you feel all nice and safe when the plane you are on is trying to dodge drill rigs in the middle of a snowstorm.

So, this airport is in Texas, what does it have to do with Pennsylvania? Well, the Pittsburgh airport is headed for the same type of industrialization.

Marcellus Gas Drilling Headed for Pittsburgh International Airport

The citizens of Allegheny County own 9,200 acres at the region’s main airport site, but only about half is used for runways and building. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is a strong proponent of leasing some of the land for shale gas drilling, and negotiations are ongoing with Consol Energy. Allegheny County Council will hold a belated public hearing February 7, with leasing at the County airport also in the mix.

But wait – didn’t Pittsburgh ban natural gas drilling? Yes, it did, back in 2010. And it made the headlines, spurring a few other Pennsylvania communities to ban or at least limit natural gas industrialization. However, the Pittsburgh Airport is out of the jurisdiction of the ban, therefore the ban does not apply.

Pittsburgh ban is in trouble.

Pittsburgh’s ban on drilling could end | By Bob Bauder | Thursday, September 20, 2012 | TribLive.com

Pittsburgh City Councilman Patrick Dowd plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate a ban on Marcellus shale drilling in the city by creating strict zoning regulations for gas extraction.

Council banned gas drilling citywide in 2010, but council members said in recent weeks that they have privately discussed amending or easing the restriction.

Dowd scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning to talk about his bill in detail. It would generally create zoning regulations and an extensive planning process for mineral extraction, including natural gas drilling, according to Nathaniel Hanson, Dowd’s communications and administrative manager.

Dowd declined to comment further.

Excerpt: Critics such as Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald have said the ban prompted the industry to bypass Pittsburgh when deciding locations for corporate headquarters and conventions.

“The words ‘ban’ or ‘moratorium’ send a signal to companies that might want to build a headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh. It sends a signal that you’re not wanted here,” Fitzgerald said.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl remains opposed to the ban and supports drilling with “common-sense safeguards” through zoning regulations, spokeswoman Joanna Doven said.

“We don’t believe warding off an industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs is prudent,” she said.

Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a drilling industry group based in Cecil, said she could not comment on Dowd’s legislation before she reads it.

“We’ll take a look at it,” Klaber said.

On December 4th, an ad hoc anti fracking group, Communities of Common Concern, went to the County Council meeting. A Questionnaire was delivered to the Council. . They also received a copy of “Shale Field Stories”, a publication documenting harms to people living in gas drilling areas. Council members were asked to return the completed questionnaire by December 18, 2012. As of January 25, 2013 not one of the council members replied. Silence. Click Here for the Questionnaire.

The questionnaire asked about views on natural gas drilling, how informed do you think you are, views on Act 13, and did you receive any campaign contributions from natural gas interests?

With the Pittsburgh Ban under threat and the airport heading for a fracking, Communities of Common Concern are trying to gauge the county council’s leanings regarding natural gas industrialization and perhaps to connect a few dots.

Let us help them a bit on the dots.

Gotta get airborne before its too late

Pittsburgh is a municipality within Allegheny County. As such the County - which unlike others in Pennsylvania has a single county executive and a 15 member council. The Council is elected by district.

The county council has a bill on the table which was introduced last week. If approved it would authorize the County’s Airport Authority to enter into an agreement or agreements with Consol Energy to lease and frack the 9,000 acre airport property.

Barb Daly Danko was the former D-Committee Chair of city’s 14th ward and espouses a liberal/progressive agenda. She is a political ally and protégé of Fitzgerald. She was appointed to Fitzgerald’s seat on the County Council when he resigned (required by the county home rule charter) to run for County Executive in 2011.

She refuses to say anything on the matter, despite being asked what her position is on a number of occasions. No response.

Two municipalities her County Council district encompasses are Pittsburgh and West Homestead, and they have enacted the Community Rights Ordinance, banning shale gas extraction.

Municipalities with the rights ordinance bans in place in Allegheny County are: Pittsburgh, Homestead, West Homestead, Baldwin, Wilkinsburg and Forest Hills.

The county levies property taxes on all county residents. All county residents have standing in the matter of leasing Allegheny County’s “Pittsburgh International Airport.”

The county council has a bill on the table which was introduced last week. If approved it would authorize the County’s Airport Authority to enter into an agreement or agreements with Consol Energy to lease and frack the 9,000 acre airport property.

Email from Danko to Doug Shields, former member of the Pittsburgh City Council:

—————————————-

From:bdalydanko—— To: Doug Shields Date: Jan 18, 2013

7387-13 is the number for the proposed ordinance to drill/ lease mineral rights at the PIA.

7388-13 is the motion to hold a public hearing. See below for the details.

Authorizing the Council of Allegheny County to conduct a public hearing,pursuant to Article II.G. of the Rules of Allegheny County Council on February7, 2013, beginning at 6 p.m. in Robert Morris University’s Sewall Center International room, located at 119 Campus Drive in Moon Township, PA.

Council Member Macey shall be the presiding officer for such public hearing.

Barbara Daly Danko

——————————————

Pittsburgh International Airport drilling deal could net $40 million, Sum would eclipse Consol’s initial offer | By Andrew McGill | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | January 18, 2013

A month ago, it looked as if the Allegheny County Airport Authority was throwing money away.

But county officials now say that a bid by Consol Energy Inc. to drill for shale gas on airport land will give the authority a lump-sum payment of up to $40 million, nearly double the original offer.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Thursday that he expects ongoing negotiations with Consol, which was awarded the project last month, will end with the energy company handing over a $35 million to $40 million bonus once the deal is signed.

Excerpt: In December, EQT Corp. and Consol subsidiary CNX Gas Co. LLC submitted bids to drill for Marcellus Shale natural gas on the authority’s 9,300 available acres, currently a hodgepodge of brownfields and scattered industrial development.

EQT’s proposal, a per-acre advance price of $4,750 netting a total $44 million, was more than double what Consol offered — $2,250 per acre, or $20.8 million.

But the authority chose Consol’s lower bid, saying its offer left leeway that could end up more profitable in the long run.

EQT representatives called the authority’s decision-making “arbitrary,” suggesting the bidding process was less than impartial.

“If it turns out the authority negotiated the price and terms with the sole bidder, this is certainly not an indication of a fair solicitation process,” EQT spokeswoman Linda Robertson wrote in an email.

Excerpt: Mr. Fitzgerald has been vague in explaining why the authority took the lesser deal, repeating only that it was the better bargain. The bid includes an 18 percent annual royalty on natural gas proceeds, which the county believes could net $3 million to $4 million a year

Hide The Ball

According to Shields, Danko will not/has not stated any position on the matter.

The county has scheduled one public hearing Feb. 7, 6 pm - in the far western edge of the county at the Robert Morris University campus near the airport in Moon Twp. The airport is situated in Moon and Findlay Townships, with most of the land in Findlay Twp.

The location and time of the hearing has what I call “built in failure”. The location is far enough outside of the city as to make traveling difficult in the event of bad weather. It is not an easily accessible central location. And 6pm? Oh for Pete’s Sake, people are stuck in traffic, trying to get home or to make it to the hearing on time. How many will not show up because of the drive and time? This is “built in failure”, and provides political cover, so the county officials can say “We had a hearing and very few people showed up”.

I did check the County Web site, why is there no notice of the hearing?

“It is my understanding that a legal notice was published in the paper (Post Gazette) Legal notices are about the size of a large postage stamp in 8 pt type. It sits among other legal notices of all sorts. They are not available on on-line versions of the paper”, said Shields

Shields elaborated “The county council has held zero pubic meetings for comment, discussion or public input on the concept prior to issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting bids from drillers in July, 2012. They have not commissioned any studies, internal or otherwise, regarding environmental impacts, health risk assessments or risk assessment from which the public might gain some insight or understanding of shale gas extraction.

Subsequent to the issuance of the RFP they have been NO public meeting, no information at all as to what the risks/rewards are.

The land involved belongs to the people of Allegheny County and the county government is the trustee of that land. The owner has not been consulted in any meaningful way on this transaction by their trustee.

This is a classic “hide the ball” play on the part of County Executive Fitzgerald as well as a silent Council.”

In November 2011, Richard “Rich” Fitzgerald (D) won the Allegheny County Chief Executive seat by defeating Republican challenger D. Raja.

Fitzgerald’s real battle was during the primary, when he was face to face with Mark Patrick Flaherty (D), then County Controller.

The EMAIL

Flaherty rips Fitzgerald’s appeal for shale campaign money | March 30, 2012 | By James O’Toole and Timothy McNulty | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Excerpt: While all of the candidates for county executive favor the new industry’s development, including plans to allow drilling on county land, Mr. Fitzgerald has recently stepped up his attacks on a Flaherty proposal to form some sort of investment partnership with gas firms in an effort to reap a higher return for drilling on county property.

A new Fitzgerald ad amplified that criticism, contending that a Flaherty administration would place taxpayers at risk through its drilling policies.

“Favoring gas companies over taxpayers — that’s Mark Flaherty,” the television commercial charges.

Excerpt: Suggesting that this line of attack was hypocritical, the Flaherty campaign supplied reporters with a copy of a fund-raising appeal that Mr. Fitzgerald sent to Kathryn Klaber, the president of the Marcellus Shale coalition, an industry trade group. In the email, sent on Jan. 27, Mr. Fitzgerald portrays himself as the better friend of the drillers and complains that industry figures had not contributed adequately to his campaign.

In addition to quoting its opponent’s fund-raising appeals, the Flaherty campaign noted that Mr. Fitzgerald’s campaign manager, Mike Mikus, also the vice president of a Colorado-based public relations firm whose clients are drawn from the energy industry.

Click here for the email from Fitzgerald to Klaber. (Also see: Marcellus Shale Coalition: In the Lobby)

Excerpts from the email:

• It is critical for my viability in eyes of the political world to have money in the bank and have it early.
• The next Chief Executive of Allegheny County will either be me or Mark Flaherty. If you want the leader of this region to be someone who is clueless about natural gas and your industry, continue to sit on your hands that is exactly what will happen.
• Only EQT, Mike Hillenbrand and Keith Mangini have remotely gotten behind me.
• My campaign has gotten next to nothing from Range, next to nothing from CNX/Consol, next to nothing from Atlas, next to nothing from US Steel. And absolutely nothing from Chespapeake (sic), Cabot, Talisman or anyone else.
• I love going to the expensive “Captians (sic) of Industry” parties in New York City, but would rather have the “Captians” (sic) put their money behind a candidate who will promote the growth of industry
• I need money and I need it fast.
• I love going to your wine and cheese receptions to hear what a great advocate I am for the natural gas industry, how as an CMU engineer I understand the benefits of natural gas for the environment, global warming, national security, jobs, regional growth, our trade deficit, etc. You have the courage to take a stand and stand up for what’s right. Well if you like that, stand up for me now. Because if you don’t I will be gone in a few months, and the voices you hear won’t be your friends.
• This is “The Race”. The Chief Executive of Allegheny County is the most influential political office west of the Susquehana (sic). He or she sets the agenda for all of Western Pennsylvania. It is more important than a state senate, state house, or even a congressional race.

Breaking: Marcellus Exec Confirms Fitzgerald Emails | By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor | Politicspa.com

Excerpt: Klaber confirmed that she did receive the email from Fitzgerald, but said she does not know who leaked it to the Flaherty campaign.

“I did receive this unsolicited email from Rich Fitzgerald,” Klaber told PoliticsPA. “The MSC receives many solicitations for funds, but has never made a donation to political campaigns. We look forward to working with our next County Executive in Allegheny County, regardless of who that may be.”

It is widely believed that John Verbanac, a political operative and ally of the Flaherty campaign leaked the memo and it was provided to him by Kathrine Klaber.

Pardon a short detour. Verbanac was a former aide to the late Sen. John Heinz and then to Sen. Rick Santorum. He has built a portfolio of political influence that includes a seat on the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees, and a place in Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s New Pittsburgh Coalition.

After losing his Senate seat, Santorum became a lobbyist. One of the corporations on his client list was Consol Energy Inc.

The email reads more like a desperate plea than a run of the mill unsolicited request for funds.

Fitzgerald did receive a small sum from EQT as was mentioned in the email.

And regarding Mike Mikus‘s natural gas ties…. Mikus is director of the Consumer Energy Alliance’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter based in Bridgeville, Pa. Consumer Energy Alliance is one of many front groups run by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).

Follow the Money

Fitzgerald’s campaign finance reports on the Allegheny County website only go through 2011 primary season (election season reports are not available on the site yet.) While we are unable to see if Fitzgerald’s email to Klaber resulted in any donations from MSC members, we can glean a few bits from the money accumulated during the primary race.

Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rand, donated to Fitzgerald, and are members of Marcellus Shale Coalition. Buchanan has provided services to Consol (CNX). They donated $2,500 between 5-3-2011 to 6-16-2011

Baker, K Scott, and Clark, Brian are both employed by Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rand and were on Corbett’s 2010 Transition team - PA Energy & Environment Committee (see also: Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s Swivel Chairs )

Sidenote: Consol and Dominion are subsidiaries of CNX.

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott donated $500 to Fitzgerald. Between 5-3-2011 to 6-16-2011. Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC are members of Marcellus Shale Coalition.

McGinley, John R Jr, of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC donated $500 between 5-3-2011 to 6-16-2011.

John Hanger, Former DEP Secretary is listed at Eckert as “special counsel”

Moody, Kevin, of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC is a member of PA Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) and on the PIOGA Transportation and Marketing Committee.

Not all donations have a direct line from Natural gas industry or its immediate associated players. Sometimes donations come from interests on the sidelines.

For instance, Richard Lewis, former Pittsburgh airport authority (resigned in 2001), Executive of Orbital Engineering. Orbital is headed by Robert Lewis, who resigned his seat on the authority board in March 2000 at the request of Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey. He served first as chairman and then vice chairman of the board after the authority’s inception in 1999. Orbital Engineering Inc. can be paid up to $300,000 over the course of the contract, which runs from Sept. 1 to June 30, 2003.

Orbital Engineering provides engineered solutions and project management expertise to the pipelines, terminals, shale gas, refining, power generation, and utilities industries.

Lewis donated $50,000 to Fitzgerald.

Fracking the Pittsburgh airport could find some work tossed their way.

Minotte Corporations could also benefit via their experience in power generation and petro-chemical contracting. President of Minotte Corporations is David W. Minotte, who is also chairman of Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Regarding fracking the airport: “There is a lot of interest in airport property from established energy companies,” said David Minnotte, chairman, Allegheny County Airport Authority. “Seeking leases for gas drilling is an important means of generating non-aviation revenue that will reduce the cost of operations for the Airport Authority. That in turn could help reduce fees to the airlines which benefits passengers.”

Minotte donated a total of $45,000 to Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald has lobbied several times to have the Pittsburgh Ban on Natural Gas development lifted.

A public hearing about Fracking the Airport

A public hearing about Fracking the Airport is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 7, 2012, 6pm, Robert Morris Univ., 119 Campus Dr. Sewall Center International room, Moon Township. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will introduce legislation to affirm a 30 year contract between the County Airport Authority and Consol Energy to begin Shale Gas Extraction Operations (“Fracking”) at Pittsburgh International in Moon Twp. and County Airports in West Mifflin Borough.

It will be referred to Standing Committee and a pubic hearing held Thursday, Feb. 7. There is, at this time, ONLY ONE HEARING IS PLANNED. Leave work early, take the day off, do what you need to do to get to this hearing. This is your chance to make your voice heard – make it a very loud voice.

As of yet, there are no plans to have any hearings in West Mifflin or in nearby municipalities in the area of the Allegheny County Airport. (Another place the natural gas industry wants to frack and will probably be a twofer deal). No cogent public information program exists so that the public would have the ability to comment in a meaningful way.

There is more to the natural gas industry than fracking a hole in the ground. The gas drilling at the airport will also require gathering lines, compressor stations and more. The industrialization will spread beyond airport property lines and into residential areas.

If Fracking is allowed at the airport, just remember that using your seat cushion as a floatation device won’t be of much use. 

Related posts:

Amicus Pals in Pa. The Fracking of Pennsylvania State Parks Range Resource: Making Problems Go Away 100 Fracking Feet From A House Fracking – The Elephant in the Gas

Tagged as: Allegheny County Council, CNX, Consol, Danko, Fitzgerald, Flaherty, fracking, fracking pollution, gas well leaks, Home Rule, John Verbanac, Kathrine Klaber, Marcellus Shale, marcellus shale coalition, Pittsburgh International Airport, Santorum