ACHD Allegheny County Health Department : announced plans to begin an air monitoring study in a community near to the Marcellus Shale natural gas production project at Pittsburgh International Airport

PITTSBURGH - The Allegheny County Health Department announced today that it will begin an air monitoring study in a community near to the Marcellus Shale natural gas production project at Pittsburgh International Airport. The monitoring is being done following a request from County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, after discussions about homeowners' concerns with State Senator Matt Smith and State Representative Mark Mustio.

"This project represents the first large-scale development of a wet gas field in Allegheny County. At the request of County Executive Fitzgerald, we will conduct an air monitoring study in a community near to the project to make certain there are no unforeseen problems," said Jim Thompson, Deputy Director of Environmental Health.

The monitoring will also verify that public health is not adversely affected. The Health Department will begin monitoring before operations commence to establish baseline concentrations, and will then continue for at least a year after production begins.

"We are extremely confident that our partner in this project, CONSOL Energy, will conduct the drilling and extraction in a safe and environmentally responsible manner," said County Executive Fitzgerald. "That being said, this is also the first project of this size in Allegheny County and we want to ensure that this is  done in a health-conscious way. Senator Smith has certainly heard concerns from his residents, and I believed that his recommendation for monitoring was a proactive way to ensure the air quality in the area of the project."

The Marcellus Shale natural gas production project at Pittsburgh International Airport provides a significant economic opportunity to Allegheny County. It adds to the supply of inexpensive natural gas and co-product natural gas liquids which will attract the construction of local facilities that utilize these feed stocks. CONSOL expects that construction of the well sites, centralized impoundments and pipelines will begin in the second quarter of 2014. Drilling activity is expected to begin in July 2014 with two vertical rigs. Once horizontal rig operations begin, the county will be reduced to one. Approximately 17 miles of gas lines and 12 miles of water line will be utilized to deliver gas to market and provide water for well completions.

"Representative Mustio and I have had ongoing conversations with residents and have worked to make sure that they are being heard throughout the process and that their concerns are being addressed," said Senator Smith. "I thank County Executive Fitzgerald for his commitment to work with all parties in an interactive manner to make sure energy exploration in Allegheny County is done in the most responsible way."

In February of 2013, County Council approved an ordinance authorizing the least of minerals at the Pittsburgh International Airport and permitted drilling and other necessary operations to extract oil, gas, natural gas liquids and other materials.  CONSOL Energy, Inc. will pay an estimated $500 million over the next 20 years for the right to drill for shale gas on the 9,263 acres surrounding the airport. CONSOL also plans to invest another $500 million in drilling-related infrastructure and other costs.