Post by melody on Jul 22, 2014 17:47:29 GMT -5
AUDITOR GENERAL RELEASES PERFORMANCE AUDIT ON SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT
7/22/14
By Kati Lawson, PLS
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today unveiled a performance audit that shows the high rate of growth of the shale gas industry in Pennsylvania has “caught the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unprepared to effectively administer laws and regulations to protect drinking water and unable to efficiently respond to citizen complaints.”
DePasquale explained the audit showed eight different findings on DEP’s performance in monitoring potential impacts to water quality from shale gas development 2009-2012, including:
• DEP failed to issue administrative orders every time water contamination was confirmed.
• DEP communicated poorly with its citizens.
• DEP’s complaint tracking system was inefficient and ineffective.
• DEP failed to implement an effective shale gas drilling waste tracking system.
• DEP failed to meet reporting requirements on shale gas well inspections.
“There are very dedicated hard-working people at DEP but they are being hampered in doing their jobs by lack of resources… and inconsistent or failed implementation of department policies, among other things,” opined DePasquale. “It is almost like firefighters trying to put out a five-alarm fire with a 20-foot garden hose. There is no question that DEP needs help and soon to protect clean water.”
DePasquale explained the audit revealed the department failed to take formal, documented actions against all well operators who contaminate a water supply. He continued by describing the need to provide a transparent way for citizens to access their data; “DEP must improve how it conveys reliable information to the public for an activity that is as high-profile as shale gas development.”
DePasquale described some of the recommendations made by the auditors, including: requiring DEP to develop better controls over how complaints are received, tracked, investigated, and resolved; create a true manifest system to track shale gas waste; invest in information technology resources within DEP; and always issue an administrative order to a well operator who DEP has determined adversely impacted a water supply.
DePasquale said DEP has disagreed with the eight findings of the audit while agreeing with the majority of the 29 recommendations.
DePasquale did reference a report by DEP on the number of water supplies that have been contaminated which was put out today, though the report is not available online at this time. “That is something that I view as a positive development,” praised DePasquale. He said his goal is for the Commonwealth to utilize power sources in Pennsylvania while maintaining stewardship to the environment.
“Shale gas development offers significant benefits to our Commonwealth and our nation, but these benefits cannot come at the expense of the public’s trust, health, and well-being,” concluded DePasquale. “We must collectively find solutions to this challenge so that Pennsylvania becomes a leader among states in regulating shale gas development. I am committed to working with the governor, the General Assembly, and other partners to ensure this audit begins that discussion.”
When asked why the audit looked beyond the protection of Pennsylvania’s water quality to aspects of DEP’s regulations, DePasquale said the audit had to determine how DEP was following regulations to measure how well the department was fulfilling its duties.
“If you don’t question the dedication of DEP employees, where do you place the blame,” asked a member of the press. DePasquale answered he believes there is a resource problem within DEP, and that would place the blame on the General Assembly and governor. “This happened way too fast beginning with the second Rendell administration when the drilling boom took off; we have been playing catch-up since then,” explained DePasquale.
A member of the press questioned why the auditors did not check the paper records against electronic information. DePasquale said his auditors did a statistical sampling audit of the paper records, though he said he has little confidence that the information received from DEP is accurate and complete.
When asked why the audit took so long to complete, DePasquale said, “We wanted to make sure it was done well, but it also took time conferring with DEP on discrepancies we found.” He pointed out his office would have produced an interim report if it found something drastic, but that did not occur.
A member of the press asked how many more inspectors should be hired. DePasquale recommended DEP read the audit and discern the number of inspectors needed.
The audit may be read in its entirety here: www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/speDEP072114.pdf
7/22/14
By Kati Lawson, PLS
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today unveiled a performance audit that shows the high rate of growth of the shale gas industry in Pennsylvania has “caught the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unprepared to effectively administer laws and regulations to protect drinking water and unable to efficiently respond to citizen complaints.”
DePasquale explained the audit showed eight different findings on DEP’s performance in monitoring potential impacts to water quality from shale gas development 2009-2012, including:
• DEP failed to issue administrative orders every time water contamination was confirmed.
• DEP communicated poorly with its citizens.
• DEP’s complaint tracking system was inefficient and ineffective.
• DEP failed to implement an effective shale gas drilling waste tracking system.
• DEP failed to meet reporting requirements on shale gas well inspections.
“There are very dedicated hard-working people at DEP but they are being hampered in doing their jobs by lack of resources… and inconsistent or failed implementation of department policies, among other things,” opined DePasquale. “It is almost like firefighters trying to put out a five-alarm fire with a 20-foot garden hose. There is no question that DEP needs help and soon to protect clean water.”
DePasquale explained the audit revealed the department failed to take formal, documented actions against all well operators who contaminate a water supply. He continued by describing the need to provide a transparent way for citizens to access their data; “DEP must improve how it conveys reliable information to the public for an activity that is as high-profile as shale gas development.”
DePasquale described some of the recommendations made by the auditors, including: requiring DEP to develop better controls over how complaints are received, tracked, investigated, and resolved; create a true manifest system to track shale gas waste; invest in information technology resources within DEP; and always issue an administrative order to a well operator who DEP has determined adversely impacted a water supply.
DePasquale said DEP has disagreed with the eight findings of the audit while agreeing with the majority of the 29 recommendations.
DePasquale did reference a report by DEP on the number of water supplies that have been contaminated which was put out today, though the report is not available online at this time. “That is something that I view as a positive development,” praised DePasquale. He said his goal is for the Commonwealth to utilize power sources in Pennsylvania while maintaining stewardship to the environment.
“Shale gas development offers significant benefits to our Commonwealth and our nation, but these benefits cannot come at the expense of the public’s trust, health, and well-being,” concluded DePasquale. “We must collectively find solutions to this challenge so that Pennsylvania becomes a leader among states in regulating shale gas development. I am committed to working with the governor, the General Assembly, and other partners to ensure this audit begins that discussion.”
When asked why the audit looked beyond the protection of Pennsylvania’s water quality to aspects of DEP’s regulations, DePasquale said the audit had to determine how DEP was following regulations to measure how well the department was fulfilling its duties.
“If you don’t question the dedication of DEP employees, where do you place the blame,” asked a member of the press. DePasquale answered he believes there is a resource problem within DEP, and that would place the blame on the General Assembly and governor. “This happened way too fast beginning with the second Rendell administration when the drilling boom took off; we have been playing catch-up since then,” explained DePasquale.
A member of the press questioned why the auditors did not check the paper records against electronic information. DePasquale said his auditors did a statistical sampling audit of the paper records, though he said he has little confidence that the information received from DEP is accurate and complete.
When asked why the audit took so long to complete, DePasquale said, “We wanted to make sure it was done well, but it also took time conferring with DEP on discrepancies we found.” He pointed out his office would have produced an interim report if it found something drastic, but that did not occur.
A member of the press asked how many more inspectors should be hired. DePasquale recommended DEP read the audit and discern the number of inspectors needed.
The audit may be read in its entirety here: www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/speDEP072114.pdf
