2010: Monitoring Protocols for the Marcellus Shale
Natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale is already under way—and likely to begin soon in New York—yet systematic monitoring procedures are not in place to protect natural resources and public health. A monitoring program will assess any damage caused by drilling operation accidents or poor practices, establish accountability, and yield critical information about effects on adjacent industries, such as agriculture and tourism. Cornell researchers are developing procedures and protocols as the groundwork for programs to monitor air and water quality in the Marcellus Shale region. The project promises to raise public awareness of the full range of costs associated with natural gas extraction and lead to more informed policy decisions.
Investigators: Kieran Donaghy, Albert George, Susan Riha, Susan Christopherson