Presented to: By: Date: Federal Aviation Administration Environmental Requirements For Extraction of...

Presented to:

By:

Date:

Federal AviationAdministration

Environmental Requirements

For Extraction of Gas & Oil on Airport Property

35th Annual Airports Conference

Edward Gabsewics, CEP

April 3, 2012


35th Annual Airports ConferenceApril 3, 2012

Objective

Provide consistent guidance to sponsors on environmental documentation needed to comply with requirements of all environmental laws


35th Annual Airports ConferenceApril 3, 2012 3

OverviewSee Chapter 3. FAA Review Process

Proposed ALP Changes trigger need for environmental review

As with other airport development, sponsor needs to consult with/assist FAA in complying with all environmental laws

Consult your Environmental Protection Specialist (EPS) early



Level of Environmental Review / NEPA Documentation

Environmental Assessment likely

Scope and Nature of Proposed On-Airport Operations will dictate extent of environmental review and timeframe for FAA determination

Proposed ALP changes should identify overall infrastructure and type and location of gas & oil operations including individual well heads if known

Include as much detail as possible on well locations to avoid need for supplemental environmental reviews



Outline Entire Process Exploration Well Design/Site Prep Drilling Well Construction H20 & Fracturing Fluid Prep & Storage Hydraulic Fracturing Collection, Handling, and Disposal of Flow-Back &

Wastewater Collection of Gas, Processing & Transmission Well Closure Site Reclamation



Environmental Risks Each stage of process has associated environmental risks Risks will vary depending on:

- Scope & Nature of Operations

- Geographic Location / Geologic Characteristics of Site Must consider SOPs for each stage Spill Response and Blowout Plans also need to be analyzed



What If…A drilling site or other related facility was not addressed in initial NEPA analysis?

A separate environmental analysis must be undertaken and documentation developed for each new drilling site or other facility

Sponsor Action

Airport sponsor must notify FAA asap with proposed location of new well sites or other facilities not previously evaluated

Airport sponsor will need to hold up operations on new development until FAA completes environmental determination



Well Closure and Site Reclamation

Must be done in accord with state/local regulatory requirements

Upon closure and site abandonment, Sponsor submits changes to ALP (with reclamation requirements referenced)

NEPA document should have addressed reclamation…BUT…

If conditions at closure/reclamation have changed, FAA may need a new / Supplemental NEPA document



State of Environmental Concerns USEPA studies on-going Nationally

USEPA critical of Pennsylvania regs on Marcellus Shale

Debates raging on Fracking impacts to Drinking Water Resources

State of New York still deliberating

Earthquake concerns

Bradford County, Pennsylvania highest number of wells…multi-faceted concerns



Conclusion

Early coordination with FAA on environmental requirements

Refer to FAA Eastern Region Airports Division Sponsor Guide (Updated 11/16/2010) while AC gets finalized

Remember…ALP changes trigger need to address Environmental / NEPA

Provide as much detail as possible to avoid delays



Questions

Harrisburg ADO EPSs

Ed Gabsewics & Susan McDonald

Ed @ 717-730-2832 / Sue @ 717-730-2841

Presented to: By: Date: Federal Aviation Administration Environmental Requirements For Extraction of...

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