SURFACE WATER AND SEDIMENT QUALITY IN CENTRE, CLEARFIELD, AND CLINTON COUNTIES, PA IN THE CONTEXT OF AMD IMPAIRMENT AND MARCELLUS SHALE GAS-WELL DRILLING

Lock Haven University Water and Soil Resources Lab began its ongoing relationships with several community-based organizations in 2010 to monitor the quality of surface water in Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton Counties, PA. Participating organizations include the Clearfield and Centre County chapters of the Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps, Beech Creek Watershed Association, and the Centre County Conservation District. Watersheds located within the monitored counties contain AMD impacted streams as well as multiple Marcellus Shale drilling locations. The study was intended to monitor potential areas for contamination due to natural gas extraction, as well as surface run-off from abandoned mine land. Measured field parameters included temperature, pH, DO, TDS, conductance and salinity. Lab analyses were performed on samples to measure concentrations of several cations and anions, such as total iron, aluminum, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, barium, sulfate, and chloride. Other test parameters include TSS, bromine, total hardness, total Mg, and total Ca, as well as acidity and alkalinity. Soil and sediment samples collected from the Beech Creek watershed were analyzed for various metal concentrations. A set of water samples from this watershed were analyzed at Susquehanna University in order to cross check the results. Water samples were also analyzed for methane concentration at the Pennsylvania State University.

Multiple conclusions have been reached regarding the water quality. Samples collected from the Beech Creek watershed and Clearfield sub-watersheds typically exhibit values below the established MCLs of drinking water standards for various chemical parameters, which are related to natural gas extraction. However, multiple study locations exhibit pervasive AMD impairment, which is a direct result of legacy coal mining. Through active collaboration with community-based organizations, students have the opportunity to garner research experience, while providing a valuable service to the greater community. This study has far-reaching implications for policy-making in regards to the development of Marcellus Shale as a resource while protecting the environment and preserving human health.