Center for Sustainable Shale Development Certification Program Opens
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD), a collaborative between environmental organizations and energy companies to encourage responsible shale gas development in the Appalachian region, announced its independent third-party certification program is now accepting applications.
The program
The certification is based on the Center’s initial performance standards that were developed to reflect leading industry practices. Companies can seek certifications in Air & Climate, Water & Waste, or both.
Auditors from Bureau Veritas, a company that specializes in independent testing, inspection and certification, will evaluate the applicant’s operations to the standards that are specific to the certification a company chooses.
Evaluations are expected to take three to six months.
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, CSSD is an independent organization whose mission is to support continuous improvement and innovative practices in the shale gas industry in the Appalachian Basin.
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.