Pavillion

'Gasland 2,' a documentary about fracking issues, premiers this weekend

Irina Zhorov — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:40:35 +0000

‘Gasland 2’, a sequel to the 2010 documentary ‘Gasland,’ premiers this weekend in New York City. The original film focused on land owners alleging that oil and gas development on their land contaminated their water sources. The movie is thought to have brought the terms ‘fracking’ into the mainstream. The films’ director, Josh Fox, says the sequel investigates how government and regulatory agencies have dealt with what affected land owners say is contamination by industry.

Pavillion Working Group Has New Issue To Address

Joshua Scheer — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:34:08 +0000

A working group looking into groundwater contamination near Pavillion is still debating findings of contamination of water wells near the town.

State officials are still studying the results of a U.S. Geological Survey test and some possible conflicting information with an Environmental Protection Agency study.

Governor Mead will let science and testing guide them on Pavillion

Bob Beck — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:57:46 +0000

Last week, the U-S Geological Survey released testing it did on water wells near the town of Pavillion.

Governor Matt Mead says the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is still reviewing the data and he’s not prepared to comment until he reads their analysis. The Environmental Protection Agency did follow-up testing as well and should release those results soon.

USGS releases raw data, but no analysis, about Pavillion groundwater

Willow Belden — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:28:03 +0000

The U.S. Geological Survey has released new data about groundwater testing near Pavillion. The testing was meant to provide additional information about whether hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, caused water contamination there.

Keith Guille with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality says no one quite knows what the results mean yet, because the USGS only provided raw numbers, not analysis.

Investigation Of Contaminated Pavillion Water Presses On

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:03:15 +0000

HOST: In December, the Environmental Protection Agency released a draft report tentatively linking water contamination in the town of Pavillion to hydraulic fracturing activities in the area. The release of the draft report caused a spectacle, and state, federal and tribal agencies have now caught in a bureaucratic holding pattern, while residents affected by contaminated water wait in a form of investigative limbo. Wyoming Public Radio’s Tristan Ahtone attended a recent Pavillion Work Group meeting to get updates on the investigation.

Pavillion residents may apply for water tanks

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:56:01 +0000

Residents in the town of Pavillion will soon be able to receive water cistern systems. A cistern is a water holding tank. Pavillion is at the center of an ongoing Environmental Protection Agency investigation on whether hydraulic fracturing has contaminated the towns drinking water.

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Supervisor resigns

Bob Beck — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:10:13 +0000

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Supervisor Tom Doll has resigned.

Doll recently apologized for saying greed is motivating people in the Pavillion area who blame hydraulic fracturing for polluting the groundwater around the small central Wyoming community.

The remark was made at a meeting of regulators in Vancouver. Renny MacKay, a spokesman for Governor Mead said that Doll’s remarks didn’t reflect the view of the Matt Mead administration.

Pavillion residents share mixed feelings about cistern solution to contaminated wells

Rebecca Martinez — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:26:57 +0000

Wyoming plans to install water cisterns at the homes of residents in the Pavillion area’s natural gas field. An EPA draft report suggests contaminants in area wells are connected to hydraulic fracturing, but state officials say the cause of the contamination is unknown.

Wyoming working on a water solution for Pavillion

Bob Beck — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:57:45 +0000

As testing continues on whether fracking contaminated groundwater in the Pavillion area, Governor Matt Mead and state officials will host a meeting next week on a new way to get fresh water to citizens.

Pavillion residents feel betrayed by EPA report delay

Rebecca Martinez — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:56:52 +0000

A group of Pavillion residents says Wyoming officials betrayed them by delaying the release of information tentatively connecting hydraulic fracturing with groundwater pollution in the area.

An Associated Press investigation shows that Gov. Matt Mead convinced the Environmental Protection Agency to delay its draft report on the contamination by a full month. Mead and other state officials used the extra time to try and debunk the findings before they could harm the oil and gas industries.

Review blames fracking for water contamination in Pavillion

Irina Zhorov — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:53:30 +0000

A new independent review of the E-P-A study on hydraulic fracturing in Pavillion confirms the link between water contamination and fracking. The review was requested by a conglomerate of environmental groups.

One of the criticisms of the E-P-A study was that it was poorly conducted science, and therefore, put forth unreliable conclusions. But the hydrologic consultant who did the review, Tom Myers, says the E-P-A did goodwork.

Federal, State, And Tribal Officials Push Back Final Report On Pavillion

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:10:57 +0000

State, tribal and federal officials have agreed to work collaboratively in Pavillion to do further sampling and collect more data in their water monitoring wells. The move is expected to push back a final report on a possible link between water contamination and hydraulic fracturing in the area until later this year.

Legislator Says Tribes Should Not Take Lead On Reservation

Tristan Ahtone — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:33:16 +0000

With problems over water contamination in the town of Pavillion, and possible actions to remediate a contaminated uranium site on the Wind River Reservation, tribal officials have pushed to be the lead agency in both situations, as the areas impacted are within the boundaries of the reservation and impact tribal trust assets.

Senate addresses Pavillion water with money

Bob Beck — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:39:37 +0000

The Wyoming Senate has approved adding 750-thousand dollars for a water system to help residents of Pavillion whose water may be contaminated. The E-P-A has indicated that a number of residents should not drink water from their wells do to high levels of contaminants.

Senator Eli Bebout asked for the funding in the omnibus water bill, but senator Charles Scott questioned why the State needs to pay for the water and wondered how bad it really was.

Bebout said that for some, the water is a problem.

Governor Mead Pledges Support For Impacted Water Users In Pavillion

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:45:50 +0000

At a meeting with Pavillion residents this morning, Governor Mead said he wants to continue providing people with safe water.

Pavillion is at the center of an EPA investigation about whether hydraulic fracturing has contaminated the town’s drinking water supply. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease recommended that residents refrain from drinking the water AND shower with their windows open, and as a result, area oil and gas producer EnCana, and the state of Wyoming, are now paying to have bottled water delivered to residents.

Tribes seek greater role in Pavillion investigation

Tristan Ahtone — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:55:48 +0000

In the wake of a congressional hearing over a draft report by the Environmental Protection Agency that links hydraulic fracturing with water contamination in the town of Pavillion, the Wind River Tribes are pushing to take a bigger role in the investigation.

EPA's Pavillion Report Slammed During House Subcommittee Hearing

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:20:51 +0000

Members of the U.S. House Energy and Environment Subcommittee slammed the Environmental Protection Agency during a hearing about the agency’s ground water research in the town of Pavillion.

The Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing got off to a late start after “Gasland” filmmaker Josh Fox was arrested for trying to film the proceedings. Fox has spent considerable time in Pavillion documenting water contamination that may be associated with hydraulic fracturing. An ABC News crew was denied entrance to the hearing.

Pavillion Residents Urge Support For EPA Ahead Of Subcommittee Hearing

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:50:15 +0000

Tomorrow, the U-S House of Representatives’ Energy and Environment Subcommittee will hear about the Environmental Protection Agency’s ongoing investigation of groundwater contamination in the town of Pavillion. However, Pavillion residents say they were not invited to testify.

In December the EPA released a draft report on its three-year water contamination investigation. It indicated that ground water in Pavillion’s aquifer contains compounds that are “likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing.”

Public comment period extended on EPA Pavillion report

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:54:21 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is extending the public comment period on the draft Pavillion ground water investigation to March 12.

Encana Asks EPA To Suspend Public Comment

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:38:22 +0000

Encana Oil and Gas says the Environmental Protection Agency is moving too fast with its draft analysis of ground water contamination in the town of Pavillion, and has asked the EPA to suspend the public comment period.

In a letter dated January 6^th, Encana oil and gas asked the EPA to suspend the public comment period until the agency’s plans were better explained and additional critical data could be disseminated.

Still hope for Niobrara oil plan despite EPA report

The Associated Press — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:54:01 +0000

A federal report possibly linking groundwater pollution to hydraulic fracturing in central Wyoming is not discouraging hopes for the Niobrara oil play in the southeast part of the state.

Many are questioning the scientific conclusions of the Environmental Protection Agency findings on the technique to extract oil and gas.

But both EPA and industry representatives say the specific concerns raised in the report are not applicable to southeast Wyoming. That is because the Niobrara formation is geologically much different than the Pavillion area.

Encana Responds To EPA

Tristan Ahtone — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:42:33 +0000

Canadian energy corporation Encana says “the EPA made critical mistakes and misjudgments” when it released a draft report linking water contamination in the town of Pavillion to hydraulic fracturing.

Earlier this month, the EPA released a draft report on their three year water contamination investigation… indicating that ground water in the aquifer contains compounds that are “likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing.”

Sale of gas properties near Pavillion cancelled

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:38:16 +0000

In early November, a Texas-based company called Legacy Reserves LP announced that it would purchase oil and gas properties in Fremont County: primarily properties owned by Encana in the Pavillion area. Late last week, Legacy Reserves pulled out of the deal.

EPA releases new Pavillion data

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:55:28 +0000

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency launched an investigation in the Pavillion area after residents complained of health problems and changes in the odor, taste and color of their well water. Last night, the EPA released new data from deep monitoring wells in the area.

Mead: Pavillion contamination is concerning, but sale of Encana gas properties isn't

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:53:47 +0000

Over the years, Pavillion residents have complained about health problems, which they blame on oil and gas development in the area. Governor Matt Mead says he's keeping an eye on what happens at a public meeting over the situation tonight.

Mead: Pavillion contamination is concerning, but sale of Encana gas properties isn't

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:55:31 +0000

The EPA meets with Pavillion residents tonight

The Associated Press — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:36:56 +0000

Residents of a central Wyoming community will be looking to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for
more answers Wednesday to their questions about pollution in their water wells.
The EPA has scheduled a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. to present
its latest data on groundwater pollution in the Pavillion area in
Fremont County. The meeting will take place at Wind River
Middle/High School in Pavillion. Some residents blame gas drilling for polluting their water
wells with hydrocarbons although any such link has yet to be

Pavillion residents fear Encana could shirk cleanup duties through land sale

Tristan Ahtone — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:07:49 +0000

Residents of the town of Pavillion say a company called Legacy Reserves LP has entered an agreement to purchase natural gas properties in the area from the current owner, Encana.

Representatives from Legacy Reserves did not return calls to confirm the sale, but according to their website, the Midland, Texas-based company will purchase several properties in Freemont County, where Pavillion is located, for 45-million dollars.