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Gas boom a bust for Mt. Pleasant man
"They have changed the world I once knew. Nothing is the same, nothing," he said from his farm in Mt. Pleasant Township where Range Resources has drilled four natural gas wells.
Gulla has yet to receive the free gas he claims was promised to him when he signed a lease with the drilling company. He has been told his gas is too wet to adequately burn in a home furnace. He refers to company representatives as "liars."
"Once you sign a lease, you've signed your land over to them. You've signed the rights of your land over to them, and they can do whatever the hell they want to do," he said.
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Gulla claims things started to go wrong as soon as the company began site preparation in July 2005. Access roads he said he was never told would be built suddenly appeared. Drilling has led to erosion that has ruined his chances of farming. He contends chemicals from hydrofracturing have damaged a large pond, and pointed out where vegetation that used to grow in abundance died this year. The water also has taken on a greenish hue.
Matt Pitzarella, a Range Resource spokesman, said Gulla's pond has been tested by the state Department of Environmental Protection and no contaminates have been found. Further, Pitzarella said, the company had a sales agreement with Gulla to purchase his property for $1.5 million, but Gulla backed out of the deal and now is trying to divert attention from that. Gulla said Range ruined the agreement when it offered him another farm but failed to add that it was slated for drilling.
Gulla said he wants people to know oil and gas drillers are exempt from certain federal legislation designed to safeguard clean air and water. In January, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to keep pace with gas and oil drilling by not updating clean air regulations under the Clean Air Act. Other groups are urging passage of the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals, or FRAC, Act to close loopholes in the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Last year, Gulla received a letter from the EPA stating that Range was fined $24,600, in part for failing to maintain adequate erosion controls on Gulla's land.
"It's not a perfect process," explained Pitzarella, but he insisted the company makes every effort to remediate a person's property.
Gulla's willingness to talk about his experiences has landed him in front of audiences in other areas where the Marcellus Shale will be drilled, such as Binghamton and Endicott, N.Y., and in Pike County. Clean Water Action recently filmed on his property for an upcoming documentary.
"People need to know the truth. I will not stop talking. They will not buy me out," he said.
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Church,
Eighty Four
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Home
Practicing on us : 10/4/2009
Learning as they go MEANS they don't know what they are doing OR are limited in what they KNOW HOW to do. In other words, they know what traditional methods required and they base off of that. When the fines and the lawsuits exceed a favorable balance they will seek alternatives -LEARNING AS THEY GO! And while you are in the area enjoy the fishing in Dunkard Creek!
: 10/4/2009
We all have 20/20 hindsight, let this be a lesson to other property owners contacted by range resources
Gas boom a bust : 10/4/2009
The bottom line is that this guy thought he found an easy way to get rich quick and fell for it. Shame on him!
Sell it : 10/4/2009
He signed the lease and now he's not happy. Did he read it? Did he have an attorney read it? Then the gas company offered him $1.5 million for his property and he backed out of the deal. I'm sorry, but in these tough economic times, it's hard to feel sorry for Mr. Gulla.
See through the smoke : 10/6/2009
Mr Gulla's problem seems to result from greed rather than either environmental issues or unfair lease terms. He attempts to ruin the opportunities for other land owers, the general region, and the United States to benefit from resource development. Clearly the reputed environmental issues (if any) were very minimal based on the fine that was referenced and the DEP has apparently identified no other problems. I would hope that the general public can cut through the smoke and see the truth. Would also hope that the media recognize the damage that can be done by sensationalizing missleading/incorrect information. Agree - it is hard to feel sorry for a guy who has $1.5 million on the table and is apparently driven to try to wring more out of the company. Folks like this do tremendous disservice to the community and the country.
Bring on the wells! : 10/7/2009
What Mr. Gulla fails to mention is how much income he has made. From my personal experiance, the gas wells have been a blessing to many landowner who wouldnt have been able to make any comparable amount of income farming alone.
Shame on your greed : 10/13/2009
Money does strange things to people. We should all learn from what is happening in Texas right now which has already seen the oil/gas wave and is now dealing with people that are ill because of water and air contamination from what is suppose to be a Clean and Green energy source. Shame on those that believe the myth. It is sickening people and for what? $$$$$
Ron Gula : 10/14/2009
I feel sorry for the family that sold the farm to Ron Gula, They got nothing, and he's hit the lottery, to dumb to know it. Sham On You
