Monongahela ranked ninth on nation's endangered rivers list

Natural gas extraction is a purported threat to the Monongahela River, prompting an environmental group to place it among the 10 most endangered rivers in the nation.

The Monongahela was ranked ninth in the "America's Most Endangered Rivers: 2010 Edition," by American Rivers, based in Washington, D.C.

American Rivers compiles its annual list after reviewing nominations from environmental groups and individuals across the country.

In a report issued Tuesday, American Rivers said the Monongahela and its tributaries have "suffered major disturbances and pollution from various activities, including both pre-regulation era and modern-day coal mining."

"The Mon has become highly threatened by toxic pollution arising from the recent surge of natural gas extraction activities in the region overlying the Marcellus Shale formation," the report states.

The report states that federal and state governments must prevent further pollution associated with Marcellus Shale exploration to protect the "already highly-vulnerable water quality of the Monongahela River Basin."

The Monongahela River is the source of much of the drinking water in southwestern Pennsylvania and is the primary supply in the Mid-Mon Valley.

In addition to being a source for drinking water, the river is also home to "exceptional wildlife habitat," and provides recreational opportunities, the report states.

"Since the 19th century, steel plants, coal mining, transportation, and careless individuals have had major negative impacts on the health of the river," the report contends.

The Mon basin is located within the region of the Marcellus Shale, a geological formation that lies from 5,000 to 8,000 feet below the earth's surface.

American Rivers said the Monongahela River was "already suffering" from pollution, and the exploration of natural gas extraction is "threatening what is left of the clean water."

The report cited an incident at Dunkard Creek last fall, where high levels of total dissolved solids in the Mon exceeded the federal drinking standard. It resulted in a major fish kill in Dunkard Creek, which flows through Greene County and Monongalia County, W.Va.

"This was a major problem because Dunkard Creek is a tributary of the Monongahela River, which hundreds of thousands of people depend upon for drinking water," the report says.

The Youghiogheny River flows into the Mon at McKeesport before reaching Pittsburgh. There, the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers merge to form the Ohio River.

At the top of the endangered list is the upper Delaware River which spans New York and Pennsylvania.

American Rivers states that the Delaware River is "threatened by hydraulic fracturing," or "fracking," which injects millions of gallons of water mixed with chemicals to stimulate gas wells.

"Unless we stop the threat of rampant shale fracking, the drinking water for 17 million people across the Northeast will be threatened by toxic pollution," said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers.

Jim Smith, spokesman for the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, disagrees with the report.

"I don't know how they can conclude that, when hydraulic fracturing has never harmed a drop of drinking water," Smith said.

American Rivers says officials in West Virginia and Pennsylvania are working on revised regulations for natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale.

Industrial activities in the Delaware watershed are regulated by the federal-state Delaware River Basin Commission, which announced last month that it won't approve any new gas well projects until it finishes drafting new regulations for drilling in shale formations.

American Rivers urged Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act, or FRAC Act, which regulates fracking under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Additional Information:

Endangered waterways

Here is a list of American Rivers' 10 most endangered rivers:

1.Upper Delaware River, Pennsylvania/New York.

2. San Joaquin River Delta, Sacramento, Calif.

3.Gauley River, W.Va.

4. Little River, N.C.

5. Cedar River, Iowa

6.Upper Colorado River, Colo.

7.Chetco River, Ore.

8.Teton River, Idaho

9.Monongahela River, Pa./W.Va.

10.Coosa River, Ala.