DEP Reschedules Terraqua Drilling Water Treatment Permit Hearing For September 30

The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. on September 30, to accept testimony on an industrial waste discharge permit application submitted by TerrAqua Resource Management LLC to treat and discharge 400,000 gallons per day of gas well drilling wastewater to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport.

The hearing will be held at the DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport.

The hearing was originally scheduled for August 10, but had to be postponed due to a power failure at the DEP office.

“DEP held a public meeting on July 8 to explain TerrAqua’s permit application and our review process,” said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. “We answered many good questions that night and we expect to receive considerable testimony at the public hearing.”

Since the public meeting, TerrAqua submitted a written request to DEP asking that the variable monthly allocation for total dissolved solids be removed from the draft permit because the company intends to meet the final standards of 500 parts per million (ppm) and 250 ppm for chlorides and sulfates from the initiation of their proposed discharge.

The agency granted the request because the standards are being incorporated as DEP water quality regulations.

During the public hearing, individuals may present oral testimony for a maximum of five minutes. Written testimony of any length also will be accepted that evening and until October 7.

DEP will respond in writing to all relevant comments. There will not be a question and answer session during the hearing. Citizens may register to testify the night of the hearing and will be called in the same order as they registered.

Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act should contact Daniel Spadoni at 570-327-3659 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD).

The application is available for public review at the DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. An appointment must be made by calling Kathy Arndt at 570-327-3693.