DEP Fines Company Handling Gas Drilling Frack Water For Unpermitted Transfer Station

The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Gas Field Specialist Inc. of Shinglehouse, Potter County, $3,000 for operating an unpermitted residual wastewater transfer station in Dunnstable Township, Clinton County.

“DEP’s investigation in May determined that Gas Field Specialist was transporting waste ‘fracking’ water from a natural gas well in West Burlington Township, Bradford County, to three tank trailers at the Clinton County site,” said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. “The fracking water was being stored there for later transport to the Jersey Shore sewage treatment plant.”

Fracking involves injecting water and chemicals deep underground to release natural gas that is locked in difficult to reach areas.

Gas Field Specialist officials told DEP the wastewater was being transported to the Clinton County site for temporary storage because the drilling site where the wastewater was generated did not have ample storage area and the Jersey Shore sewage treatment plant was unable to accept the wastewater.

The company’s operation was a violation of the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act because it did not have a DEP transfer station permit as required by law.

“DEP has since learned of several other similar operations being conducted in northcentral Pennsylvania and we will be taking appropriate enforcement action against those companies, as well,” Yowell said.

The fine was paid to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund that pays for cleanups across the state.