State Police Place 208 Trucks Out Of Service During Operation FracNET

The Pennsylvania State Police placed 208 trucks out of service during a three-day enforcement effort that focused on commercial vehicles hauling waste water from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations in the state, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced this week.
           "Pennsylvania is experiencing heavy truck traffic in areas where Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations are taking place, particularly in Bradford, Clearfield, Susquehanna, Tioga and Washington counties," Pawlowski said. "The process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, requires significant amounts of water to be delivered to the sites and later trucked away."
            Pawlowski said 140 of the vehicles placed out of service were trucks hauling waste water from the drilling operations. The others were trucks being used in support of drilling operations, or trucks not involved in drilling operations that were traveling roads where the inspections took place.
            In total, 1,135 trucks were inspected during "Operation FracNET," which was conducted September 27-29. State police Troops B, C, F, P and R participated.
            In addition to placing vehicles out of service, state police also issued 959 citations and placed 64 drivers out of service. The most common problems involved faulty brakes, exterior lighting issues and hauling permit violations.
            During an "Operation FracNET" held June 14-16, troopers placed 250 trucks and 45 drivers out of service and issued 669 citations.
            NewsClips: State Police Cracks Down On Drilling Trucks
                                Drilling Trucks Fail More Tests, State Police Say
                                State Police Dole Out 959 Citations To Marcellus Trucks


10/11/2010

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