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DEP Testing Downstream Of Drilling Wastewater Treatment Plants Shows Water Is Safe
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The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced results of in-stream water quality monitoring for radioactive material in seven of the commonwealth’s rivers. All samples showed levels at or below the normal naturally occurring background levels of radioactivity.
The tests were conducted in November and December of 2010 at stations downstream of wastewater treatment plants that accept flowback and production water from Marcellus Shale drilling.
“We deal in facts based on sound science,” said DEP acting Secretary Michael Krancer. “Here are the facts: all samples were at or below background levels of radioactivity; and all samples showed levels below the federal drinking water standard for Radium 226 and 228.”
Acting Secretary Krancer said that these sampling stations were installed last fall specifically to monitor stream quality for potential impacts of Marcellus development.
Acting Secretary Krancer explained that the water tested is the raw water in the river before it enters public water suppliers’ intakes where the water receives further treatment.
The river testing stations that were evaluated are the Monongahela at Charleroi in Allegheny County; South Fork Ten Mile Creek in Greene County; Conemaugh in Indiana County; Allegheny at Kennerdell in Venango County; Beaver in Beaver County; Tioga in Tioga County; and the West Branch of the Susquehanna in Lycoming County.
In a letter to DEP, Shawn Garvin, EPA Region III Administrator, said his agency would be talking with DEP about additional drinking water sampling, looking at wastewater treatment facility NPDES water permits to make sure they are adequately treating drilling wastewater and surveying wastewater plants in the Marcellus Shale region to determine the extend they deal with drilling waste.
NewsClips: Radium Tests Of Post-Fracking Water Contradict NYT Allegation
No Dangerous Radiation Found In PA Water PA DEP: Radium Levels OK In Major Marcellus Rivers State Tests On River Water Find Low Amounts Of Radiation DEP Finds Natural Level Of Radiation In Drilling Water State: Radium In Rivers Negligible Blog: DEP Tests Reveal PA Rivers Aren't (That) Radioactive
EPA Calls For More River Testing In PA EPA Steps Up Scrutiny of Pollution in Pennsylvania Rivers Editorial: DEP Must Test Water Supply For Radioactivity
Editorial: Radioactive Water? Let's Scrutinize Gas Drilling |
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3/14/2011 |
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