The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it will hold a public hearing on an application from Sammy-Mar, LLC to drill a new injection disposal well in Huston Township, Clearfield County.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on June 28 at the Penfield Grange Hall, 12255 Bennetts Valley Highway, Penfield, PA 15849.

Both DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must approve permits for this proposed injection well. EPA’s permits oversee the material that is injected into the well, the integrity of the well, groundwater protection and closure requirements. DEP permits govern how the hole is drilled and surface issues on the well pad.

EPA issued an underground injection control permit for Sammy-Mar’s Povlik # 1 well on March 16, 2016 allowing the company to inject wastewater into the well pending DEP approval of a drilling permit.

On May 10, 2016 Sammy-Mar submitted an application to drill the well to DEP. A copy of the application is available for review at the Huston Township Municipal Building, 11837 Bennetts Valley Highway, Penfield, PA 15849.

The public hearing is part of the DEP’s intensive permit review process. People who wish to testify should register in advance by calling DEP Community Relations Coordinator John Poister at 412-442-4203 or by email to: jpoister@pa.gov before noon on June 28, 2016.

There will also be an opportunity to register at the door prior to the hearing. Registered participants will have five minutes each to present testimony in the form of comments, statements or questions.

DEP will respond to all testimony in a written comment and response document.

For those unable to attend the hearing, written testimony will be accepted by DEP at its Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 until July 5, 2016. Written testimony may be mailed or emailed.  [No email was given, but John Poister is DEP’s contact for the hearing: jpoister@pa.gov.]

6/27/2016