On February 12, Joe Napsha of Triblive.com reported Protect PT and the Mountain Watershed Association will host a public meeting on February 28 to discuss the recent CNX shale gas well failure in Washington Township, Westmoreland County near the Beaver Run Reservoir.

            On January 26, CNX experienced drilling complications at one of their deep Utica gas wells which resulted in pressure spiking at nearby shallow wells. Nine shallow wells nearby the Reservoir were continuously flared for days to relieve pressure.

There are 47 Marcellus wells and 3 Utica wells drilled around the Reservoir - the water supply that over 130,000 households depend upon.

The groups have invited officials from the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and the Department of Environmental Protection  as well as John Stolz, the Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University.

The Triblive.com article said a spokesperson from DEP said the agency was not participating in the meeting because of its ongoing investigation into the cause and impact of the gas well problem.

John Stolz, director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University, said he intends to get as much information as possible about the incident from the meeting.

“There are a lot of people potentially being affected by this. We are already getting phone calls from a few people with private wells about testing,” because of concern about the quality of their water, Stolz said.

The meeting will be held at the Delmont Fire Hall, 2360 PA66, Delmont, PA 15626 starting at 6:30 p.m.

(Photo: One of the 9 conventional wells being flared to relieve gas pressure near Beaver Run Reservoir, Protect PT Facebook page.)

NewsClips:

Feb. 28 Meeting Set By Environmental Group Near Gas Well Failure In Westmoreland County

Litvak: CNX Reports Well Casing Issue Likely Cause Of Out Of Control Utica Gas Well In Westmoreland

Westmoreland Water Authority Will Seek Repayment From CNX For Additional Water Tests

Related Story:

PaEN: After 10 Days, Pressure Problem From Fracking Utica Gas Well In Westmoreland County Said To Be Under Control

[Posted: Feb. 13, 2019]

2/18/2019