On April 20, the Department of Environmental Protection approved an underground injection control (UIC) well for disposal of wastewater associated with oil and natural gas production. Penneco’s Sedat #3A well is located in Plum Borough, Allegheny County.

In addition to the permit application, DEP reviewed Penneco’s submitted erosion and sedimentation control plan, control and disposal plan, well records and mechanical integrity assessment, application submitted to EPA, approved EPA permit, and public comments.

DEP held a public hearing on the application on October 1, 2018 in Plum Borough and received testimony from more than 40 individuals that was incorporated into a comment response document.

Permit issuances are required from both DEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to operate a UIC well.

On March 7, 2018, EPA issued an underground injection control permit, allowing the company to inject wastewater into the well pending DEP issuance of a permit to change the well’s use from production to disposal.

On March 13, 2018, Penneco submitted an application to DEP to change the use of the Sedat #3A Well to allow disposal.

This permit includes special conditions for monitoring and reporting including seismic monitoring to ensure early detection of even minor seismic events.

Prior to the Sedat #3A well’s use as a disposal well, Penneco is required to apply for and obtain a permit to change the use of the nearby Sedat #1 well to a monitoring well.

For more information and the associated documents, visit DEP’s Underground Injection Well webpage.  Media questions should be directed to Lauren Fraley, DEP Southwest Regional Office, by calling 412-442-4203 or sending email to: lfraley@pa.gov.

NewsClip:

Laura Legere: Plum Injection Well Approved For Drilling Wastes, But No Plans To Open Soon

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[Posted: April 20, 2020]

4/27/2020