The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the January 23 PA Bulletin renewing General Permits for the processing and/or reuse of oil and gas well drilling waste at 27 facilities in 5 counties under General Permit WMGR123. (starting on PA Bulletin page 468)

The permits cover facilities in--

-- Beaver County: Hanover Township

-- Fayette County: Luzerne Township, Masontown Borough

-- Greene County: Aleppo, Center, Morgan (2), Smith Townships

-- Washington County:  Amwell (2), Blaine, Carroll, East Bethlehem, East Finley (2), Hanover, Hopewell (2), Independence, North Bethlehem, Robinson, Smith (2), Somerset Townships

-- Westmoreland County: East Huntingdon, Sewickley, South Huntingdon Townships

Last week renewed WMGR123 general permits for 27 facilities in 11 counties.  Read more here.

Background

General Permit WMGR123 covers “Processing, transfer and beneficial use of oil and gas liquid waste to develop or hydraulically fracture an oil or gas well.

“Oil and gas liquid waste includes liquid wastes from the drilling, development and operation of oil and gas wells and transmission facilities.

“The term includes contaminated water from well sites, the development of transmission pipelines and the facility operating under this general permit, provided the generating facility has satisfied all other permitting requirements that may apply to contaminated water.

“The term does not include condensate from oil and gas transmission pipeline compressor stations that exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste.”

On December 19, 2020 DEP published an updated version of General Permit WMGR123 making changes to the requirements to qualify for WMGR123, including new siting requirements.  Read more here.

Under the provisions for using General Permits, no prior notice of the public or opportunity for public comment is required, only a notice by DEP that a facility has qualified for the General Permit after the fact.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Articles:

-- DEP Renews General Permits For 27 Facilities In 11 Counties to Process/Reuse Oil & Gas Drilling Waste

-- DEP Publishes Final, Revised General Permit For Beneficial Use Of Liquid Waste From Fracking Oil & Gas Wells

[Posted: January 22, 2021]

1/25/2021