The Department of Environmental Protection reported collecting over $1,044,000 in civil penalties for environmental violations related to oil and gas industrial facilities in Pennsylvania last week.

On December 15, DEP executed a $600,000 consent assessment of civil penalty with John A. Joseph – individually and doing business as Joseph Contracting, John Joseph Contracting, and Perry Stone Supply LLC – to settle violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and Pennsylvania regulations that occurred in Dunbar, Perry, and South Union Townships, Fayette County.

Joseph illegally disposed of an estimated 1,831 truck loads of solid waste and drill cuttings from oil and gas operations at sites in Pennsylvania.  [Read more here.]

On December 16, the Associated Press reported DEP signed a consent order and agreement with Coterra Energy to allow shale gas drilling to resume under the 9 square mile Dimock/Carter Road Area of Susquehanna County that includes new drilling and water supply protection standards and impose a $444,000 penalty for past violations.  [Read more here.]

Other Compliance Actions

In addition to collecting these penalties, DEP took these major compliance actions last week.

On December 14, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it issued a notice of violation (NOV) to Shell Chemicals Appalachia, LLC (Shell) for exceeding its rolling 12-month total emission limitations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during commissioning of its petrochemical facility in Potter Township, Beaver County.

Other hazardous air pollutant violations for asbestos were also noted in several DEP inspection reports.  [Read more here.]

On December 16, DEP reported an November 28 inspection resulted in the agency issuing more Clean Streams Law violations to PA General Energy at the Shawnee water withdrawal and natural gas pipeline construction site on the Loyalsock Creek in Gamble Township, Lycoming County.

The inspection was prompted by citizen complaints showing obvious pollution in the creek.  [Read more here.]

DEP inspection records show on December 13 and December 14, DEP inspected a conventional storage well remediate site at the Equitrans Rager Mountain Underground Natural Gas Storage Area in Cambria County that was the location of the uncontrolled venting of 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas in November and found multiple violations of erosion and sedimentation control requirements, discharges into the waters of the Commonwealth and other violations.

On December 16, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced three professional geology firms, GeoServices, Ltd., Meiser & Earl, Inc., and David Miller Associates, Inc., were selected to begin independent evaluations of water quality for residents affected by the construction of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline.

The action was the result of an investigation by the Office of Attorney General Environmental Crimes Section, Sunoco Pipeline L.P., and ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC (ETC), both subsidiaries of Energy Transfer, L.P. (Energy Transfer), were convicted of criminal charges related to their conduct during the construction of two major pipelines in Pennsylvania.  [Read more here.]

Significant Lawsuits To Gain Compliance

Also on December 16, Ronald and Jane Shawley in Cambria County filed a lawsuit in federal court against Sunoco Pipeline LP claiming the construction of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline made their property nearly uninhabitable by destroying their water well and on-lot septic system, bulldozing their barn, causing sinkholes and other property damage.  [Read more here.]

Weekly Summary

From December 10 through 16, the Compliance Reporting Database shows DEP oil and gas inspectors filed 590 inspection reports that included 78 environmental violations-- 15 major violations by conventional operators and 17 major violations by unconventional shale gas operators.

So far this year-- as of December 9-- DEP issued 4,864 notices of violation to conventional operators and 1,079 to unconventional shale gas operators.

So far in 2022-- as of December 9-- DEP did 12,231 inspections of conventional operators and 20,397 inspections of unconventional shale gas operators.

In calendar year 2021, DEP issued 4,386 violations to conventional operators and 1,000 violations to unconventional shale gas operators.

In calendar year 2021, DEP did 11,684 inspections of conventional operators and 18,048 inspections of unconventional shale gas operators.

DEP reported three unconventional shale gas well operators failed to report defective well casing or cementing that could have resulted in methane leaks or groundwater contamination-- Seneca Resources in Lycoming County, SWN Production in Susquehanna County and Chesapeake Appalachia in Wyoming County.

Wilmoth Interests Inc. was given a violation notice for attempting to abandoned a conventional well without plugging it in McKean County.

The second most significant issue was the failure of River Ridge Gravel Co. to file annual production and waste disposal reports and well integrity reports for 54 wells in Venango County.

The production and waste report is critical to understanding how much wastewater and other waste those wells generated and where it was disposed of.

The annual integrity report is critical because it helps ensure the operator is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator.

Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

Violation Details

Violations Reported - Conventional

1 -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

2 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

2 -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

2 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

2 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

2 -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

2 -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

1 -- Failure to design, implement, maintain erosion & sedimentation controls

1 -- Failure to stabilize a well site

Company/Location/Violations - Conventional

Armstrong County

-- Diversified Prod. LLC - Gilpin Twp. - McIntyre 1

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

Cambria County

-- Equitrans LP - Jackson Twp. - Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area

     -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

     -- Failed to design, implement, maintain best management practices to prevent erosion,  sedimentation

     -- Failed to stabilize the site to prevent erosion, sedimentation

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

Erie County

-- Kayak Gas & Oil Co., Inc. - Platea Boro - Robert Silverthorn 1 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

McKean County

-- Snow & Snow Oil - Otto Twp. - Windfall BW-24 Well

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

-- Wilmoth Interests Inc. - Wetmore Twp. - Butler 3121 9 Well

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

Venango County

-- River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - Dev 22 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

Violations Reported - Unconventional Shale Gas

4 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

3 -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

4 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

3 -- Failed to report defective casing or cementing of well

1 -- Failed to restore impoundment after fracking operations ended

1 -- Failed to construct, maintain containment around tanks on site

1 -- Failed to restore well site

Company/Location/Violations - Unconventional Shale Gas

Bradford County

-- Blackhill Energy LLC - Springfield Twp. - Kline A And Kingsley E Well Pad

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - West Burlington Twp. - Brad 14 Ward Well

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

-- Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC - Troy Twp. - Lutz Well Site

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

Clinton County

-- STL Resources LLC - Grugan Twp. -  Sturgis South 1009H Well Pad

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

-- STL Resources LLC - Grugan Twp. -  Sturgis South 1001H Well Pad

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

Forest County

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - Hickory Twp. - DR02 Pad & Impoundment

     -- Failed to restore impoundment after fracking operations ended

     -- Failed to construct, maintain containment around tanks on site

     -- Failed to restore well site

Lycoming County

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC - Hepburn Twp. -- Gamble PAD O

     -- Failed to report defective well casing and cementing to prevent flow of gas, drilling fluids

Susquehanna County

-- SWN Prod Co., LLC - Middletown Twp. - Blye PAD 1H

       -- Failed to report defective well casing and cementing to prevent flow of gas, drilling fluids

Wyoming County

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Washington Twp. - McGraw 1H-6H Wells

     -- Defective casing or cementing of the well

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard -  Dec. 10 to 16  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 69 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In The Dec. 17 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Better Path Coalition: 65 Organizations, Businesses, 2,700+ Individuals Petition Gov.-Elect Shapiro To Ban Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater  [PaEN]

-- Citizen Complaints Result In DEP Issuing PA General Energy More Violations At Loyalsock Creek Gas Pipeline/Water Withdrawal Construction Site In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Consent Agreement Allowing Shale Gas Drilling To Resume Under Dimock, Susquehanna County Sets New Drilling, Water Supply Protection Standards, Imposes $444,000 Penalty  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald/Scranton Times Editorial: DEP Professes Unwarranted Faith In Shale Gas Drillers  [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses $600,000 Penalty For Illegal Disposal Of Over 1,800 Truck Loads Of Oil & Gas Waste Drill Cuttings In Fayette County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Notice Of Violation To Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Quality Violations In Sept. - Oct.  [PaEN]

-- AG Shapiro: Free Water Evaluations Begin For Homeowners Affected By Construction Of Mariner East 2 Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Union Progress - Laura Legere: Decaying Allegheny County Conventional Oil & Gas Wells To Be Plugged With Federal Funding Boost

-- Bloomberg: A Massive Natural Gas Leak In Pennsylvania Is Adding To Climate Scrutiny

-- Presentations Now Available From Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: It’s Time Pennsylvania Residents, Regulators Demand Health Risks From Shale Gas Fracking Be Addressed - By Clean Air Council

-- EPA Accepts Final DEP Oil/Gas Facility VOC/Methane Emission Limits Regulation For Review, Stops Imposition Of Federal Highway Funding, Other Sanctions  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Decarbonization Pathway Relies On Zero Emissions Resources, Energy Efficiency, Increased Electrification Is Less Costly Than Natural Gas, Carbon Capture Options  [PaEN]

-- CNX Unveils Appalachia-Focused Vision For The Future, Promoting New Natural Gas Development, Use - ‘Produce It Here. Use  It Here - First’  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- WJAC: Cambria County Couple Files Lawsuit Against Sunoco Over Mariner East Pipeline Construction They Said Made Their Property Nearly Uninhabitable By Eliminating Their Water Supply, Bulldozing Their Barn, Causing Sinkholes

-- Altoona Mirror: Cambria County Couple Sue Sunoco Over Mariner Pipeline Damage; Raw Sewage Coming Into Kitchen Sink

-- StateImpactPA - Susan Phillips: ‘Gasland’ Driller Will Pay Millions For New Water System In Dimock

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Lets Polluter Resume Shale Gas Drilling In Dimock Protected Zone, Outraging Residents At Fracking’s ‘Ground Zero’ 

-- AP: Pennsylvania Lifts Ban On Shale Gas Drilling In Polluted Dimock, Susquehanna County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Western PA Contractor Fined $600,000 For Illegal Dumping Over 1,800 Truck Loads Of Oil & Gas Waste 

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Natural Gas Stoves Can Hurt Indoor Air Quality, Consumer Advocates Say

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shell’s Flaring At Beaver County Ethane Plant Pushed Company Over Air Permit Limits, Data Shows

-- Beaver Times: Regulators Say Shell Exceeded Emissions Cap During Cracker Plant Startup

-- New Castle News: DEP: Opening Of Shell’s Western PA ‘Cracker’ Plant Caused Pollutants To Spike

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Shell Air Pollution Soars During Startup Of Beaver County Ethane Plant

-- TribLive: Shell Issued Violation Notice For Exceeding Air Pollution Limits During Startup Of Beaver County Ethane Plant 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Petrochemical Plants Are An Environmental And Economic Dead End For Southwestern PA - By Breathe Collaborative

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Shell Petrochemical Plant Represents Western PA’s Economic Future - By Pittsburgh Works Together

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Tie State Taxpayer Subsidies Of Petrochemical Plants To Environmental Compliance

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Decarbonization Program Would Eliminate Most Emissions In SW PA By 2050, New Study Finds

-- Environmental Health News: Western PA Can Meet Its Climate Goals, If The Region Stops Subsidizing Natural Gas

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Resources Lays Out Appalachia First Vision For Economic Growth

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX’s Nick DeIuliis Speaks About Why Appalachia First Is Best Approach For Pittsburgh, Appalachia

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Industrial Energy Consumers Of America Write Gov. Wolf, Others Urging Building More Natural Gas Pipelines

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Industrial Energy Consumers Of America Write Gov. Wolf, Others Urging Building More Natural Gas Pipelines

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Rice Acquisition Of NET Power A Bet On Carbon Capture And Storage And Natural Gas Transition

-- PennLive: Residents Evacuated Just Before Natural Gas Explosion Flattened Their Home In Dauphin County

-- PennLive: 92-Year-Old Man Survived Massive Natural Gas Explosion That Pulverized Neighbor’s Home 30 Feet Away In Dauphin County

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Special Report: More Than 125 Natural Gas Odor Reports In Pottstown, Montgomery County In The 29 Months Before Deadly Home Explosion

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Natural Gas Powering Our County And Beyond - By Chair Of Washington County Commissioners  [IFO: Natural Gas Price Increased 95% Over Last Year ]

-- Marcellus Shale Coalition: 12 Days Of Marcellus - ‘On The First Day Of Marcellus, Natural Gas Gave To Me’

-- Bob Donnan Blog: The 12 Days Of Christmas And Other  Christmas Carols About The Real Impact Of Natural Gas Industry In Pennsylvania

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Real Shale Gas History: Spying & Psychological Operations On PA Citizens 2010-14

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Real Shale Gas History: 12 Articles On Shale Gas Development In PA As Told By The Families and Communities That Experienced It

-- Inside Climate News: Q/A With Eliza Griswold Pulitzer Winning Author Of Deep Dive Into Fracking In PA, How Extractive Industries ‘Gut’ Communities

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Natural Gas Prices Rise [94.7%] As Production Falls, Report Says

[Posted: December 17, 2022]

12/19/2022