The following DEP notices were published in the January 27 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin it is extending the deadline for conventional and unconventional natural gas facility operators to submit their first methane pollution emissions report to June 1, 2024.  Read more here.

-- On January 25, Marcellus Drilling News reported the Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit to Catalyst Energy, Inc. for an oil and gas wastewater injection well in Cyclone, Keating Township, McKean County.  Read more here.  DEP approved the permit on January 11, but did not publicly announce it until January 23 in an article by WESB News. 

Individuals aggrieved by the decision have 30 days to appeal the permit decision (from January 11) to the Environmental Hearing Board.  Read more here.

-- The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin the Calendar Year 2023 Act 13 per well drilling impact fees will drop by 25% for unconventional shale gas wells.  On December 13, the Independent Fiscal Office estimated 2023 Act 13 shale gas drilling fee revenues will drop by $104.8 million to $174 million from last year's record $278.9 million due primarily from the reduction in the price of natural gas.  Read more here.

Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Rylee Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP approved Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with production wastewater to Statewide Health Standards located in Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County.  [PA Bulletin, page 455]

-- Penneco Oil Company, Inc. - Pettit Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP issued a technical deficiency letter on the Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with acenaphthene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)- fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, biphenyl, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, 2-methyl-aphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, benzene, sec-butyl- benzene, tert-butylbenzene, cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, isopropyl benzene (cumene), naphthalene, toluene, 1,2,4- trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, xylene, and phenolics because it did not demonstrate attainment of Statewide Health Standards for the facility located in Richhill Twp., Greene County.  [PA Bulletin, page 456]

2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups--

Notices Of Intent-- 2  Final Reports--13  Approved-- 8  Technical Deficiencies-- 1  Disapproved-- 1  Remedial Investigations-- 1

Storage Tank Corrective Action

-- United Refining Company - Storage Tank Facility: DEP is reviewing a Remedial Action Plan for remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum for a facility located in Warren Twp., Warren County. [Note: There is NO Warren Twp. in Warren County.  There is a Warren Twp. in Bradford County.]   [PA Bulletin, page 466]

Air Quality Permits

-- Divert PA Development Co LLC - Biogas Food Recovery Facility: DEP invites comments on an Air Quality Plan approval for multiple air pollution sources at the facility located in Manchester Twp., York County. [PA Bulletin, page 416]

-- Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC - Compressor Station 517: DEP issued a revised Title V Air Quality Permit for the facility located in Jackson Twp., Columbia County.  [PA Bulletin, page 459]

-- Buckeye Pipe Line - Malvern Terminal: DEP renewed a Title V Air Quality permit for the facility located in East Whiteland Twp., Chester County. [PA Bulletin, page 459]

-- UGI LNG, Inc. - Natural Gas Liquefaction Facility: DEP renewed a State-Only Air Quality permit for the facility located in Ontelaunee Twp., Berks County.  [PA Bulletin, page 459]

-- Sunoco LLC - Marcus Hook Terminal: DEP issue Air Quality Operating Permit for two loading racks and various petroleum storage tanks for the facility located in Marcus Hook Boro, Delaware County.  [PA Bulletin, page 460]

NPDES Stormwater Permits

-- Hyperion Midstream LLC [Olympus Energy] - Champion Compressor Station: DEP invites comments on an individual NPDES Stormwater Permit covering the discharge of stormwater and diversion of discharges from abandoned mine lands for the facility located in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County. [PA Bulletin, page 405]

-- Columbia Gas Of PA, Inc. - Existing Gas Line Replacement: DEP invites comments on an individual NPDES Stormwater Permit for a project replacing existing as pipelines in Red Lion Boro and Windsor Twp., York County.   [PA Bulletin, page 410]

Chapter 105 Encroachment Permits

-- Williams Field Services Co, LLC - 10-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline: DEP invites comments on proposed 10-inch natural gas pipeline impacting multiple wetlands and stream crossings in Gibson Twp., Susquehanna County. [PA Bulletin, page 428]

-- Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC - Existing Water Impoundment Restoration: DEP invites comments on the project impacting wetlands in Warren Twp., Bradford County. [PA Bulletin, page 430]

Erosion & Sedimentation Permits

-- Hyperion Midstream LLC [Olympus Energy] - Leto Compressor Station: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for the project impacting Dawson Run in West Deer Twp., Allegheny County. [PA Bulletin, page 430]

-- Williams Field Services Co, LLC - Pipeline Project: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Horton Creek in Lathrop and Springville Townships, Susquehanna County. [PA Bulletin, page 464]

-- Williams Field Services Co. LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting White Creek located in Dimock Twp., Susquehanna County.  [PA Bulletin, page 464]

-- Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Pendleton Creek in Warren Twp., Bradford County. [PA Bulletin, page 464]

-- LOLA Energy PetroCo., LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting North Branch Beaver Creek in Allegheny Twp., Butler County. [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Little Shenango River located in Perry Twp., Mercer County.  [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- Snyder Bros, Inc.: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Glad Run in East Franklin Twp., Armstrong County.  [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- Snyder Bros, Inc. - Pipeline Project: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Cowanshannock Creek in Rayburn and Valley Townships, Armstrong County. [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- Superior Midstream Appalachian, LLC - Sun Mine Well Connect Pipeline: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Bull Creek and Lardintown Run located in Fawn Twp., Allegheny County and Clinton Twp, Butler County. [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- Olympus Energy, LLC - Artemis Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for the project impacting Pucketa Creek in Upper Burrell Twp., Westmoreland County.   [PA Bulletin, page 465]

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC - Niam-S005 Pipeline Project: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for the project impacting Home Run, Bane Creek andPleasant Valley Run located in Morris and Amwell Townships, Washington County. [PA Bulletin, page 465]

Drinking Water System Permits

-- Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc. - Leidy Station: DEP issued Public Water Supply Drinking Water Permit covering water system facilities in Leidy Twp., Tioga County.  [PA Bulletin, page 452]

Oil & Gas Well Drilling Permits [1.19.24]*

-- Last Week - Permits: DEP issued 0 conventional and 11 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Permits: DEP issued 12 conventional and 33 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Wells Drilled: 7 conventional and 25 unconventional

*Weekly Workload Report - 1.19.24

*DEP’s Weekly Oil & Gas Program Workload Report - Most Recent

DEP Issued These New Oil & Gas Permits *

*Click Here to find oil and gas well permits recently issued near you

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This is the only way you can get notified of when oil and gas-related permits are submitted to DEP.  

You’ll also get notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations.

Click Here to sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE today!

PA Weekly Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 20 to 26 - 15 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Plugging Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; Revolution Pipeline Land Slip; Brief Compressor Fire; Crypto Mining?  What's That Pink Stuff?  [PaEN]

-- 5 Months Later, Roulette Oil & Gas Still Has Not Resolved Violations For Abandoning A Shale Gas Well Without Plugging It In Potter County  [PaEN]

-- XTO Energy Begins Plugging First Of 4 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells At Butler County Well Pad [PaEN]

-- 66 Months Later, DEP Worked With Conventional Well Owner, But Multiple Spills At A Well  Site Have Still Not Been Cleaned Up; No Protections In Place For Operators Or Taxpayers  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 27  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 84 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 27 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

2023 Oil & Gas Compliance Reports:

-- DEP Issued At Least 512 Violations To 95 Conventional Oil & Gas Operators For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them In 2023; 10 Shale Gas Operators Were Issued NOVs For Abandoning Wells  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Record 6,860 Notices Of Violation To Conventional Oil & Gas Operators In 2023-- Nearly 52% More Than In 2021; ‘Culture Of Non-Compliance’ Continues  [PaEN]

-- 2023 Shale Gas Operator Compliance Report: 1,310 Violations; Explosions; Pad Fire, Evacuation; Uncontrolled Gas Venting; Frack-Outs; Polluting Water Supply; Spills; Pipeline Crashing Thru A Home; More  [PaEN]

-- PA Environment Digest: Articles On Oil & Gas Facility Impacts

Related Articles This Week:

-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Require Unconventional Shale Gas Operators To Disclose Chemicals Used In Drilling, Fracking Operations Earlier In Well Drilling Process Thru PPC Emergency Plan Changes  [PaEN]

-- DEP Extends Deadline Of First Methane Pollution Report From Oil & Gas Facilities To June 1, 2024  [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: DEP Approves Catalyst Energy Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County  [Jan. 26 Inspection Found Gas Bubbling From Well]  [PaEN]

-- PUC: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees To Drop By 25% For Fees Due On 2023 Wells; Total Revenue To Drop By Nearly $105 Million  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies Lackawanna Energy Center Power Plant Motion To Dismiss Boro Of Jessup’s Appeal Of DEP Air Permit  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies Liberty Twp., Citizens Group Appeal Of DEP Tri-County Landfill Permit Over Threats Posed By Birds, Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste In Mercer County  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- The Energy Age Blog: The Story Of Bryan & Ryan Latkanich In Washington County

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Tells Frackers To Disclose Chemicals, But It’s Not  Clear Exactly What Changes The Public Will See

-- The Energy Age Blog: Reality - ‘Proprietary’ Fracking Chemicals Remain Secrets, But What About The Bigger Picture? 

-- White House Announces Temporary Pause On Pending Approvals Of LNG Natural Gas Exports

-- DelcoTimes.com: Chester Mayor Says LNG Natural Gas Export Plant ‘Dead In The Water’ 

-- AP: Liquefied Natural Gas: What To Know About LNG And Biden’s Decision To Delay Gas Export Proposals  [No Impact On LNG Now Going To Europe, Asia, DOE Can Allow Exemptions On Natural Security Grounds]

-- PA Marcellus Shale Coalition And Natural Gas Industry Partners Urge Biden Administration To Maximize US LNG Economic, Environmental And Security Benefits

-- Reuters: Texas Freeport LNG Natural Gas Export Unit Faces Month-Long Outage After Winter Storm

-- TribLive: 3 More Range Resources Shale Gas Well Pads Approved By Fawn Township, Allegheny County

-- TribLive Letter: Public Water Resources Should Not Used By Shale Gas Companies In Westmoreland County During Declared Drought - By Tom Pike, Protect PT

-- WKBN27: Environmental Advocate Appeal Of Tri-County Landfill Permit Denied By EHB, Citizens Concerned About Disposal Of Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste

-- Marcellus Shale Coalition: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees Breathe Life Into County & Municipal Projects [Fee Revenue To Drop By Nearly $105 Million In 2024 ]

-- Bloomberg: Diversified Energy Faces Short-Seller Attack From ESG-Focused Snowcap; Faults Environmental, Asset-Retirement Practices  [Largest Conventional Oil & Gas Operator In PA]

[Posted: January 27, 2024]

1/29/2024