The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a new State Only Minor Air Quality Operating Permit for the continued operation of the ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC [Energy Transfer] Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant in Smith Township, Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7239)

The facility has previously been permitted under a GP-5 and GP-1 Air Quality General Permits.

[Note: The PA Bulletin notice was confusing on the location of the plant. It is not in Salem Township, Westmoreland County.]

Natural gas cryogenic plants take natural gas and cool it to sub-zero temperatures-- minus 120 degrees Fahrenheit-- in order to condense and separate out liquids like butane, ethane and propane from the gas.

These natural gas liquids are then shipped via pipeline to places like the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County to make plastics and through the Mariner East Pipelines to Southeast Pennsylvania as feedstock for other petrochemical plants and export.

Public comments are due to DEP by December 2.

DEP has not scheduled a hearing on the proposed permit, but a hearing can be requested.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for information on how to submit comments and review the permit application.  (PA Bulletin, page 7239)

Explosion/Fire

On December 25, 2022, the Revolution Cryogenic Plant suffered a major explosion and a fire that burned for hours and caused an uncontrolled release of ethane and other gases for nine and a half hours, according to the company.  Read more here.

Kasey Duran and her family live about 1,500 feet from the facility and were opening presents on Christmas morning 2022 when they heard a “jet noise” from the plant followed by a loud bang that rattled the house about 7:30 in the morning.

“It blew and shook the whole house,” said Kasey Duran. “A big piece (of equipment) over there caught fire.  The kids are terrified. The whole family is scared. The peace is gone.”

Duran said she called 911 and she and her family evacuated their home.  By the time a “shelter-in-place” order was implemented by local authorities, her family had already left for Burgettstown.

Duran said she also contacted DEP about the incident and was told they planned to send inspectors to tour the plant Tuesday (January 3).

DEP did, in fact, inspect the facility for the first time after the explosion nine days later on January 3.  [Read more here.  Read more here.]

ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC [Energy Transfer] attempted to limit the public distribution of any information related to the explosion by neighbors to the facility since then information related to the explosion is confidential under Act 156 of 2006 the state Public Utility Confidential Security Information and Disclosure Protection Act and DEP should not be releasing copies of its inspection reports on the facility.

Terrible Compliance Record

Energy Transfer’s environmental compliance record in Pennsylvania is absolutely terrible.

Energy Transfer had its brand new Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline explode in Beaver County in 2018 and paid a penalty of $30.8 million to DEP.

It has been penalized over $24 million for violations related to the construction of the cross-state Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline just by DEP.  The Public Utility Commission imposed its own penalties for violations under its laws.

Energy Transfer has also pleaded “no contest” to criminal charges brought by Attorney General Shapiro related to the construction of the Mariner East Pipelines.  Read more here.

Resources Links - Revolution Cryogenic Plant:

-- Observer-Reporter: Explosion, Fire At Energy Transfer’s Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Plant Burned For Nearly 11 Hours On Christmas Day In Smith Twp., Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- KDKA Investigation: Washington County Family Says Energy Transfer/MarkWest Natural Gas Processing Plants Turned A Peaceful Farm Into A Nightmare [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 - No Attempt To Contain, Cleanup Injection Well Spill; Gas Storage Area Well Release; More Abandoned Conventional Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 2 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 82 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 2 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles - Gas:

-- DEP Discovers Wastewater Release At Bear Lake Properties Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Warren County During Routine Inspection  [PaEN]

-- Bradford Era:  7-Part Series Details Concerns Residents Of Cyclone, McKean County Have With Catalyst Energy Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves Emergency Order Appointing Aqua Pennsylvania Temporary Operator For 6 Rhodes Estate Water Companies As Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill In Venango County  [PaEN]

-- Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board Nov. 12 On Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reductions; Hydrogen Hubs  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Quality Board To Consider Proposed Spill Notification Regulation; Blasting; NOx & VOC Corrections Nov. 12  [PaEN] 

-- Low-Flow Water Conditions Trigger Big Jump In Susquehanna River Basin Water Withdrawal Restrictions, Most Shale Gas-related  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations: Similar Action In 2023 Resulted In $10 Million Settlement  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro, Joins 4 Other Governors To Call On PJM To Reform Its Electric Generating Capacity Auction Rules To Prevent Billions Of Dollars In 'Unnecessary’ Costs To Their Residents, Businesses  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: As Fracking Turns 20 In Pennsylvania, Towns Consider New Regulations For Distance Between Homes And Well Pads [Cecil Twp., Washington County]  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Randy Bartley: Priority To Plug Old Conventional Oil, Gas Wells Deepens For DEP  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Randy Bartley: Plugging A Problem Abandoned Conventional Gas Well  [PDF of Article]

-- Institute For Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County 'Unlikely To Meet Financial Targets'

-- Inquirer: Electric Bills Are Rising In PA, NJ; Governors Want PJM To Help Cut Costs

-- National Fuel Gas Increases Natural Gas Costs 3.7% On Nov. 1

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drill Rigs Increase One To 13 From Last Week, Still Down From 21 On Aug. 23

-- S&P Global: US Natural Gas Producer Coterra Signs LNG Gas Supply Deals With Vitol, UK’s Centrica Linked To LNG Prices

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Post Biggest Weekly Decline Since January

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Drop As Goldman Warns Of Bearish Risks

[Posted: November 1, 2024]

11/4/2024