Fracking is a big deal where ever it occurs AND chemical spill$ can occur!!!
From an Article by Reid Frazier, Allegheny Front, November 17, 2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined the natural gas drilling company CNX some $200,000 for spilling natural gas production fluids at well sites in Greene County, Pennsylvania.
The spills took place between 2019 and 2021, all in Richhill Township. (Greene County is in the extreme southwest corner of Pennsylvania bordering West Virginia on the south and west.)
The largest spill took place on September 18, 2019, in which approximately 40 barrels, or 1,680 gallons, of production fluid leaked out of a containment structure and spilled on the ground at CNX RHL 71 and RHL 87 well site.
The PA-DEP said the company tried to make repairs to the containment and remove fluids from the site. But CNX “postponed full remediation nearly 70 days due to its ongoing hydraulic fracturing activities,” according to a PA-DEP press release. In total, the company had to remove nearly 1,400 tons of contaminated soil at the site.
Another spill occurred at the site on January 23, 2021, in which 420 gallons of fluid discharged onto the ground due to an “equipment failure.” Another spill of 40 gallons occurred three months later.
A smaller incident occurred in December 2019, in which 30 gallons of fluid leaked out of containment and into a sediment basin at the company’s RHL 4 well pad. According to the PA-DEP, “CNX postponed removal of contaminated soil until hydraulic fracturing was completed, and the discharge continued for days.”
The company ended up removing nearly 2,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site.
“Delays like these are unacceptable. PA-DEP expects, and the regulations require, prompt reporting and cleanup of spills and that operators will take measures to prevent future incidents,” said PA-DEP southwest district oil and gas manager Dan Counahan, in a statement.
Production fluids are a byproduct of the drilling and fracking process in oil and gas production. They can contain high levels of naturally-occurring metals, radioactive materials, and salts, but also can contain fracking chemicals. The fluid is too toxic for disposal in municipal wastewater facilities and is typically disposed of in deep injection wells.
The company paid two fines, of $125,000 and $75,000, for the violations. The money will go toward the state’s fund to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.
>> This story is produced in partnership with StateImpact Pennsylvania, a collaboration among The Allegheny Front, WPSU, WITF and WHYY to cover the commonwealth’s energy economy.
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PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana County
Description: Administrative violation issued on 11/08/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana county. 78a55(i)4ii – EMERGNCY RESPONSE – Sign – Failure of the operator to meet requirements of site entrance sign fabrication, color, size, lettering, wording, numbering, format, information and location.
Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-08
PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana County
Description: Administrative violation issued on 11/08/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana county. 78a55(i)4ii – EMERGNCY RESPONSE – Sign – Failure of the operator to meet requirements of site entrance sign fabrication, color, size, lettering, wording, numbering, format, information and location.
Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-08
PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana County
Description: Administrative violation issued on 11/08/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana county. 78a55(i)4iii – EMERGNCY RESPONSE – Sign – Failure of the operator to post sign independently from other signage.
Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-08
PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana County
Description: Administrative violation issued on 11/08/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in West Wheatfield Twp, Indiana county. 78a55(i)4iii – EMERGNCY RESPONSE – Sign – Failure of the operator to post sign independently from other signage. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-08
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PA Permit Violation Issued to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/15/2022 to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington county. 102.11(A)2 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS – BMP AND DESIGN STANDARDS – Person failed to design, implement and maintain PCSM BMPs to mimic preconstruction stormwater runoff conditions to protect, maintain, reclaim and restore water quality and existing and designated uses. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-15
PA Permit Violation Issued to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/15/2022 to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington county. 102.11(a)1 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS – BMP AND DESIGN STANDARDS – Person failed to design, implement and maintain E & S BMPs to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation to protect, maintain, reclaim and restore water quality and existing and designated uses. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-15
PA Permit Violation Issued to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/15/2022 to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington county. 102.4(b)4 – EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL REQUIREMENTS – Person failed to plan and implement earth disturbance activities to minimize duration & extent of earth disturbance, minimize soil compaction, maximize protection of drainage features and vegetation, and utilize other measures or controls that prevent or minimize the generation of increased stormwater runoff. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-15
PA Permit Violation Issued to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/15/2022 to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington county. 78a53 – EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT – Person proposing or conducting earth disturbance activities associated with oil and gas operations failed to comply with 25 Pa. Code § 102. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-15
PA Permit Violation Issued to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/15/2022 to RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC in Chartiers Twp, Washington county. 102.22(a) – SITE STABILIZATION – PERMANENT STABILIZATION – Permitee failed to have site permanently stabilized and protected from accelerated erosion and sedimentation upon final completion of earth disturbance activity. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-15
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PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in Cumberland Twp, Greene County
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/16/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in Cumberland Twp, Greene county. 78.73(a) – GENERAL PROVISION FOR WELL CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION – Operator failed to construct and operate the well in accordance with 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78 and ensure that the integrity of the well is maintained and health, safety, environment and property are protected. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-16
PA Permit Violation Issued to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in Cumberland Twp, Greene County
Description: Administrative violation issued on 11/16/2022 to DIVERSIFIED PROD LLC in Cumberland Twp, Greene county. OGA3211(H) – WELL PERMITS – LABELING – Failure to install, in a permanent manner, the permit number on a completed well. Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-16