DEP: Columbia Gas Will Pay $156,000 Penalty For Pipeline Construction Violations In Greene County

On October 7, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced it executed a consent order and agreement (COA) with Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC in settlement of violations that occurred during construction of its Leach Xpress gas pipeline in Richhill Township, Greene County. 

The agreement requires Columbia Gas Transmission to pay a civil penalty of $156,000 to the department and $1,126 in cost recovery to the Greene County Conservation District (GCCD). 

From June 6, 2017 to November 8, 2019, GCCD and/or DEP documented numerous violations on the site 28.3-acre site, including failure to:

-- Implement or maintain effective best management practices (BMPs) to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation at the site;

-- Implement the erosion and sedimentation plan of its permits;

-- Stabilize areas of earth disturbance;

-- Comply with permit terms and conditions; and

-- Perform work according to specifications in its permits.

Erosion and sedimentation discharges from the site entered Dunkard Fork (a warm water protected use fishery) and an unnamed tributary to Enlow Fork (a trout stocked protected use fishery). Columbia Gas Transmission also allowed fill material from a slip to enter a wetland in the Wheeling Creek floodplain. 

Though Columbia Gas Transmission submitted responses and documentation of remedial actions it took and—in one instance—submitted a new permit application, some violations remained uncorrected. DEP issued two compliance orders to Columbia Gas Transmission. 

This COA outlines additional corrective actions required of Columbia Gas Transmission including a schedule for the work, which includes implementation of the restoration plan, monitoring of the impacted wetland for at least five years, submission of regular reports, and additional remedial measures as necessary to fully restore the wetland. 

Columbia Gas Transmission has agreed to pay a civil penalty totaling $156,000: $106,000 of which will go into the commonwealth’s Clean Water Fund and $50,000 will go into the Dam Safety and Encroachments Fund. 

Columbia Gas Transmission will remit $1,126 in cost recovery to the Greene County Conservation District. Details on the violations and remedial actions can be found in the COA. 

Click Here for a copy of the consent order.

Media questions should be directed to Lauren Fraley, DEP Southwest Regional Office, 412-442-4203 or by email to lfraley@pa.gov. 

[Posted: October 7, 2020]  PA Environment Digest