DEP Accepting Comments On 64 Applications For General Permit Coverage For Processing, Reuse Of Liquid Oil & Gas Drilling Waste

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 20 PA Bulletin inviting comments on 64 applications for coverage under General permit WMGR123 for the processing and reuse of liquid oil and gas drilling waste (PA Bulletin, page 1553).

The notices are the result of a February settlement with environmental groups where DEP agreed to provide an opportunity for public comment. Read more here. 

The notices cover 49 prior applications, 9 new applications and 6 modified applications.

Facilities in these counties are included in the notice-- Armstrong, Beaver, Bradford, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga, Washington and Westmoreland.

DEP will accept public comments until May 19.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for all the details. (PA Bulletin, page 1553)

Background

General Permit WMGR123 covers “Processing, transfer and beneficial use of oil and gas liquid waste to develop or hydraulically fracture an oil or gas well.

“Oil and gas liquid waste includes liquid wastes from the drilling, development and operation of oil and gas wells and transmission facilities.

“The term includes contaminated water from well sites, the development of transmission pipelines and the facility operating under this general permit, provided the generating facility has satisfied all other permitting requirements that may apply to contaminated water.

“The term does not include condensate from oil and gas transmission pipeline compressor stations that exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste.”

On December 19, 2020 DEP published an updated version of General Permit WMGR123 making changes to the requirements to qualify for WMGR123, including new siting requirements.  Read more here.

Under the provisions for using General Permits, no prior notice of the public or opportunity for public comment is required, only a notice by DEP that a facility has qualified for the General Permit after the fact.

Related Article:

-- Environmental Groups, DEP Agree To Open Public Comment Period On 49 Previously Approved Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment & Storage Facility Permits

[Posted: March 20, 2021]  PA Environment Digest