FracTracker Alliance Accepting Nominations For 2022 Community Sentinel Awards

The FracTracker Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship to those who address the root causes of environmental injustice in the United States, with a strong focus on racial justice in the face of oil, gas, and petrochemical activity. 

The deadline for nominations is October 28.

The award recognizes the leadership of those standing up for their communities to protect the places they love. 

To honor these environmental heroes, FracTracker Alliance created the annual Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship, now in its eighth year, to celebrate individuals whose noble actions exemplify the transformative power of caring, committed, and engaged people. 

In collaboration with a supportive lineup of sponsors and partners, the award is presented to multiple recipients at a festive reception before a group of fellow activists and others who champion a healthy, sustainable future. Each awardee will also receive $1,000 in recognition of their efforts.

The honores will be recognized during a virtual ceremony on December 8.

For all the details, visit the Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship webpage.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Issues 2 NOVs Against PA General Energy For Water Pollution Discharges Into The Loyalsock Creek From Gas Pipeline/Water Withdraw Construction In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- Pitt School Of Public Health, PA Dept Of Health Abruptly Pull Out Of Oct. 5 Public Meeting They Helped Convene On Studies Looking At Links Between Natural Gas Development And Childhood Cancer Rates  [PaEN]

-- Final Reg. Reducing Methane From Conventional Oil & Gas Facilities NOT On Environmental Quality Board Agenda For Oct. 12; Will Consider Final PFOS/PFOA MCL Rule  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts First Invitation For Bids For Plugging 79 Conventional Natural Gas Wells In Allegheny, Butler, McKean, Potter Counties Under Federally-Funded Program  [PaEN]

-- DEP/Susquehanna River Basin Commission Public Notices -- Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities  [PaEN]

-- Forbes: U.S. Natural Gas Production Set New Record, But Don’t Expect Relief On Your Heating Bills [LNG Exports Link U.S./PA To High Prices]  [PaEN]

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Cooking In Healthy Electrified Commercial Kitchens Rebate Program; 3 Cooking In Energy Efficient Kitchens Webinars   [PaEN] 

[Posted: September 30, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Posted 69 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Oct. 1 PA Bulletin

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the October 1 PA Bulletin-- 

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin inviting comments on draft changes to the NPDES General Permit for Operation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (PAG-12).  Click Here for document package & fact sheet on proposed changes. Comments are due October 31.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of a mass certification of pollutant reduction activities to generate credits under the Nutrient Credit Trading Program in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

-- DEP/Susquehanna River Basin Commission Public Notices -- Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Cooking In Healthy Electrified Commercial Kitchens Rebate Program; 3 Cooking In Energy Efficient Kitchens Webinars   [PaEN] 

 

The Environmental Hearing Board published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of an appeal of a DEP NPDES Water Quality permit by the Hatfield Township Municipal Authority authorizing a discharge to the West Branch Neshaminy Creek in Montgomery County.

 

The Department of Community and Economic Development published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of an October 11 virtual hearing starting at 11:00 a.m. on a proposed Sustainable Energy Resources For Consumers Plan.

The Plan is demonstrating that additional energy savings can be achieved in weatherized homes through expanding energy saving materials and technologies, specifically hybrid water heaters. 

The project will install 96 hybrid hot water heaters within the targeted five census tracts that are opportunity zones and underserved rural communities (U.S. Department of Agriculture-designated towns) in Luzerne County.

Click Here for instructions on how to join the hearing.

 

The Department of Agriculture published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of a  Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee meeting on October 20 starting at 1:00 p.m. to consider the addition of five plants to the noxious weed list.

 

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of proposed regulations related to fully projected future test year in all public utility filings.

PA Bulletin - October 1, 2022

Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 69 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the October 1 PA Bulletin - pages 6198 to 6267.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community?  Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations?  All through its eNotice system.  Click Here to sign up.

Related Tools ----------------------

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.  

NEW!  Allegheny County Health Department Public Comment Notices

DEP Proposals Out For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage

DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda [February 2022] - DEP webpage

[Posted: September 30, 2022]

DEP/Susquehanna River Basin Commission Public Notices -- Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities

The following DEP and Susquehanna River Basin Commission notices were published in the October 1 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industrial facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

Land Recycling Cleanups

-- SWN Production Company LLC: Blye Well Pad Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with drilling wastewater in Middletown Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 6246)

-- SWN Production Company LLC: WC67 East Lateral Pipeline Final Report on remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by drilling wastewater release in Jackson Twp., Susquehanna County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6246)

-- CNX: GH35 Well Pad Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, sele- nium, vanadium, and zinc in Center Twp., Greene County. (PA Bulletin, page 6247)

-- EQT: Golden Goose Well Pad Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, selenium, strontium, vanadium, zinc, and chloride in North Bethlehem Twp., Washington County. (PA Bulletin, page 6247)

-- EQT: Great Tiger Well Pad Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, selenium, strontium, vanadium, zinc, and chloride in Aleppo Twp., Greene County approved by DEP. (PA Bulletin, page 6249)

Oil & Gas Well Drilling Permits [9.23.22]*

-- Last Week - Permits: DEP issued 0 conventional and 4 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Permits: DEP issued 223 conventional and 586 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Wells Drilled: 168 conventional and 429 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 3,470 conventional and 847 unconventional

*DEP’s Weekly Oil & Gas Program Workload Report

Pipeline Permits - Chapter 102

-- Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc.: Application submitted for Central Connector Pipeline Project in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. (PA Bulletin, page 6263)

-- Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc.: Application submitted for LN-35 MAOP Restoration Pipeline Project in Allegheny, Beaver and Butler Counties. (PA Bulletin, page 6263)

Processing Plant/Pipeline Compressor/Pumping Stations

-- INR Midstream LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for South Bend Compressor Station in South Bend Twp., Armstrong County.   (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- Diversified Production LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Longhorn Pad C Well Pad equipment installation in Jay Twp., Elk County. (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- Elkhorn Gas Processing LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Lewis Run Gas Processing Plant in Bradford Twp., McKean County. (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- Pine Run Midstream LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Trout Compressor Station in West Franklin Twp., Armstrong County. (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- Exco Resources LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Poverty Hill Compressor Station in Rayburn Twp., Armstrong County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- Seneca Resources Corp.: Issued Air Quality Permit for SRC Compressor Station in Sergeant Twp., McKean County. (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- OWS Acquisitions Co., LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Windy Hill Compressor Station in Cherrytree Twp., Venango County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit for Cole Farm Compressor Station in Wayne Twp., Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6251)

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC: Issued Air Quality Permit forCygrymus Compressor Station in Gilmore Twp., Greene County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6252)

-- EQB Gathering OPCO, LLC: Extended Air Quality operation permit for Blue Moon Compressor Station in West Pike Run Twp., Washington County. (PA Bulletin, page 6252)

Air Quality Permits

-- Earthcare LLC: Intend to issue an Air Quality Permit for a facility to dry and gasify poultry litter, spent hens, municipal wastewater biosolids to produce a syngas and material to use as a soil amendment in Bethel Twp., Berks County. (PA Bulletin, page 6221)

-- Hill Top Energy Center LLC: Extended Temporary Air Quality operation permit for Hill Top Energy Center natural gas-fired power plant in Cumberland Twp., Greene County to March 28, 2023 (30-00233B). (PA Bulletin, page 6252) 

-- Hill Top Energy Center LLC: Extended Temporary Air Quality operation permit for Hill Top Energy Center natural gas-fired power plant in Cumberland Twp., Greene County to March 28, 2023 (30-00233C). (PA Bulletin, page 6252) 

-- Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC: Extended temporary Air Quality operation permit for Shell Petrochemicals Complex in Potter and Center Townships, Beaver County to April 28, 2023 (04-00740A).   (PA Bulletin, page 6252)

-- Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC: Extended temporary Air Quality operation permit for Shell Petrochemicals Complex in Potter and Center Townships, Beaver County to April 28, 2023 (04-00740B).   (PA Bulletin, page 6252)

-- Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC: Extended temporary Air Quality operation permit for Shell Petrochemicals Complex in Potter and Center Townships, Beaver County to April 28, 2023 (04-00740C).   (PA Bulletin, page 6252)

Chapter 105 Encroachment Permits

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: Application received for the Treat Bra Pad project impacting palustrine emergent wetlands after-the-fact permit in Rome Twp., Bradford County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6232)

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: Application received for the Packard Bra Pad project impacting palustrine forested wetlands and other features in Sheshequin Twp., Bradford County. (PA Bulletin, page 6232)

-- Williams Field Services Company: Issued Chapter 105 permit for natural gas gathering pipelines in Springville Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 6255)

Erosion & Sedimentation Permits

-- Hyperion Midstream, LLC: Application received for a project impacting Gillespie Run in Elizabeth Twp., Allegheny County. (PA Bulletin, page 6234)

-- Seneca Resources Co., LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Tan Creek, Marvin Creek and Tioga River in Covington Twp., Tioga County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6258)

-- Seneca Resources Co., LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Crooked Creek, inChatham Twp., Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 6258)

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Foster Branch in Terry and Wilmot Townships, Bradford County. (PA Bulletin, page 6258)

-- BKV OPR, LLC: Permit issued for project affecting North Branch Waylusing Creek in Middletown Twp., Susquehanna County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6258)

-- PennEnergy Resources LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Connoquenessing Creek in Marion Twp., Beaver County. (PA Bulletin, page 6258)

-- Range Resources Appalachia LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Buffalo Creek in Buffalo Twp., Washington County. (PA Bulletin, page 6259)

-- MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Castleman Run, Rolston Run, Dutch Fork in Donegal Twp., Washington County. (PA Bulletin, page 6259)

-- CNX Midstream Operating Company LLC: Permit issued for project affecting Rocky Run, Long Run, Templeton Fork in East Finley Twp., Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6259)

Water Withdrawal Approvals

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission approved these shale gas-related water withdrawal projects at its September 15 meeting--

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (Chemung River), Athens Township, Bradford County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 0.999 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170902).

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (Sugar Creek), Burlington Township, Bradford County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 0.499 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170903).

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (Towanda Creek), Leroy Township, Bradford County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 1.500 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170905).

-- Coterra Energy, Inc. (Meshoppen Creek), Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 0.750 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170901).

-- Seneca Resources Company, LLC (Elk Run), Sullivan Township, Tioga County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 0.646 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170909).

-- Susquehanna Gas Field Services, LLC (Meshoppen Creek), Meshoppen Borough, Wyoming County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 0.145 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170908).

-- SWN Production Company, LLC (Wyalusing Creek), Wyalusing Township, Bradford County, PA. Application for renewal of surface water withdrawal of up to 2.000 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20170910).

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a hearing on pending applications November 3 and take action on those applications December 15.  Read more here.

Click Here for SRBC Map Of Projects pending and approved to find projects.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community?  Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations?  All through its eNotice system.  Click Here to sign up.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Issues 2 NOVs Against PA General Energy For Water Pollution Discharges Into The Loyalsock Creek From Gas Pipeline/Water Withdraw Construction In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- Pitt School Of Public Health, PA Dept Of Health Abruptly Pull Out Of Oct. 5 Public Meeting They Helped Convene On Studies Looking At Links Between Natural Gas Development And Childhood Cancer Rates  [PaEN]

-- Final Reg. Reducing Methane From Conventional Oil & Gas Facilities NOT On Environmental Quality Board Agenda For Oct. 12; Will Consider Final PFOS/PFOA MCL Rule  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts First Invitation For Bids For Plugging 79 Conventional Natural Gas Wells In Allegheny, Butler, McKean, Potter Counties Under Federally-Funded Program  [PaEN]

-- Forbes: U.S. Natural Gas Production Set New Record, But Don’t Expect Relief On Your Heating Bills [LNG Exports Link U.S./PA To High Prices]  [PaEN]

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Cooking In Healthy Electrified Commercial Kitchens Rebate Program; 3 Cooking In Energy Efficient Kitchens Webinars   [PaEN] 

-- FracTracker Alliance Accepting Nominations For 2022 Community Sentinel Awards  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 30, 2022]  PA Environment Digest