PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Moves To Enforce Order To Plug 4 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells Leaking Methane In Allegheny County Owned By Michael Harju & Economy Natural Gas, Inc.

The Department of Environmental Protection gave notice in the June 3 PA Bulletin it is taking action to enforce an order against Michael Harju and Economy Natural Gas, Inc. for their failure to plug four conventional natural gas wells leaking methane in Scott Township, Allegheny County. (June 3, 2023 PA Bulletin, page 3031)

DEP is retaining a contractor to plug the four abandoned wells-- Economy Natural Gas, Inc.: 003-00960 - Nixon 501-1 [DEP inspection report]; Michael Harju: 003-00962 - Nixon 501-3 [DEP inspection report], 003-00963 - Nixon 501-4 [DEP inspection report] and 003-00964 - Charter 502-1 [DEP inspection report].

DEP’s inspections reports indicate the wells have been leaking methane for four years or more resulting in a noticeable odor in the area.

The plugging is being done pursuant to two orders issued to Michael Harju and Economy Natural Gas, Inc. on April 6, 2023, according to the notice.

“The parties subject to the Orders did not comply with the Orders, and, as a result, the Department is entering the previously listed parcels pursuant to its statutorily authorized police powers, previously identified, in order to plug the unlawful wells.

“The Department was unable to locate the owners of the surface parcels previously identified and is providing this notification of the Department’s actions as set forth in the Orders, pursuant to 25 Pa. Code § 1021.38 and will be posting on the previously-referenced parcels notifications of the Department’s intent to enter upon those parcels in order to plug the previously-referenced wells.”

Any surface parcel owners aggrieved by this action may appeal to the Environmental Hearing Board, according to the notice. (June 3, 2023 PA Bulletin, page 3031)

Well Operators

Michael Harju, based at PO Box 23 in Spring Church, Armstrong County, is the owner of record for 159 conventional oil and gas wells, according to DEP’s online eFACTS database, and has multiple violations against him, including failure to submit annual production and waste disposal and well integrity reports and abandoning wells without plugging them..

Economy Natural Gas, Inc, also based at PO Box 23 in Spring Church, Armstrong County, is the owner of record for 110 conventional oil and gas wells, according to DEP’s online eFACTS database, and has multiple violations against it, including failure to submit annual production and waste disposal and well integrity reports and abandoning wells without plugging them.

Questions should be directed to D. J. Stevenson, Oil and Gas Management Program, at 412-442-4281 at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office in Pittsburgh.

(Photo: Economy Natural Gas, Inc.: 003-00960 - Nixon 501-1.)]

PA Oil & Gas Public Notice Dashboards:

-- DEP Moves To Enforce Order To Plug 4 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells Leaking Methane In Allegheny County Owned By Michael Harju & Economy Natural Gas, Inc. [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 27 to June 2 -- Conventional Operators Fail To Start Plugging, Fail To Cleanup Spills; More NOVs For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - June 3 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts 59 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 3 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Compliance Reports

-- EDF: Pennsylvania Has 55,000 Oil/Gas Wells At High Risk Of Being Abandoned; 51,000 Wells At Risk Of Being Transferred To Low Solvency Owners; Current Conventional Well Owners Abandon 561 Wells A Year, On Average [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Let’s Work Together To Make Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Practices Cleaner, Respect Property Rights, Protect Taxpayers And Prevent New Abandoned Wells [PaEN]

-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Failed To File Annual Production/Waste Generation Reports For 61,655 Wells; Attorney General Continues Investigation Of Road Dumping Wastewater [PaEN]