PA Environment Digest Blog: EPA, West Virginia Officials Working To Secure Fairmount Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing Facility To Prevent Release Of Radioactive, Hazardous Materials

On October 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region will open a public phone line (800) 438-2474 and roll-out a webpage to increase transparency and inform the public about the Fairmont Brine processing facility in Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia, where state and federal agencies are working to secure the site and control any potential release of radioactive and hazardous materials.

[Note: The Fairmont Brine site is less than 20 miles south of the border with Pennsylvania and the counties in the Southwest part of the state that are prime shale gas drilling areas-- Washington, Westmoreland, Greene and Fayette counties.]

The site was acquired by Fairmont Brine Processing in 2012 and has been inactive since 2017.

FBP would treat fluids from the hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas.

In May 2023, there was a fire and explosion at the site that led to increased concern about the potential release of contamination.

EPA is coordinating with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Marion County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and others to ensure a unified response to protect the public.

Radioactive TENORM

EPA’s response will focus on radionuclides in the form of TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material).

TENORM is a naturally occurring radioactive material that has been concentrated or exposed to the environment because of human activities such as manufacturing, mineral extraction, or water processing.

EPA, DHHR, and WVDEP have been on-site to evaluate emergency actions needed to stabilize the site and will be doing a thorough evaluation of any contamination releases to the environment.

[Note: The PA DEP has had to decontaminate at least one oil and gas wastewater treatment plant because of radioactive contamination [Read more here].

[The shale gas industry also shipped over 138,000 cubic feet of TENORM waste to secure low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities in 2022 and over 911,000 cubic feet since 2017. [Read more here.]

[In June, a DEP inspection of a Bradford County shale gas well pad found radiation levels high enough in an onsite wastewater tank to require decontamination [Read more here].]

Secure The Site

EPA will also secure the site to prevent unauthorized access and potential exposure to the public.

The agency and its contractor have implemented security measures at the front entrance and lower complex including interim barriers and NO TRESPASSING signage and are planning to fence off the area soon.

The response team will regularly be on site to perform work, which should further deter public access.

DHHR, on behalf of the State, has coordinated with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department to increase patrols around the site.

The WVDEP and DHHR have worked with FBP to take precautions to prevent radionuclides from leaving the site, including enforcement action, and implementing a plan of corrective action to remove waste material and prevent onsite ponds from overflowing.

EPA understands the need for certainty and clear information regarding the Fairmont Brine site and has developed a Joint Information Center (JIC) involving all responding agencies.

The JIC will work together to coordinate effective communication with the public.

Please visit the response website at EPA Fairmont Brine Site or call the public phone line at (800) 438-2474.

The phone line will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. If you are unable to reach someone, please leave a voicemail, and an EPA representative will return your call as soon as possible.

(Photo: EPA photo of Fairmont Plant; TruthDig photo of related abandoned frack water impoundment.)

NewsClips:

-- TruthDig: How A Radioactive Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing Facility In West Virginia Became A Party Spot

-- 12WBOY: EPA Responding To Radioactive Materials At Fairmont Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing Plant

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - October 14 to 20 - 6 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Conventional Gas Migration Incident; Inactive Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - October 21 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 21 PA Bulletin [PaEN]