Three occupants of the home, a couple and their four-year-old son, sustained severe burns after the house at 161 Bowser Road exploded and caught fire on October 31, 2018.
An investigation by the Office of Attorney General revealed that a conventional storage well near the White family home was deteriorating and leaking gas for years, resulting in methane contamination of the home’s water supply.
The 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury recommended charges under Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law regarding failures to properly maintain a storage well, and for not conducting an investigation after the explosion.
“Pennsylvanians have a right to feel safe in their homes, without concern for large corporations creating environmental hazards,” Attorney General Henry said. “This brave family has endured significant hardship, suffering physical and emotional injuries, financial stress, and the loss of their family home and cherished personal belongings. Companies have a responsibility to abide by regulations that help maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the communities where they work, and my office will be here to enforce the laws if they fail to do that.”
The investigation revealed that Equitrans owned and operated a natural gas storage field, Pratt Storage Field, directly underneath the White home.
Natural gas storage fields allow companies to store gas underground, after it is extracted, and still have quick access to it during times of high demand.
Gas that was stored in the Pratt Storage Field migrated vertically into the groundwater through a nearby storage well which was deteriorating and leaking.
According to the investigation, Equitrans had acknowledged in federal filings that preceded the explosion that Pratt field was losing gas and that wells situated within the field were leaking gas.
Equitrans was charged with prohibition against discharge of industrial waste, prohibition against other pollutions, and two counts of unlawful conduct under the Clean Streams Law.
On the day of the explosion, Cody White was home with his son and his girlfriend. After turning on the stove to cook a meal for his child, the house immediately exploded.
Cody helped his family out of the home, as both were knocked down by flaming debris. A neighbor called 9-1-1 when they saw the house on fire.
After the explosion, Equitrans was required by law to initiate its own investigation to determine the source of the gas leak.
Other companies operating in the area, including Peoples Natural Gas and EQT, hired investigators to determine the cause and source of the leak.
However, Equitrans failed to launch its own investigation into the source, despite operating a well just 300 feet from the White home.
This case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Greene County District Attorney’s Office in 2021.
It is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Franz. All charges are allegations. The defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
(Photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)
NewsClips This Week - Natural Gas Explosions:
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Criminal Charges Against Equitrans Should Be A Deterrent To Environmental Violators, Attorney General Says
-- TribLive: Equitrans Faces Criminal Charges In Connection With 2018 Greene County Natural Gas Explosion That Destroyed Home
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PA Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Equitrans In 2018 Greene County Home Natural Gas Explosion Caused By Leaking Conventional Well At The Pratt Gas Storage Facility
-- Observer-Reporter: State AG Files Criminal Charges Against Equitrans, Faults Company For 2018 Natural Gas Explosion That Destroyed Home In Greene County
-- TribLive: Natural Gas Leak Forces Evacuation At New Store In Allegheny Twp., Westmoreland County
-- Reading Eagle: Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Pipe Linked To Natural Gas Explosion At Reading Factory
Upcoming Events:
-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference [PaEN]
-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 - Fire At PA General Energy Shale Gas Well Pad; 5 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Replugging Shale Gas Well [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - November 4 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 57 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Nov. 4 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Gov. Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Company Sign Statement Of Mutual Interests To Monitor Air Emissions At Drill Sites, Extend Safety Setbacks While Data Is Being Collected; DEP To Move Ahead With Some Reg Changes [PaEN]
-- Evangelical Environmental Network Thanks Gov. Shapiro For Defending Children's Health Thru An Agreement With CNX Natural Gas; Believes In Repenting Of Sins, 2nd Chances [PaEN]
-- Attorney General Henry Announces Criminal Charges Against Equitrans For 2018 Natural Gas Explosion That Destroyed Home In Greene County [PaEN]
-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [PaEN]
-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]
-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board [PaEN]
-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Mariner East 2X Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Being Repaired After Dent Discovered In Chester County During Maintenance Check [PaEN]
-- PUC Issues Emergency Order To PA American Water To Operate Troubled East Dunkard Water Authority In Greene County; Lawsuit Filed Alleging Water Tainted By Mine Drainage, Shale Gas Operations [PaEN]
-- Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force Issues Report On The Best Ways To Increase Exports Of PA's Natural Gas; Minority Report Rebuts Need For LNG Facility, Outlines Impacts [PaEN]
-- Protect PT Holds Nov. 11 Workshop On Living Near Shale Gas In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
[Posted: November 1, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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