The PA Bulletin notice did not include the correct name of the applicant so it took some research in DEP’s eFACTS database to find which permit the notice was referring to.
On June 21, 2023 the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a Class IID oil and gas wastewater Underground Injection Well Permit for this well, which at the time was owned by G2 STEM LLC based on Fairfax, Virginia. Read more here.
EPA’s record for this well has since been changed to reflect the PA Well Development LLC company name.
Both G2 STEM LLC and PA Well Development LLC have the same address in Fairfax, Virginia.
G2 STEM LLC was the company behind another oil and gas wastewater injection well proposal in Fayette County that became very controversial.
The company ended up withdrawing the permit in the face of significant local opposition. Read more here.
Based on that experience, local Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) introduced House Bill 1656 prohibiting DEP from issuing any permits for injection wells [Read more here] and Fayette County Commissions voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance restricting injection well development in the county [Read more here].
Limited DEP Information Available
No information on this permit is available on DEP’s Underground Injection Control Wells webpage where the agency normally lists pending and issued permits.
DEP did post a short fact sheet about the permit application on the Community webpage of the Northwest Regional Office, but it contained no information on public review opportunities.
No public notice was published in the PA Bulletin announcing DEP received this permit that multiple searches were able to locate.
DEP’s eFACTS database says the permit was received on December 27, 2023 and the applicant received no less than 11 deficiency letters from DEP, the last one on April 29, 2024.
Eleven deficiency letters could be a record. It used to be three strikes and your application was returned.
PA Well Development LLC has only one permit in Pennsylvania under its company name-- this one-- according to DEP’s eFACTS database.
Appeals
DEP’s notice says anyone aggrieved by this action may appeal the permit to the Environmental hearing Board within 30 days of this notice.
Related Articles This Week: - Gas
-- Gas Industry, Sen. Bartolotta Seek Legislation To Eliminate Environmental Hearing Board Appeals Of DEP Permits For Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities [PaEN]
-- Damascus Citizens: Do You Live In An Oil & Gas Wastewater Disposal Facility? Public Roads In 84 Municipalities In PA, One County In NY Are Being Used As Disposal Areas For Wastewater [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit To PA Well Development LLC In Young Twp., Jefferson County [PaEN]
-- EPA Invites Comments On Draft Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit Renewal For Seneca Resources Company, LLC In Elk County [PaEN]
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-- The Energy Age Blog: Federal Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste Exemption History
-- WHYY: Could PA’s Oil & Gas Wastewater Hold The Key To The Country’s Energy Transition?
-- Meadville Tribune Guest Essay: Abandoned Conventional Well Plugging Grant Program Is Opportunity To Work Collaboratively With Oil & Gas Industry To Benefit The Environment - By Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) [Conventional Well Industry Paid $4,400 Into Well Plugging Fund So Far In 2024]
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-- MCall Guest Essay: Now We’re Cooking With Gas And Deadly Pollutants - By Bruce Wilson, Green Builder
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-- Reuters: Top US Gas Producer Chesapeake Energy Cuts Jobs
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Acquisition Of Equitrans Gas Pipeline Company Clears Antitrust Hurdle
-- Reuters: Promising Pipelines, Fracking, Ex-President Rakes In Millions At Texas Fundraisers
[Posted: May 24, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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