PA Environment Digest Blog: The Derrick: PUC To Hold May 21 Prehearing On Future Of Venango Water Company; Water Source Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill

On May 14, 2024, The Derrick reported Administrative Law Judge Mark A. Hoyer has scheduled a May 21 prehearing telephone conference as part of the Public Utility Commission investigation into the future of the Venango Water Company.

The purpose of the prehearing is to establish a formal hearing schedule and discuss the next steps in determining whether the Commission should issue an order to have another public utility acquire the Venango Water Company.

On May 18, The Derrick reported the customers and municipalities served by seven water systems owned by Rhodes Utilities were notified May 14 by the Public Utility Commission of hearings into how they will be operated in the future.

The companies include the Venango Water Company, Sugarcreek Water Company, West Hickory Water Company, Plumber Water Company, Fryburg Water Company, Cooperstown Water Company and the Blane E. Rhodes Sewer Company.

The deadline to file a petition is July 12. The instructions on how to file and other information is available in the notice.

On May 15, the Environmental Hearing Board extended the stay of an appeal of the order issued by the Department of Environmental Protection requiring Petro Erie, Inc. to clean up the spill contaminating a spring serving the Venango Water Company.

Both the company and DEP requested an extension to allow more time to work out an agreement on what Petro Erie will do to clean up the pollution.

These actions are related to the problems caused by the oil well spill that contaminated the Bellows Spring water supply last July, resulting in a “do not consume” advisory in the Village of Reno that lasted six weeks.

The PUC in August issued an emergency order to Aqua Pennsylvania to operate the Venango Water Company so clean water would continue to be provided to its customers.

The new PUC action was prompted by the desire of Randall and Kevin Rhodes, operators of the Venango Water Company for the Rhodes Estate, to cease being certified operators for their water companies.

PUC Prehearing

As noted, the purpose of the May 21 prehearing is to establish a formal hearing schedule and discuss the next steps in determining whether the Commission should issue an order to have another public utility acquire the Venango Water Company and the other six Rhodes Utilities water companies..

Only official parties to the proceeding can participate in this prehearing.

The parties include Randall Rhodes, the PUC Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, the Office of Consumer Advocate (Attorney General), Office of Small Business Advocate, Aqua Pennsylvania (the present Venango Water Company operator) and Pennsylvania American Water (operator of water companies in the area).

The public can listen to the prehearing call. The conference begins at 10:00 a.m.

Instructions for joining the call can be found in the notice of the prehearing.

Board Extends Stay In Appeal Of Cleanup Order

Both the company and DEP requested an extension to allow more time to work out an agreement on what Petro Erie will do to clean up the pollution.

The Board said they have to report on their progress by no later than June 25.

DEP last inspected the spill site on May 1 and found no cleanup activity.

Related Articles - Village Of Reno Water Contamination:

-- The Derrick: State Intervenes In Venango Water Case [Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Public Utility Commission Starts Investigation Into Possible Order For Another Utility To Permanently Acquire Venango Water Company Impacted By Conventional Oil Well Spill [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Continues To Operate The Water System Serving The Village Of Reno After A Conventional Well Wastewater Release Contaminated Its Water Supply Last July In Venango County [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: DEP: Little Headway In Reno Oil Well Wastewater Cleanup In Venango County [PaEN

-- Petro Erie, Inc. Says It Lacks The Financial Ability To Comply With DEP’s Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater That Contaminated The Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; Will Taxpayers/Ratepayers Be Stuck With Cleanup Costs Again? [PaEN]