PA Environment Digest Blog: House Hearing: Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Trade Groups Oppose Bill Banning The Road Dumping Their Wastewater Saying It’s ‘Effective And Safe’

On June 10, three conventional oil and gas industry trade groups submitted a written statement to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for a hearing on House Bill 2384 and road dumping oil and gas wastewater saying they oppose a ban on the disposal practice.

The groups included the PA Independent Oil & Gas Association, the PA Independent Petroleum Producers and the PA Grade Crude Oil Coalition.

“Like several other states, Pennsylvania permitted townships and other caretakers of dirt roads, to use brine for the purpose of dust suppression. Dust from dirt roads is the second most significant source of air pollution in the United States. Naturally occurring brine has served as an economical source of dust control for decades.”

“Brine spreading in Pennsylvania was performed in accordance with criteria established by a joint DEP-EPA study conducted in 1996. This study was based upon actual field analysis.

“The 1996 study concluded that brine spreading was both effective and safe. There are NO field study tests which conclude to the contrary.

“Recently, DEP has contracted for two types of studies. The field study found no threats to public health.

“The other type of studies have been limited to the lab; in those studies it was found that naturally occurring brine was the most benign of the products (both brine and commercial products) examined in the lab.”

[Note: A more complete review of available studies, including the 1996 study, and more recent studies is available by Reading more here.]

“House Bill 2834 [House Bill 2384] would bar the spreading of brine. Such ban works to the significant detriment of Pennsylvania municipalities such as townships.

“Many rural townships have dozens of miles of dirt roads. Only brine is economical.”

[Note: Testimony at this House hearing and recent studies by the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies show plain water works just as well as oil and gas wastewater in suppressing dust without the threat of environmental harm. Read more here.]

“The use of brine has the additional beneficial impact of creating an outlet for the use of brine.

“Brine is classified as a residual waste by the state and when not spread for dust suppression, other outlets for brine disposal must be sought.

“Due to increasingly restrictive regulation by the state such other outlets are dwindling, down over 75% from just a few years ago.

“Some producers are unable to find any outlets at all, thus reducing production and in turn reducing jobs not only in the production industry but also in associated industries and businesses, such as refining or merely in the shops and businesses patronized by conventional oil and gas producers.”

Click Here for a copy of the written statement.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.

Hearing Key Takeaways On Road Dumping

Here are a few of the key takeaways from the Committee’s June 10 hearing on road dumping--

-- Water Is Just As Effective: The Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies said studies show plain water is just as effective as oil and gas wastewater at dust suppression, without the negative environmental and health side effects. What’s cheaper than water?

-- Dirt Road Construction/Maintenance Critical: Putting liquids on roads that dry out in a few hours will not solve the dust problem or do anything to protect residents. Using proper road construction and maintenance techniques and the right materials will go a long way to significantly reduce dust and improve the traveling surface.

The Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies has worked on these issues for decades and pioneered the use of techniques and materials that work effectively. Call them, they can help!

-- Wastewater Dumping Has Moved To Paved Roads: Local citizens report oil and gas wastewater dumping has moved from dirt and gravel roads to paved roads because it’s faster to dump their loads with less evidence they are doing this illegal practice. With this move, the justification for legalizing this disposal method for dust suppression has also evaporated. It is simply disposal.

-- Wastewater Dumpers Wait For Rain: Local citizens report wastewater dumpers typically wait until there is rain in the forecast to start dumping to help hide their tracks. As a result, the pretense the dumpers pay any attention to any guidelines for dumping wastewater also disappears. It is simply disposal.

-- Filled With Harmful Contaminants: For nearly 30 years, studies have all shown the same thing-- oil and gas wastewater contains many harmful contaminants that exceed health and environmental standards. Penn State research found 25 contaminants in conventional wastewater exceeded health and environmental standards.

-- Conventional Wastewater Fails Product Testing: The Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies reported conventional oil and gas wastewater fails to meet its environmental testing standards, including for sodium, chloride and radioactive radium. Radioactive radium levels varied from 84 to 2,500 pCi/L, far above the 15 pCi/L standard.

-- Little Difference Between Conventional And Shale Gas Wastewater: Penn State reported there is very little difference between conventional and unconventional oil and gas wastewater, except the road dumping of unconventional shale gas wastewater was banned by DEP in 2016 regulations.

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.

(Photos: Illegal road dumping in 2024)

NewsClips:

-- PA Environmental Council Supports Bill To Ban Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater For Dust Suppression Called Into Question

House Action/Hearing On Road Dumping:

-- House Committee Reports Out Bills To Ban Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Prohibit Use Of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals’ In Consumer Products [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Bill Banning Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater, Prohibiting Its Use As Coproduct Under Residual Waste Regulations [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies Says Road Spreading Oil & Gas Wastewater Is Not An Effective Dust Suppressant, Does Not Meet Environmental Testing Standards [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: A First-Hand Account Of How Repeated, Unlimited Road Dumping Of Oil & Gas Drilling Wastewater Is Tearing Apart Dirt Roads And Creating Multiple Environmental Hazards [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Protect PT - Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater ‘Is Disproportionately Responsible For Negative Impacts On Human Health,’ Especially From Radioactive Radium [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: On Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘We Studied This For Nearly 30 Years And The Conclusions Are The Same - The Wastewater Contains Harmful Contaminants’ [PaEN]