Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 42 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In October; 274 General Permits So Far In 2024

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the November 23 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 42 general water use permits in October for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.

This brings the total general water permits approved by the SRBC in 2024 to 274.  Read more here.

The approvals were granted under SRBC regulation 18 CFR 806.22(e) and (f) that creates a general permit-type process to grant approval for water use by individual shale gas drilling pads.

Individual uses of this general permit are not subject to public review.

A separate water withdrawal approval is required by SRBC for actually withdrawing water from a specific water source for use by shale gas drilling operations.  Read more here.

SRBC has so far issued a total of 23 approvals for shale gas development water withdrawals from specific sources in 2024.  Read more here.

On December 12, the SRBC will consider four more water withdrawal approvals for shale gas development. Read more here.

Here is a list of new general permits renewed or issued--

-- NEW - Range Resources—Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Laurel Hill 17-22; ABR-202410001; Jackson Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: Bonnel Run H&F Pad D; ABR-201404003.R2; Pine Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: COP 252 Pad B; ABR-20090445.R3; Grugan Township, Clinton County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Pennsylvania General Energy Company, LLC; Pad ID: COP Tract 596 Pad A; ABR-201909004.R1; Liberty Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Range Resources—Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Cornwall B Unit 1H—4H; ABR-201405003.R2; Lewis Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: HARRIS (01 012) A; ABR-20090523.R3; Armenia Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: OLD MINE ROAD (02 188); ABR-201909003.R1; Hamilton Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 8, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Blackhill Energy, LLC; Pad ID: Houseknecht 2H; ABR-20090419.R3; Springfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 1.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Blackhill Energy, LLC; Pad ID: Housknecht 1H; ABR-20090423.R3; Springfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 1.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Blackhill Energy, LLC; Pad ID: Housknecht 3H; ABR-20090422.R3; Springfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Blackhill Energy, LLC; Pad ID: Ward M 1H; ABR-20090421.R3; Springfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 1.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Phelps B Drilling Pad; ABR-201409001.R2; Lathrop Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Friedland Farms P1; ABR-201405009.R2; Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Gesford P1; ABR-20090547.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Gesford P4; ABR-20090550.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Greenwood P1; ABR-20090548.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: PijanowskiJ P1; ABR-201404002.R2; Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: SlocumS P1; ABR-201403015.R2; Jackson Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: COP 259 Pad A; ABR-20090513.R3; Burnside Township, Centre County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: COP 259 Pad B; ABR-20090440.R3; Burnside Township, Centre County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: COP Tr 551 A; ABR-201404008.R2; McIntyre Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—EQT ARO, LLC; Pad ID: Marilyn Ely Pad A; ABR-201404009.R2; Gamble Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: Harer 713; ABR-201206004.R2; Liberty Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: SHERMAN (03 144) M; ABR-201910001.R1; Columbia Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: WARNER (05 121) W; ABR-201906001.R1; Rush Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: D.M. Pino Pad H; ABR-20090933.R3; Covington Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: PHC 23H/24H; ABR-20090917.R3; Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: PHC 28H/29H; ABR-20090918.R3; Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: Ivey Pad Site; ABR-20090608.R3; Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: NR-03-COLWELL WEST-PAD; ABR-201406002.R2; New Milford Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9999 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: NR-17-COLEMAN-PAD; ABR-201406003.R2; Great Bend Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: October 23, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Heitsman P1; ABR-20090537.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 27, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Heitsman A P2; ABR-20090552.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 27, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Hubbard P1; ABR-20090545.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 27, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: PlonskiI P1; ABR-201405008.R2; Gibson Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 27, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Trowbridge; ABR-201909001.R1; Windham Township, Wyoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Welles 2; ABR-20090940.R3; Terry Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Lathrop P1; ABR-20090538.R3; Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Ratzel P1; ABR-20090539.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Rozanski P1; ABR-20090553.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: SevercoolB P1; ABR-20090536.R3; Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Smith P1; ABR-20090540.R3; Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: October 29, 2024.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

(Photos: SRBC-approved shale gas drilling water withdrawal point on the Exceptional Value  Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County under construction.)

Related Article - SRBC:

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 12 On New Fee Schedule; Water Withdrawals, Including 4 Shale Gas; New General Permit For Into-Basin Diversions  [PaEN] 

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 9 to 15 - Failed Well Pluggings; Leaking Gas Storage Area Wells; More Abandoned Conventional, Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 16  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 16 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Oil & Gas Advisory Board Meets Dec. 5 On Methane Emissions Reduction; Federal Plugging Program; Injection Well Primacy; Financial Assurance; Drilling & Permitting Activity Impacts On DEP Budget   [PaEN] 

-- DEP So Far In 2024:  6,907 Violations Issued To Owners Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells - 153% More Than In 2021;  830 Violations For Abandoning Their Wells -- Exceeding All Of 2023  [PaEN]  

-- Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group Update: Industrial Shale Gas Development In Tioga State Forest Prioritizes Industry Profit Over Constitutional Mandate To Preserve, Protect State Forest Lands  [PaEN] 

-- Oil & Gas Wastewater Release At Bear Lake Properties Injection Well In Warren County Went Unreported For 109 Days; More Contamination Discovered Along Related Wastewater Pipeline Route  [PaEN]

-- EPA, Justice Dept., DEP Announce $5.275 Million In Penalties, Plus $1.4 Million In Abandoned Well Plugging Funding Against Shale Gas Drilling Companies-- XTO Energy, Inc., Hilcorp Energy Company For Federal, State Clean Air Act Violations  [PaEN]

-- DEP Prints Corrected Notice Inviting Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 12 On New Fee Schedule; Water Withdrawals, Including 4 Shale Gas; New General Permit For Into-Basin Diversions  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Reduces Permit Backlog By 75%, Completely Eliminates Backlog For Oil & Gas Permits; You Can’t Blame DEP Anymore For Permit Delays  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: Protecting Public Health Means Enforcing Environmental Regulations While Helping Businesses Thrive - By Jessica Shirley, Acting DEP Secretary  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order Creating PA Permit Fast Track Program; Can't Blame DEP Anymore For Delaying Projects  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- National Review: Northeast Pennsylvania Needs Natural Gas - New Congress, New Federal Administration Should Overturn Delaware River Basin Commission Moratorium On Shale Gas Fracking - By Jason Adams  [PDF of Article] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Bear Lake Shale Gas Wastewater Injection Well Leak Went Undiscovered For 109 Days [PDF of article]  

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Exxon And Hilcorp Shale Gas Drillers Settle Environmental Violations With Millions In Fines And Promised Air Quality Benefits 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Environmental Groups Urge Biden To Keep Block On LNG Gas Export Projects  [PDF of Article] 

-- Environmental Health Project Releases 2024 Year In Review [Shale Gas Drilling Health Impacts] 

-- Erie Times Letter: A Boon? Consider The Price Pennsylvania Pays For Fracking - By Katie Jones, FracTracker Alliance, Johnstown

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition: David Callahan To Retire At End Of Year; Jim Welty To Take Over As President 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Current, Future Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Leaders Talk Industry [Patrick Henderson Promoted To VP]  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Announces New Leadership In New Year

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Climate Activists Criticize Exclusion From Philadelphia Gas Works Budget Process, Propose New Rules

-- Utility Dive: State Ratepayer Advocates Press FERC For PJM Capacity Market Changes, Citing ‘Crushing’ Prices [Not PA’s Consumer Advocate] 

-- Reuters: US LNG Gas Exports Primed To Jump As Price In Europe Hits One-Year High 

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Drillers To Lift 2025 Output, Reversing Year Of Cuts- US EIA

-- Bloomberg: China’s Surging LNG Gas Imports From US Threatened By Next Trade War

-- Reuters: LNG Gas Tankers Divert To Europe From Asia After Russia Halts Supplies To Austria  [11.18.24]

-- Bloomberg: LNG Gas Traders Choose To Pay Penalties For Not Shipping Gas To Germany To Chase Higher Profits In Asia  [10.1.24]

[Posted: November 22, 2024]  PA Environment Digest