PA Environment Digest Blog: Federal Court Denies Request For Injunction In Lawsuit By New Freeport Residents Against EQT Gas Drilling Company Over Contaminated Water Supplies in Greene County

The Federal Western District Court has denied a request for a preliminary injunction made by New Freeport residents in a lawsuit against EQT shale gas drilling company for damages related to contaminated water supplies in Greene County, according to the Center for Coalfield Justice.

The lawsuit, filed June 20, 2024, alleges the company’s natural gas drilling operations in New Freeport contaminated the community’s groundwater aquifers in June 2022. Read more here.

The preliminary injunction was intended to ensure EQT would provide water buffalos to more than just the initial group of impacted residents and ensure that deliveries would continue to be paid for by the company.

The Center for Coalfield Justice said some residents do have water buffalos that are being paid for by EQT; however, EQT could decide to stop paying for water at any time without any repercussions.

The Center said EQT has continued to frack at various well pads in the area, more residents have come forward to share their experiences with polluted water.

“We know that no amount of money can fix the polluted aquifer below New Freeport, that no amount of money can undo the health risk for exposure to contaminated water or the devaluation of property in the area. While there are solutions to residents’ lack of clean water, neither the Department of Environmental Protection nor this Court appear willing to hold EQT accountable by making them pay for those solutions,” said Sarah Martik, Executive Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice.

Tonya Yoders, CCJ Community Organizer, said, “Residents were left waiting for a decision for nearly a year, only now to be left with uncertainty around their access to safe water moving forward. We know that many residents - unable to afford water delivery on their own when quoted as high as $400/week for the service - are being forced to use the contaminated water for things that most people take for granted like showering, doing laundry, and watering animals. The fact that residents are in this position is shameful and unacceptable.”

“The court erred by misrepresenting the harms at issue. The court stated that the alleged harm to the New Freeport plaintiffs was the monetary costs incurred from having to buy supplemental water, not the health risks associated from being forced to use their contaminated water. I believe this to be an incorrect application of the law to the facts,” said Seth Sherman, CCJ Legal Fellow

The Center statement said, "The case will now move to the appeals court. While not the outcome residents had hoped for, this denial does not necessarily have a negative impact on the lawsuit as a whole. The merits of this case have yet to be decided, and we anticipate the residents of New Freeport will have their day in court.”

Click Here for the Center For Coalfield Justice announcement.

Resource Links:

-- WESA: New Freeport, Greene County Residents File Lawsuit Against EQT Gas Drilling Company Over Contaminated Water Supplies

-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years—We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water

-- Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 13 to 19 - Pipeline Rupture At Gas Storage Area; Spill By DEP Plugging Contractor; Failure To Have Shale Gas Emergency, Spill Plans [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 20 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 80 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 20 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week - September 22 [PaEN]