The original permits for the 1H and 7H shale gas wells expired on August 17. They were the subjects of appeals to the Environmental Hearing Board and Commonwealth Court by both Protect PT, a local citizen group and CNX Resources.
The new permits would potentially result in the original appeals no longer moving forward. Any challenges to the new permits would have to start over. Read more here.
Protect PT appealed the original permits, citing dangers to local residents including the lack of an evacuation plan for nearly 1,000 people living within a half mile and approximately 3,000 people living within a mile of the well, the proximity of the wells to both a daycare center and the Heritage Trail, and the likelihood of harmful chemical exposure to the local community through air and water, including an increased likelihood of transmission of harmful and unknown chemicals from the fracked wells to private water wells and existing conventional oil and gas wells.
The Environmental Hearing Board upheld the issuance of the permits in a June 3 decision. Read more here.
Both Protect PT and WCAA Upstream, LLC (CNX) appealed the June 3 EHB decision to Commonwealth Court for different reasons.
WCAA Upstream (CNX) appealed the June 3 EHB decision because they objected to the Board adding conditions to the permit that would have allowed DEP to enforce compliance with the conditions of a federal court Consent Judgment the company had with Penn Township involving the wells. Read more here.
While Protect PT supported the EHB’s attempt to protect the environment by adding provisions enforcing the Consent Judgment, they said the “conditions do not protect this densely populated area from the dangers of fracking wells.” Read more here.
Commonwealth Court must determine formally if the case is moot with the expiration of the permits.
TribLive.com quoted Protect PT’s Executive Director Gillian Graber as say her organization will examine the new permits for legal compliance, adding the group’s primary concern with the site is its proximity to residents.
Protect PT does not believe either setback requirement is sufficient protection for human health.
Protect PT is part of Protective Buffers PA, a coalition advocating for the DEP to reevaluate state setback requirements for gas fracking sites.
“That is why we care,” Graber said. “We care because the human health impact from this activity happening so close to so many people is important.”
Click Here to read the TribLive.com article.
Protect Penn-Trafford is a citizen's group working to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life from the effects of unconventional gas development in Penn-Trafford and surrounding communities in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
Upcoming Events
-- September 23-- Virtual. Environmental, Health Groups Host Webinar On What The A.I. Boom Means For You And Society - Big Promise Or Big Problems? 6:30 p.m.
-- September 24-- Virtual. Protective Buffers PA Webinar - Safeguard Our Backyards - Join The Campaign For Health-based Protective Buffers From Shale Gas Operations. 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
-- September 25-- Virtual. Environmental Health Project, Partners Webinar On Health Professionals Toolkit For Protecting Patients From Medical Conditions Related To Oil & Gas Development. 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
(Photo: Quest shale gas well pad showing silica dust, light and air pollution by Gillian Graber used as an example of impacts by Protect PT.)
Resource Links - CNX:
-- Permits For Controversial CNX Resources Drakulic Shale Gas Wells Expire Potentially Ending Appeals; CNX Can Apply For New Permits Starting The Process All Over Again [PaEN]
Resource Links - Setbacks:
-- Environmental Health Project Releases New White Paper: PA's Shale Gas - What We Can Do Now To Better Protect Public Health [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: Lois Bower-Bjornson Shares Her First-Hand Experiences With Shale Gas Health, Environmental Impacts In Washington County [PaEN]
-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’ [August 2023]
-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights [August 2023]
-- State Dept. Of Health Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results [September 2023]
-- State Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts From Natural Gas Development [November 2023]
-- New State Health Plan Identifies Health Issues Related To Natural Resource Extraction, Climate Change In Top 5 Threats To Health Outcomes [April 2023]
-- 2025 PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Attended By Nearly 480 People Featured Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development [February 2025]
-- Presentations Now Available From 2022 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health [December 2022]
-- Fact Sheet: How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby’s Health
-- Frackland Video Tour, with Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council
-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act [June 2022]
-- Cecil Township Supervisors In Washington County Adopt 2,500 Setback From Shale Gas Well Pads From Homes, Businesses, 5,000 Foot Setback From Hospitals, Schools [November 2024]
-- Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County [January 2025]
-- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources & MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges Against 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Setback Ordinance In Cecil Twp., Washington County [January 2025]
-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [October 2023]
-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [October 2023]
-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science [January 2024]
Resource Links - Oil & Gas Compliance:
-- Criminal Convictions; Record Penalties, Restitution Of Over $158.3 Million Highlight Big Shale Gas, Related Petrochemical Industry Compliance History In Pennsylvania [March 2025]
-- DEP Reports 575 Water Supply/Stray Gas Complaints About Oil & Gas Operations In Last 2 Years; Investigation Can Take A Year, Sometimes 2-3 To Find Those Responsible [March 2025]
-- 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 [August 2025]
-- Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County [August 2025]
-- Daily Grind Living Next To Oil & Gas Industry: Spills, Polluted Water Supplies, Smells Like Gas, Noise, Air Pollution, Explosions, Truck Traffic, Erosion, Radioactive Waste, Gas Flares, Dust, Lights, Road Dumping Waste, Abandoned Wells [March 2025]
-- AG Shapiro: Grand Jury Finds Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Citizens During Natural Gas Fracking Boom [June 2022]
-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’ [April 2024]
-- 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 [June 2024]
-- House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards [June 2024]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 20 to 26 - 128 Days Of Cleanup - Not Done Yet; 481 Abandoned Conventional Wells; Conventional Owner Builds 2 Illegal Well Pads [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 27 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 58 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 27 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Part I - 500 Feet Isn’t Enough: Michelle Stonemark Tells What It’s Really Like Living Next To A Shale Gas Well Pad - Nosebleeds, Headaches, Nausea, Air Pollution, Vibrating House, Sleepless Nights, Anxiety - In Cecil Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- Part II - 500 Feet Isn’t Enough: 42 Scientific Studies, 20+ Years Of Experience With Shale Gas Drilling In PA; A State Grand Jury Report; Criminal Convictions; Public Complaints; Lawsuits; Media Reports All Document The Need To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 128 - Seneca Resources Failed To Stop Wastewater Seeps, Cleanup Contamination From A May Spill At The Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- Observer-Reporter: Study Shows Probable Link Between Freeport Twp. Water Well Contamination And Fracking In Greene County [PDF of Article]
-- EPA Issues Sandstone Development Permit For Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit In Cyclone, McKean County [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: PJM Electric Grid Operator Is 'Not Working Anymore,' 'I Won't Stand For A Status Quo That Perpetuates Slowdowns And Rising Costs’ [PaEN]
-- Shapiro Administration: PJM Regional Electric Grid Operator Passed Over Qualified Candidates Suggested By A Bipartisan Coalition Of Governors To Fill Vacant Board Seats [PaEN]
-- PA House Energy Committee Sets Hearings On Regulating A.I. Data Centers, Warehouse Solar, Electric School Buses, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week - September 29 [PaEN]
-- Inside Climate News: Shale Gas Was Supposed To Lower PA Electric Bills, Instead They’re Higher Than Ever And About To Get Worse [Due To LNG Gas Exports, A.I. Data Center Demand]
-- Inside Climate News: Natural Gas Was Pitched As A Stopgap Between Other Fossil Fuels And Renewables, Instead It Has Derailed Pennsylvania’s Transition To Clean Energy
NewsClips:
-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro Don’t Sell Pennsylvania Out To Polluters - Public Facing Health Challenges From Oil & Gas Industry, Methane, A.I. Data Centers - By Josephine Gingerich, Physicians For Social Responsibility PA
-- TribLive: Using Drones To Find Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Allegheny County [Conventional Well Owners Abandon More Wells Every Week - 469 Violations So Far In 2025]
-- The Center Square: Physicians For Social Responsibility PA Speak Out Against Governor’s Proposed RESET Energy Siting Bill To Override Local Land Use Controls [House Bill 502]
-- The Derrick: PA Assn. Of Township Supervisors Briefs Clarion County Leaders On Its Opposition To HB 502 RESET Energy Facility Siting Legislation [PDF of Article]
-- The Derrick: PA Assn. Of Township Supervisors Updates Venango County Townships On Its Opposition To House Bill 502 Overriding Local Land Use Controls On Energy Facility Siting [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: How Will Brunot Island In The Ohio River Be Redeveloped After 50-Year-Old Gas Power Plant Shuts Down? Could Be A ‘Crown Jewel’ Of Pittsburgh
-- WHYY- Susan Phillips: Philadelphia Gas Works Spends Millions To Promote Natural Gas, Advocates Accuse The Utility Of ‘Greenwashing’
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Your Electric Bill Is Subsidizing Big Tech’s A.I. Data Center Dreams - By Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny), Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes The Sun, Joe Morinville, EIS Solar
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Politicians Should Keep Their Hands Off PJM Power Grid - By Todd Snitchler, Electric Power Generators. [High Prices Are ‘Essential Market Signals’]
-- SpotlightPA/Inside Climate News: The Natural Gas Boom In PA Was Supposed To Lower Energy Bills Here, Why Didn’t That Happen?
-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News: Shale Gas Was Supposed To Lower Pennsylvanians’ Electric Bills, Instead, They’re About To Get Worse
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PJM Grid Operator Eyes Reliability Amid A.I. Data Center Boom, But Advocates Say Cost Concerns Remain
-- Post-Gazette: Gov. Shapiro Pummels PJM Regional Grid Operator In Call For Reforms
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Pennsylvania Leaving PJM Regional Electricity Grid Is Still On The Table, Shapiro Says
-- Bloomberg: Pennsylvania Threatens To Go ‘Own Way’ If PJM Regional Electric Grid Operator Won’t Change
-- The Center Square: Shapiro: States In PJM Need More Power In PJM Regional Grid Management
-- PA Capital-Star: PA Gov. Shapiro Said Electric Grid Operator PJM Needs Reform To Put Consumers First
-- Bloomberg: Spiraling Power Costs Are Now A Major Political Issue In The US [Gov. Shapiro]
-- Reuters Commentary: US LNG Gas Export Industry Build Out Poised To Create ‘Huge Global Supply Glut’
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: CNX’s Firebrand CEO Nick DeIuliss To Retire
-- CNX Resources Announces Alan Shepard As Next CEO
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Resources Shale Gas Driller CEO Nick Deluliis To Retire, Alan Shepard To Take Helm [PDF of Article]
-- Observer-Reporter: CNX Shale Gas Driller Proposes To Install Bat Boxes As Homes For Bats In Waynesburg, Greene County [PDF of Article]
-- Financial Times: US Shale Drilling Bosses Decry ‘Chaos’ In President’s Administration’s Energy Policy In Dallas Fed Energy Survey
-- Reuters: Oil/Gas Execs Dour In Dallas Fed Energy Survey: ‘Right Now We Are Bleeding’
[Posted: September 22, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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