DEP Sets Aug. 29 Hearing On Stormwater Permit For Blue Ridge Real Estate’s Proposed Truck Terminal, Warehouse In Kidder Twp., Carbon County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 27 PA Bulletin announcing an August 29 hearing on an Individual NPDES Stormwater permit for the Blue Ridge Real Estate’s proposed 46+ acre truck terminal and warehouse in Kidder Township, Carbon County.  (PA Bulletin, page 4401)

The permit-- PAD130044-- would cover the proposed development of a 420,000 square foot building, trailer parking areas, employee parking areas, stormwater management facilities, and two entrance drives adjoining SR 940.

The hearing will be held at the Jim Thorpe High School, 1 Olympian Way in Jim Thorpe from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Individuals wishing to testify at the hearing submit a written notice of intent to Colleen Connolly, Community Relations Coordinator at: coconnolly@pa.gov. 

The Department will accept requests up to the day of the hearing.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for instructions on how to review the permit application and submit comments.   (PA Bulletin, page 4401)

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: July 26, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

DEP To Hold Aug. 28 Hearing On Water Quality Permit For Rustic Ridge Ridge #1 Coal Mine 1,452 Acre Expansion In Fayette, Westmoreland Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 27 PA Bulletin announcing an August 28 hearing on the NPDES Water Quality permit application for the 1,452 acre expansion of the underground LCT Energy Rustic Ridge Ridge #1 Metallurgical Coal Mine in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County.  (PA Bulletin, page 4401- 4402)

The hearing was requested by the Mountain Watershed Association.

DEP will hold the hearing at St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, 170 School House Lane in Donegal, Westmoreland County starting at 6:00 p.m.

Individuals wishing to register to testify at the hearing must contact Lauren Camarda by email to: lcamarda@pa.gov or by calling 412-442-4203 at least 24 hours before the hearing.

Individuals providing testimony are re- quested to submit a written copy of their verbal testimony by e-mail to Lori Jenkins, lorjenkins@pa.gov,  after providing testimony at the hearing. 

Written comments will be accepted until close of business on September 2, 2024.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for instructions on how to review the permit application and submit comments.   (PA Bulletin, page 4401- 4402)

Visit DEP’s Rustic Ridge #1 Coal Mine webpage for more information on the proposal.

Unsuitable For Mining Petition

On January 22, 2024, the Mountain Watershed Association submitted a petition to declare almost 11,000 acres unsuitable for surface coal mining in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County.  Read more here.

On February 23, 2024, DEP rejected the petition saying, “The Department has found that the MWA’s petition lacks sufficient allegations of facts and supporting evidence to establish that the petition area is unsuitable for all or certain types of surface mining operations.”

DEP declared the petition “frivolous.”  Read more here.

On March 22, the Association appealed DEP’s rejection of the petition to the Environmental Hearing Board which is now considering the appeal.  [Search EHB Docket # 2024077]

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: July 26, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Requiring Any Facility Operating Under A Title V Temporary Air Plan Approval For More Than 12 Months To Submit a Title V Operating Permit On Or Before Nov. 25, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 27 PA Bulletin that it is requiring any facility operating under a temporary Title V Air Quality Plan Approval for more than 12 months to submit an application for a Title V Air Quality permit on or before November 25, 2024. 

The requirement to submit a Title V Operating Permit application within 12 months of beginning operation will also apply to the owners or operators of new or modified Title V facilities authorized and operating under a plan approval after July 27, 2024.

DEP said in the notice the change is required to meet federal Clean Air Act requirements and because submission requirements in state regulations provided two different deadlines.

This submission deadline could impact a number of shale gas facilities like natural gas processing plants, compressor stations, well pads and other air pollution sources.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information.

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the DEP Bureau of Air Quality by email to: ra-epair@pa.gov. 

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: July 26, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved, Renewed 22 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In June; 155 General Permits In 2024

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the July 27 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 22 general water use permits in June for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Susquehanna and Tioga counties.

This brings the total general water permits approved by the SRBC in 2024 to 155.  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.

Here’s a list of the general permits approved--

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Chancellor; ABR-20090532.R3; Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Corbett Unit Pad; ABR-201905006.R1; Overton Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: James Barrett; ABR-20090530.R3; Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: John Barrett; ABR-20090529.R3; Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Judd; ABR-20090534.R3; Monroe Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: May; ABR-20090528.R3; Granville Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 5, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Clapper; ABR-20090533.R3; Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 6, 2024.

-- Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: DefargesJ P1; ABR-202406001; Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 13, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: RU-55 CONKLIN; ABR-201204018.R2; New Milford Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: June 13, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: Shughart 490; ABR-201403004.R2; Richmond Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 21, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: Shughart 534; ABR-201403003.R2; Richmond Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 21, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: O'Brien Pad; ABR-201205012.R2; Jackson Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: June 21, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: ALEXANDER (01 124); ABR-201905003.R1; Armenia Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 24, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: GrasavageE P1; ABR-201403014.R2; Jessup Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: HawkJ P1; ABR-201403013.R2; Auburn and Springville Townships, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: HARRIS (01 004) M; ABR-20090508.R3; Armenia Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC; Pad ID: PHINNEY (01 006) J; ABR-20090510.R3; Troy Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Seneca Resources Company, LLC; Pad ID: Tice 653; ABR-201403002.R2; Richmond Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Harris # 1H; ABR-20090556.R3; Burlington Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 28, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC; Pad ID: Iceman; ABR-201205016.R2; Wilmot Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: June 28, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: Lepley Pad—TI-04; ABR-201405006.R2; Liberty Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: June 28, 2024.

-- RENEWAL—SWN Production Company, LLC; Pad ID: Powers Pad Site; ABR-20090511.R3; Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.9990 mgd; Approval Date: June 28, 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 Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County under construction.)

Related Articles:

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Holds Aug. 1 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests For Amazon Data Center, Luzerne County; 8 Shale Gas Development, Gas Power Plant Withdrawals  [PaEN]

-- No One Warned A Cameron County Family Their Water Well Was Contaminated By A Seneca Resources Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Rupture  [PaEN] 

-- Grist - Jake Bolster: Road Dumping Returns: How Pennsylvania’s Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Quietly Dumped Waste Across The State

-- Fast Company: It’s Illegal For Oil & Gas Companies To Dump Wastewater On Pennsylvania Roads - They Do It Anyway

-- MotherJones.com: Frackers Are Spraying Toxic Wastewater On Pennsylvania Roads Despite Ban

-- Penn State Extension Aug. 21 Webinar - Water Testing Through Penn State's Ag Analytical Lab  [PaEN] 

-- Learn How You Can Qualify For Free Well Water Testing During Aug. 22 Penn State Extension Webinar  [PaEN]

-- Shell Petrochemical Plant Asks DEP To Classify Chemical Makeup, Flow Rate Of Gases Going To Be Burned Off By Flares, Air Pollution Sources, Control Equipment Operating At The Plant Confidential Business Information  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Newsletter Highlights Chesapeake Bay Report Card; Tioga River Mine Drainage Treatment Project; eDNA; New Cooling Tower Tech  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 26, 2024]  PA Environment Digest