PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Issues $1.1 Million Civil Penalty To Equitrans For Violations Related To The Uncontrolled Venting Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Gas From The Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area In Cambria County

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

DEP Issues $1.1 Million Civil Penalty To Equitrans For Violations Related To The Uncontrolled Venting Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Gas From The Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area In Cambria County

On April 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has assessed significant civil penalties totaling $1,114,000 from Equitrans, L.P. for air quality, waste, and oil and gas violations related to the uncontrolled gas release from Equitrans’ Rager Mountain natural gas storage field and George L Reade 1 storage well in November 2022.

Over 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas was released at the facility in uncontrolled venting. Read more here.

“Since November 2022, DEP has been working around the clock to keep Pennsylvanians safe and hold Equitrans accountable for the uncontrolled release of natural gas at Rager Mountain. DEP responded immediately to this incident, from oil and gas staff and emergency responders to air quality inspectors and geologists reviewing cleanup and remediation plans,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The Department is committed to holding operators accountable, and we will continue monitoring the environmental impacts of this incident to ensure Pennsylvanians’ health and safety.”

The total civil penalty assessments include $350,000 for air quality violations, which is the maximum civil penalty assessment allowable under the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act, and $764,000 pursuant to Pennsylvania’s oil and gas and solid waste laws.

From November 6, 2022 until November 19, 2022, natural gas vented uncontrollably from the Rager Mountain storage field in Jackson Township, Cambria County.

DEP responded immediately to the well control emergency, maintained a 24/7 onsite presence for 15 days, and continued to expend significant resources to investigate and oversee remedial activities at the site throughout 2023.

Attempts to control the well involved pumping fresh water and a heavy brine into the well to stop the flow of gas.

Approximately 2,100 to 4,200 gallons of heavy brine were released onto the ground and into conveyance channels and wetlands near the site, violating the Solid Waste Management Act.

The well was brought under control on November 19, and a cement plug was installed on November 20, 2022.

DEP issued two compliance orders requiring corrective actions which Equitrans appealed.

Equitrans, however, has complied with both orders and has agreed to withdraw its appeals. DEP continues to monitor the environmental impacts of the incident.

Accounts from DEP personnel and members of the public described the odors and noise produced by the venting of natural gas as akin to a jet engine.

The leak created a visible plume of gas that led DEP to recommend, and the Federal Aviation Administration to issue, a temporary flight restriction over the area during much of the incident.

Equitrans provided emission estimates that indicated approximately 1.037 billion cubic feet of natural gas was released into the atmosphere, violating Pennsylvania’s Air Pollution Control Act.

Approximately 223 tons of carbon dioxide and 27,040 tons of methane were released, which represents approximately 10 percent of the total recorded methane emissions in Pennsylvania in 2022, based on DEP’s inventory of self-reported emissions data.

The impact of methane is over 25 times greater than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

The 106 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted represent the highest recorded VOC emissions from any facility in the oil and gas sector in Pennsylvania in 2022, based on DEP’s inventory of self-reported emissions data. VOCs are a precursor to ozone, which is known to cause adverse health effects.

Gas storage fields are regulated at the federal level by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

DEP continues to collaborate with federal and state regulators on their respective investigations and areas of oversight.

More information can be found in the Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty for the air quality violations and the Civil Penalty Assessment for the waste and oil and gas violations.

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