The companies include the Venango Water Company, Sugarcreek Water Company, West Hickory Water Company, Plumber Water Company, Fryburg Water Company, Cooperstown Water Company and the Blane E. Rhodes Sewer Company.
The purpose of the hearings is to determine whether the PUC should issue an order to have another public utility acquire and operate one or more of the water companies.
The PUC investigation was prompted by Randall and Kevin Rhodes, operators of all the water companies owned by the Rhodes Estate, saying they no longer want to be the certified operators for any of their water companies.
This action follows the problems caused by the oil well spill that contaminated the Bellows Spring water supply last July, resulting in a “do not consume” advisory in Reno by the Venango Water Company that lasted six weeks.
The PUC in August issued an emergency order to Aqua Pennsylvania to operate the Venango Water Company so water would continue to be provided to its customers. It has been operating the company ever since.
The notice said customers and municipalities in the service territories of each of the seven companies may file a petition to intervene in the investigation stating any specific concerns they may have.
The deadline to file a petition is July 12. The instructions on how to file and other information is available in the notice.
As The Derrick reported Tuesday, the PUC will hold a prehearing telephone conference May 21 on this investigation to establish a hearing schedule and discuss next steps.
Only official parties to the proceeding can participate in the prehearing, but the public may listen to the telephone conference.
Instructions for joining the call can be found in the notice of the prehearing.
Board Extends Stay In Appeal Of Cleanup Order
On Wednesday, the Environmental Hearing Board extended the stay of an appeal of the order issued by the Department of Environmental Protection requiring Petro Erie, Inc. to clean up the spill contaminating a spring serving the Venango Water Company.
Both the company and DEP requested an extension to allow more time to work out an agreement on what Petro Erie will do to clean up the pollution.
The Board said they have to report on their progress by no later than June 25.
DEP last inspected the spill site on May 1 and found no cleanup activity.
NewsClip:
-- The Derrick: Rhodes Water Systems’ Future In Hands Of PUC
Related Articles - Village Of Reno Water Contamination:
-- The Derrick: PUC To Hold May 21 Prehearing On Future Of Venango Water Company; Water Source Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: State Intervenes In Venango Water Case [Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Public Utility Commission Starts Investigation Into Possible Order For Another Utility To Permanently Acquire Venango Water Company Impacted By Conventional Oil Well Spill [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Continues To Operate The Water System Serving The Village Of Reno After A Conventional Well Wastewater Release Contaminated Its Water Supply Last July In Venango County [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: DEP: Little Headway In Reno Oil Well Wastewater Cleanup In Venango County [PaEN
-- Petro Erie, Inc. Says It Lacks The Financial Ability To Comply With DEP’s Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater That Contaminated The Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; Will Taxpayers/Ratepayers Be Stuck With Cleanup Costs Again? [PaEN]
[Posted May 18, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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