All three violations involved situations where the companies listed chemicals as “proprietary,” but failed to submit those chemicals under separate, confidential cover to DEP as required by law.
These violations follow violations DEP issued on September 8, 2024, to Apex Energy (PA) LLC for failing to submit a list of fracking chemicals used to frack 37 shale gas wells in Salem and Hempfield Townships, Westmoreland County between March 20, 2018 and February 17, 2024. Read more here.
The new violations include--
-- On September 26, 2024, DEP issued a notice of violation to EQT Production Company for failing to submit the list of chemicals used in fracking eight shale gas wells at the Lumber Shale Gas Well Pad in Springhill Township, Greene County.
DEP said the violations occurred on April 22, 2024.
The well owner was asked to submit a response to the violation by October 10, 2024.
The Lumber Shale Gas Well Pad is at the center of a dispute with the surrounding community over whether a “frack-out” of a well at that pad caused the contamination of private water supplies in 2022.
On November 29, 2023 the Environmental Hearing Board accepted a settlement agreement between the Department of Environmental Protection and EQT Production Company involving appeals of DEP actions related to a June 19, 2022 frack-out and the Lumber and Spleen Splitter shale gas well pads both in Springhill Township, Greene County. Read more here.
DEP said it could not determine if the EQT fracking caused the contamination of the nearby water supply wells. Read more here.
On September 10, 2024, WESA reported EQT Corporation is facing accusations from Greene County residents in a class-action lawsuit filed this summer.
The complaint, filed June 20, alleges the company’s natural gas drilling operations in New Freeport contaminated the community’s groundwater aquifers in June 2022. Read more here.
-- On September 26, 2024, DEP issued a notice of violation to Range Resources-Appalachia, LLC for failing to submit the list of chemicals used in fracking one shale gas well at the Brownlee Kelley 12333 Unit Shale Gas Well Pad in Hopewell Township, Washington County.
DEP said the violations occurred on March 19, 2024.
The well owner was asked to submit a response to the violation by October 10, 2024.
-- On September 26, 2024, DEP issued a notice of violation to Greylock Production LLC for failing to submit the list of chemicals used in fracking.
The company said some chemicals were listed as “proprietary,” but failed to submit those chemicals under separate, confidential cover to DEP.
Since this notice of violation was not available online, the location and the name of the shale gas wells cited were not available.
To find documentation of DEP’s NOV search DEP’s Oil & Gas Compliance Database for September 26, 2024 and Greylock Production LLC.
Report Violations
To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.
Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.
Check These Resources
Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner and the Inspection Reports Viewer.
Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.
Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.
[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]
[Note: These may not be all the NOVs issued to oil and gas companies during this time period. Additional inspection reports may be added to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- DEP Issues Violations To 3 Shale Gas Drillers For Failing To Report Fracking Chemicals, Including At EQT’s Lumber Well Pad In Greene County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 28 [PaEN]
-- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources Applies For More Shale Gas Wells In Cecil Twp., Washington County - Drilling Close To Home-- Literally!
-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 28 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
20 Years Of Shale Gas
-- Observer-Reporter: Local Officials Have Had To Grapple With Fracking Since It’s Arrival - Cecil Township, Washington County [Part II] [PDF of Article]
-- Observer-Reporter: ‘Shale Revolution:’ A Look Back At 20 Years Of Gas Drilling In Southwest PA [Part I] [PDF of Article]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA’s Dr. Ned Ketyer Shares Summary Of Studies Of Shale Gas Development Impacts On Human Health [PaEN]
-- US DOE: China Is Biggest Destination For US LNG Gas Exports; PA Shale Gas Industry Says We Have ‘Duty’ To Export Gas To China, Our Military, Economic Competitor [PaEN]
-- House Committee Meets Oct. 1 To Consider Bill To Diversify Energy Generation, Improve Grid Reliability, Lower Consumer Energy Costs [PaEN]
-- PA House Republicans Introduce Bill Creating An Energy Advocate With Power To Veto Any Action By Any State Agency That Harms Energy Reliability, Affordability [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, Partners Release New Disability-Centered Guidance For Transportation Accidents, Petrochemical Plant Spills, Releases [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Marcellus Drilling News: EQT Gas Driller Says Natural Gas Price Spikes Coming Next Year Moving From $2 to $3 Range Up To As High As $9 [PDF of Article] [PA Is 59% Dependent On Gas To Generate Electricity]
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs At 14, Same As Last Week - Down 33% Since Aug. 23 [Industry Efforts To Increase Natural Gas Prices Continue]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: EQT Gas To Begin Reversing Curtailed Production Starting In October [PDF of Article]
-- The Energy Age Blog: Doctor Summarizes Health Studies On Shale Gas Development Health Impacts
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: CNX Resources: Our Operations Pose No Health Risk; You Can’t Be Serious, Activists Say
-- Inquirer/Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: CNX Resources: Our Operations Pose No Health Risk; You Can’t Be Serious, Activists Respond
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Resources Tells Gas Industry - Public Health Issues Won’t Just Go Away Without Transparency
-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Lawsuit Over Radioactive Drill Cuttings At Mercer County Landfill Heads To Commonwealth Court Hearing Oct. 8 [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Expand Energy Corp New Name For Merged Chesapeake Energy- Southwestern Energy Gas Producers; Will Be Largest In US
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Propane Involved In Crescent Twp. House Explosion, Investigation Shows
-- TribLive: PUC: Natural Gas Service Not To Blame For Fatal Crescent Township House Explosion
-- The Allegheny Front: Study: Colleges With Fossil Fuel Funding Can Become ‘Vehicle Of Climate Obstruction’
[Posted: September 27, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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