PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Prints Corrected Notice Inviting Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a new State Only Minor Air Quality Operating Permit for the continued operation of the ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC [Energy Transfer] Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant in Smith Township, Washington County. (PA Bulletin, page 7595)

The facility has previously been permitted under a GP-5 and GP-1 Air Quality General Permits.

This notice corrects the location of the facility originally published in the November 2, 2024 PA Bulletin. (PA Bulletin, page 7239)

Natural gas cryogenic plants take natural gas and cool it to sub-zero temperatures-- minus 120 degrees Fahrenheit-- in order to condense and separate out liquids like butane, ethane and propane from the gas.

These natural gas liquids are then shipped via pipeline to places like the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County to make plastics and through the Mariner East Pipelines to Southeast Pennsylvania as feedstock for other petrochemical plants and export.

Public comments are due to DEP by December 23.

DEP has not scheduled a hearing on the proposed permit, but a hearing can be requested.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for information on how to submit comments and review the permit application. (PA Bulletin, page 7595)

Explosion/Fire

On December 25, 2022, the Revolution Cryogenic Plant suffered a major explosion and a fire that burned for hours and caused an uncontrolled release of ethane and other gases for nine and a half hours, according to the company. Read more here.

Kasey Duran and her family live about 1,500 feet from the facility and were opening presents on Christmas morning 2022 when they heard a “jet noise” from the plant followed by a loud bang that rattled the house about 7:30 in the morning.

“It blew and shook the whole house,” said Kasey Duran. “A big piece (of equipment) over there caught fire. The kids are terrified. The whole family is scared. The peace is gone.”

Duran said she called 911 and she and her family evacuated their home. By the time a “shelter-in-place” order was implemented by local authorities, her family had already left for Burgettstown.

Duran said she also contacted DEP about the incident and was told they planned to send inspectors to tour the plant Tuesday (January 3).

DEP did, in fact, inspect the facility for the first time after the explosion nine days later on January 3. [Read more here. Read more here.]

ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC [Energy Transfer] attempted to limit the public distribution of any information related to the explosion by neighbors to the facility since then information related to the explosion is confidential under Act 156 of 2006 the state Public Utility Confidential Security Information and Disclosure Protection Act and DEP should not be releasing copies of its inspection reports on the facility.

Terrible Compliance Record

Energy Transfer’s environmental compliance record in Pennsylvania is absolutely terrible.

Energy Transfer had its brand new Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline explode in Beaver County in 2018 and paid a penalty of $30.8 million to DEP.

It has been penalized over $24 million for violations related to the construction of the cross-state Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline just by DEP. The Public Utility Commission imposed its own penalties for violations under its laws.

Energy Transfer has also pleaded “no contest” to criminal charges brought by Attorney General Shapiro related to the construction of the Mariner East Pipelines. Read more here.

Resources Links - Revolution Cryogenic Plant:

-- Observer-Reporter: Explosion, Fire At Energy Transfer’s Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Plant Burned For Nearly 11 Hours On Christmas Day In Smith Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County [PaEN]

-- KDKA Investigation: Washington County Family Says Energy Transfer/MarkWest Natural Gas Processing Plants Turned A Peaceful Farm Into A Nightmare [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 9 to 15 - Failed Well Pluggings; Leaking Gas Storage Area Wells; More Abandoned Conventional, Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 16 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 16 PA Bulletin [PaEN]