PA Environment Digest Blog: Community Speaks Out Against Expansion Of Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County

On March 10, Mom Clean Air Force, local partners and community members announced they will be testifying against MarkWest Energy's application for a third expansion to its cryogenic facilities at the Harmon Creek Gas Processing Plant, Smith Township, Washington County.

The Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Environmental Justice is holding a combined meet and hearing on the permit application March 11 at the Burgettstown Area Middle/High School Campus, LGI Room, 100 Bavington Road, Burgettstown in Washington County from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. [Read more here]

Natural gas processing plants separate ethane from shale gas, which is then used by Shell’s Beaver County petrochemical plant to produce plastics.

MarkWest Energy’s existing plants at this site have a history of permit violations, and the proposed expansion is in a designated environmental justice area with high rates of asthma, heart disease, and cancer.

The location is also surrounded by numerous other oil and gas operations, including two unconventional well pads, another gas plant which is also seeking expansion, and two compressor stations--all within a square mile of Harmon Creek.

“Our children's health and future must take priority over petrochemical profits,” says Rachel Meyer, Ohio River Valley Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. “Families like mine are in danger because of MarkWest’s Harmon Creek facility, which has a history of violating protective air pollution regulations while processing fracked ethane gas for use in the overproduction of plastics. Children at nearby schools, including Burgettstown Area Elementary, which is within a mile and a half of the facility, can be exposed to its harmful air pollution, increasing the risks of health impacts such as developmental problems, asthma, and cancer.

“At Moms Clean Air Force, we stand with children's health and against the expansion of the Harmon Creek facility and the harm it will cause,” said Meyer.

"The community surrounding MarkWest's Harmon Creek plant deserves much better than the Department of Environmental Protection has given them: despite having a heavy pollution burden and significant environmental exposures, the DEP has decided to ignore their own environmental justice policy by failing to provide opportunities to learn more about this expansion before holding a public hearing,” says Sarah Martik, Executive Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice. “Now it's up to residents to stand up for themselves, their families and friends, and demand that the DEP show this application the level of scrutiny it deserves and hold this serial polluter accountable."

“Gas processing plants, like all fossil fuel development, raise the risk of health harms to those living, working, or going to school near to these polluting facilities,” says Aaron Makatura, Project Coordinator for Appalachia, Environmental Health Project. “Research shows associations between shale gas operations and an array of health impacts, including poor birth outcomes, asthma exacerbation, heart failure and high blood pressure, stress and mental health issues, and cancer.

“An expanded Harmon Creek facility will only increase these health impacts, especially for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable individuals,” added Makatura.

“The MarkWest Harmon Creek facility has a track record of dangerous air pollution violations, so an expansion is the wrong direction to take,” says Sean Hoffman, Legislative Director Clean Air Action. “It is unclear how many people in the community are aware of the expansion and the related dangers to their health. The fact that the public hearing is being rushed by the state agency tasked with protecting us and our right to breathe clean air is deeply concerning.

“We should ensure maximum community participation when it comes to the expansion of dangerous facilities like this one.

“Pennsylvania and the people of Smith Township deserve a fair opportunity to weigh in on a threat to their health in their own backyard, as is their right. Pennsylvania should also invest in industries that provide good, clean jobs rather than more fuel to dirty plastics production that harms our health and environment.”

Questions from media should be sent to: MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com.

[Note: On Christmas morning December 25, 2022, the Energy Transfer Revolution Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant about a mile from the Harmon Creek 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.

(Photo: The Energy Age Blog and Marcellus Air.)

Resource Links - Harmon Creek Hearing:

-- Community Speaks Out Against Expansion Of Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County [PaEN]

-- Washington County Resident To DEP: Harmon Creek Natural Gas Plant Expansion Will Result In A Huge Increase In Air Pollution, It Should Be Required To Have A Major Air Quality Permit, It Is Not A ‘Minor’ Source [PaEN]

-- Moms Clean Air Force To DEP: Families In Washington County Are Already Living In The Middle Of Major Natural Gas Industrial Sites - Do Not Expand The Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant And Make It Worse [PaEN]

-- Fact Sheet: How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby’s Health

-- DEP: Shell Petrochemical Plant Pays Additional $2,671,044.75 In Civil Penalties For 12-Month Air Quality Violations After May 2023 Consent Order [PaEN]

-- Shell Falcon Pipeline LP Pleads No Contest To Criminal Charges For Violating The State Clean Streams Law In Allegheny, Beaver, Washington Counties; Will Pay $300,000 In Penalties [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 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Attended By Nearly 480 People Featured Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development [PaEN]

Resource Links - Health:

-- Frackland Video Tour, with Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council