PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP: Active Wastewater Spill Remediation Efforts Have Continued For 30+ Days At The Seneca Resources Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County

The Department of Environmental Protection reports active remediation efforts have continued for more than 30 days after a large wastewater spill was discovered at the Seneca Resources Co. LLC Vandergrift 290 shale gas well pad on May 13 in Charleston Township, Tioga County.

A May 13 DEP inspection, prompted by a complaint, found two large areas of distressed vegetation with evidence of a wastewater release in one area 50 feet wide extending downslope about 120 feet and another area 20 feet wide and stretching 65-70 feet down slope.

There were also areas of running liquid and puddles of liquid were found in several areas and liquid was found running off site.

Seneca said the cause of the spill was leaking values and fluid flowing from an open pipe during well plugging operations.

No estimate was made of the amount of wastewater released at the time.

A June 10 DEP inspection of the well pad found extensive remediation efforts were continuing to collect fluids that were still accumulating.

Seneca had excavated sumps around each of the wells approximately 6 feet deep where fluid was accumulating.

A plastic-lined sump was installed downslope from the excavated area where liquid was also collecting.

24 rolloff dumpsters were full of excavated material. There was a 4-inch wide channel of liquid coming from a separate pile of excavated material flowing into the sumps.

A vac truck driver said he had collected 16,800 gallons from the sumps just that day and the water was recycled back as frack water.

DEP reported wastewater sampling results on June 22 - DEP inspection report.

DEP continued the original violations and advised Seneca to continue remediation and monitoring the situation as necessary. DEP inspection report.

No more inspection reports were filed after June 22 as of July 4.

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 and Inspection Reports Viewer webpages to search their compliance records by date and owner.

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

Resource Links - Seneca Resources:

-- No One Warned A Cameron County Family Their Water Well Was Contaminated By A Seneca Resources Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Rupture [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Ignores NOVs On DCNR Shale Gas Well Pad Cleanup For 7 Months & Counting; Citizen Complaint Finds Homeowner Well Venting Gas; Multiple Tanker Truck Spills [PaEN]

-- Citizen Complaint, Company Report Results In DEP Inspection Finding 63,000 Gallon Wastewater Spill At Seneca Resources Shale Gas Well On State Game Lands In Elk County; More Leaks, Spills [PaEN]

-- Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group Update: Industrial Shale Gas Development In Tioga State Forest Prioritizes Industry Profit Over Constitutional Mandate To Preserve, Protect State Forest Lands [PaEN]

(Photos: Top-- 6 foot deep sumps were excavated around the well heads to collect fluid; Bottom-- Contaminated liquid at edge of well pad and in drainage swale; Plastic-lined sump downslope from the excavated area on the pad collecting liquid)

[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:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 28 to July 4 - 30+ Days Of Cleanup Continues At Shale Gas Pad; Failure To Comply With Plugging Order For 67 Months; Failure To Install E&S Controls For 68 Months [PaEN]

-- DEP: Active Wastewater Spill Remediation Efforts Have Continued For 30+ Days At The Seneca Resources Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 5 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 65 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 5 PA Bulletin [PaEN]