PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP To Hold Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Chapter 105 Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 3 PA Bulletin announcing it will hold a February 3 virtual hearing on the Chapter 105 permit for the proposed PA General Energy 3.9 mile Saluda shale gas well pad development access road and staging area in the Loyalsock State Forest, Gamble and Cascade Townships, Lycoming County. (PA Bulletin, page 80)

The virtual hearing will be held on February 3 starting at 4:00 p.m.

Individuals who wish to present testimony at the virtual hearing and for inclusion in the administrative record must contact Megan Lehman, Regional Communications Manager, by email at meglehman@pa.gov or by phone at 570-327-3659 before noon on Monday, February 2.

A link for those testifying to access the virtual hearing will be provided upon registration.

Those wishing only to listen and not testify may join the hearing via phone or internet connection.

Access information will be posted on DEP’s Calendar of Events webpage or by contacting Megan Lehman at meglehman@pa.gov.

Persons unable to attend the public hearing can submit a written statement to the DEP by close of business on Tuesday, February 3.

Written statements should be sent via the U.S. Postal Service to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Eastern Oil and Gas District Office, 208 West Third Street, Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701, or emailed to RA-EPEASTERNOGPRG@pa.gov.

Questions and requests to review the permit applications should be directed to the DEP Oil and Gas Management Program, DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third Street in Williamsport, PA 17701-6448, call 570-321-6550 or send email to: RA-EPEASTERNOGPRG@pa.gov.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. (PA Bulletin, page 80)

Background

DEP held an initial 30 day comment period on this application that started November 1. Read more here.

In December, the PA Council of Trout Unlimited, the Keystone Trails Association and the Responsible Drilling Alliance have requested DEP to hold a hearing

The groups said the project will have a significant impact on some of the most ecologically diverse forest lands in the Loyalsock State Forest, has the potential to degrade several Exceptional Value streams and will cut off public access to the use of popular upland hunting and primitive forest hiking areas.

PA Trout Unlimited noted the project will require PGE to construct, operate and maintain twenty (20) permanent stream crossings, nineteen (19) temporary stream crossings, eight (8) permanent wetland crossings and ten (10) temporary wetland crossings.

Click Here for more concerns expressed by the groups.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

(Photos: Documented shale gas development impacts in Tioga State Forest by Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group-- top- Tioga State Forest well pads; bottom-- Baldwin Run Road 24/7 shale gas highway; Recently cleared pipeline right-of-way between Baldwin Run and Norris Brook.)

Resource Links:

-- PA Trout Unlimited, Keystone Trails Assn., Responsible Drilling Alliance Request DEP To Hold Hearing On Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Access Road/Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN 12.3.25]

-- DEP Invites Comments On A PA General Energy Chapter 105 Permit For 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN 10.31.25]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 - Shale Gas Well Casing Failure/Loss Of Control; Shale Gas Well Pad Spills Continue For 426 Days; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Reach 688 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Range Resources Suffers Casing Failure/Loss Of Control Incident During Fracking At Burkett Shale Gas Well Pad Triggering Area Of Review Report On Any Offsite Impacts In Jefferson Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Still Experiencing Spills, Releases While New Well Development Continues At Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 426 Days And Counting [PaEN]

-- DEP: High Volume Of Truck Traffic, Freeze/Thaw Destabilized EQT Prod Shale Gas Well Pad Access Road Allowing Gravel, Sediment To Wash Off Road In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 3 [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Chapter 105 Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Feb. 4 Hearing On First Title V Air Quality Permit For The Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit For A 3.7 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Route In Elk And Forest Counties [PaEN]