On January 28, 2023 David E. Hess published the following information on the Pa Environment Digest Blog
PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment – Jan. 28
The following DEP notices were published in the January 28 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities. Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.
New GP-1 General Air Quality Permit
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin announcing the availability of a revised GP-1 Air Quality General Permit for Natural Gas and Oil-Fired Small Combustion Units.
The primary change from the original GP-1 was to increase the size of the combustion units covered by the general permit from 50 million Btu/hour to 100 million Btu/hour.
The changes will primarily benefit the operators of natural gas infrastructure from well pads to pipelines to natural gas processing plants that use a variety of natural gas-fired combustion units in their operations. Read more here.
Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups
— LOLA Energy Petroco, LLC – Polaris Well Site: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with Aluminum, Barium, Boron, Chloride, Iron, Lithium, Manganese, Strontium, Vanadium, Zinc, Selenium for the site in Oakland Twp., Butler County. (PA Bulletin, page 661)
— CNX Gas Company, LLC – GH 31 Well Pad-CMB Water Line: DEP received Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc for the site in Center Twp., Greene County. (PA Bulletin, page 662)
— Chesapeake Appalachia LLC – Gregerson Well Pad: DEP received Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with drilling wastewater at the site in Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 662)
Air Quality Permits
— Marcus Hook Energy: DEP invites comments on an intent to issue a Title V Air Quality Operating Permit modifying RACT requirements for the Marcus Hook Energy Facility in Marcus Hook Borough, Delaware County. (PA Bulletin, page 635)
— Columbia Gas Of PA – Blackhawk Compressor Station: DEP invites comments on an intent to issue a state-only Air Quality Operating Permit for the facility located in South Beaver Twp., Beaver County. (PA Bulletin, page 636)
— Regency Marcellus Gas Gathering, LLC – Compressor Station: DEP renewed GP-5 Air Quality General Permit for the facility located in Springville Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 665)
— Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC – Compressor Station: DEP issued extension of Air Quality Permit for Compressor Station 517 in Jackson Twp., Columbia County. (PA Bulletin, page 666)
— Texas Eastern Transmission, LP – Compressor Station: DEP issued Air Quality Permit for compressor station engines for the facility located in Lack Twp., Juniata County. (PA Bulletin, page 666)
— Mc Project Co. – Martins Creek Power Facility: DEP issued renewal of Title V Air Quality permit for facility in Lower Mount Bethel Twp., Northampton County. (PA Bulletin, page 666)
— Equitrans, LP – Redhook Compressor Station: DEP issued a state-only Air Quality permit for the facility located in Franklin Twp., Greene County. (PA Bulletin, page 667)
Chapter 105 Encroachment Permits
— Chesapeake Appalachia LLC – Gregerson Sus Well Pad: DEP invites comments on an after-the-fact Chapter 105 permit for activities disturbing wetlands and a floodway in Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 643)
— Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC – Well Pad: DEP issued Chapter 105 for a well pad impacting wetlands in Sullivan Twp., Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 670)
— Repsol Oil & Gas USA, LLC – Well Pad: DEP issued Chapter 105 for a well pad impacting wetlands in Covington and Richmond Townships, Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 670)
Erosion & Sedimentation Permits
— NFG Midstream Covington, LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control permit for a facility impacting Crooked Creek in Middlebury Twp., Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 672)
— Williams Field Services Co.: DEP issued a Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control permit for a facility impacting Meshoppen Creek in Bridgewater Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 672)
— Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control permit for a facility impacting Tuscarora Creek in Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 672)
— PennEnergy Resources LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control permit for a facility impacting Connoquenessing Creek in Connoquenessing Borough, Forward Twp., Butler County. (PA Bulletin, page 672)
Oil & Gas Well Drilling Permits [1.20.23]*
— Last Week – Permits: DEP issued 2 conventional and 7 unconventional
— Year To Date – Permits: DEP issued 4 conventional and 39 unconventional
— Year To Date – Wells Drilled: 8 conventional and 33 unconventional
— Year To Date – Inspections: 177 conventional and 305 unconventional
— Year To Date – NOVs Issued: 209 conventional and 52 unconventional
*DEP’s Weekly Oil & Gas Program Workload Report
DEP Issued These New Oil & Gas Permits *
*Click Here to find oil and gas well permits recently issued near you
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PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:
— Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard – Jan. 21 to 27 [PaEN]
— PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment – Jan. 28 [PaEN]
— DEP Posts 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 28 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:
— PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts
— DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’
Related Articles This Week:
— House Republicans Name Advocate For Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Rep. Martin Causer Chair Of House Environmental Committee [PaEN]
— DCED’s Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Advisory Council Meets Feb. 16 [PaEN]
— DEP Releases Bid Solicitation To Plug 19 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Forest County All At Taxpayer Expense [PaEN]
— DEP Blog: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil And Gas Wells
— DEP Issues Revised Air Quality General Permit For Natural Gas, Oil-Fired Small Combustion Units Up To 100 Million Btu/Hour; Benefits Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]
— Natural Gas Industry, Senate Republicans Launch Effort To Unleash The Industry, Reduce Regulation, Call For Automatic Approval Of Permits, Limit Public Comments [PaEN]
— Damascus Citizens For Sustainability Files Lawsuit Challenging The Delaware River Basin Commission Fracking Wastewater Rule Generally And For Allowing Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Creating Widespread Pollution [PaEN]
— PUC: Act 13 Per Well Drilling Impact Fee To Increase For Calendar Year 2022 Nearly 28% For Unconventional Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]
— FracTracker Alliance Seeking Information On Use Of Drones For Environmental Monitoring Work; Feb. 3 Online Meeting Set On Oil & Gas Facility Monitoring Project [PaEN]
— Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Feb. 1 Monthly Eyes On Shell Meeting. 7:30 p.m.
[Posted: January 28, 2023] PA Environment Digest | Source
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Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard – Jan. 21 to 27
From January 21 through 27, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 666 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 55 violations of environmental regulations– 34 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 21 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.
So far this year– as of January 20— DEP issued 209 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 52 to unconventional shale gas operators based on 673 inspections of conventional facilities and 1,437 inspections of unconventional shale gas facilities.
Three conventional oil and gas well operators received notices of violation for abandoning wells without plugging them– Medina Res Dev Co LLC (Erie County); Nucomer Energy LLC (Mercer County); and Southwell Russell C (Warren County).
Two conventional well operators received NOVs for drilling, altering or operating a well without a permit– Alpha Wells Inc. (Clarion County) and The Production Co LLC (Fayette County).
Nucomer Energy LLC again failed to submit well integrity reports for four wells in Mercer County.
The annual integrity report is critical because it helps ensure the operator is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.
Five unconventional shale gas operators had violations related to spills, releases or failing to contain wastes on the well sites– Chesapeake Appalachia LLC (Bradford County – 2 sites); Beech Resources LLC (Lycoming County); EQT ARO LLC (Lycoming County); Inflection Energy (PA) LLC (Lycoming County); and Range Resources Appalachia LLC (Lycoming County).
Report Violations
To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.
Check These Resources
Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator.
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.
Violation Details
Violations Reported – Conventional
3 — Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It
3 — Drilling, altering or operating a well without a permit
2 — Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth
2 — Failed to fill pits used to contain produced fluids or industrial wastes
2 — Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
2 — Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
1 — Failure to comply with corrosion control requirements for storage tanks
2 — Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater
1 — Failed to implement, maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures
1 — Failed to stabilize the well site
1 — Failed to remove product, storage, supplies and equipment from site
5 — Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
Company/Location/Violations – Conventional
Allegheny County
— Worldwide Oil & Gas Corp – Penn Hills Twp. – T.Dearmit 2
— Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater
— Failed to fill pits used to contain produced fluids or industrial wastes
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
— Worldwide Oil & Gas Corp – Penn Hills Twp. – A Jackson 5 Well
— Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater
— Failed to fill pits used to contain produced fluids or industrial wastes
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
Clarion County
— Alpha Wells Inc. – Monroe Twp. – TW Phillips
— Drilling, altering or operating a well without a permit
Erie County
— Medina Res Dev Co LLC – Waterford Twp. – Stanley Orzepowski 1
— Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It
— Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
— Failure to comply with corrosion control requirements for storage tanks
Fayette County
— The Production Co LLC – Jefferson Twp. – F Nutt 1
— Drilling, altering or operating a well without a permit
— Failed to implement, maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures
— Failed to stabilize the well site
— Failed to remove product, storage, supplies and equipment from site
Mercer County
— Nucomer Energy LLC – West Salem Twp. – Morrison 1
— Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It
— Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
— Nucomer Energy LLC – West Salem Twp. – Leonard 1
— Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
— Nucomer Energy LLC – West Salem Twp. – Kirila Estate 2
— Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
— Nucomer Energy LLC – West Salem Twp. – Leskovac Unit 1
— Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
Warren County
— Southwell Russell C – Glade Twp. – Walker-Tract 6592 1
— Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It
Violations Reported – Unconventional Shale Gas
1 — Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth
1 — Operator Failed To Report A Spill or Release
4 — Failure To Operate In A Manner To Prevent Pollution
5 — Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
4 — Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
1 — Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater
1 — Failed to implement, maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures
Company/Location/Violations – Unconventional Shale Gas
Bradford County
— Chesapeake Appalachia LLC – Tuscarora Twp. – Floydie 22HC
— Failure To Operate In A Manner To Prevent Pollution
— Chesapeake Appalachia LLC – Wilmot Twp. – A&M 104HC
— Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater
— Failure To Operate In A Manner To Prevent Pollution
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
Lycoming County
— Beech Resources LLC – Lycoming Twp. – ISA 7H
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— EQT ARO LLC – McIntyre Twp. – COP Tract 551
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— Failure To Operate In A Manner To Prevent Pollution
— Discharged Substances Into Waters Of Commonwealth
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
— Failed to implement, maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures
— Inflection Energy (PA) LLC – Gamble Twp. – Reynolds North 1H
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— Failure To Operate In A Manner To Prevent Pollution
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
— Range Resources Appalachia LLC – Lewis Twp. – Cornwall B Unit
— Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures
— Operator Failed To Report A Spill or Release
— Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit
[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 DEP Public Notice Dashboards:
— Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard – Jan. 21 to 27 [PaEN]
— PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment – Jan. 28 [PaEN]
— DEP Posts 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 28 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:
— PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts
— DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’
Related Articles This Week:
— House Republicans Name Advocate For Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Rep. Martin Causer Chair Of House Environmental Committee [PaEN]
— DCED’s Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Advisory Council Meets Feb. 16 [PaEN]
— DEP Releases Bid Solicitation To Plug 19 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Forest County All At Taxpayer Expense [PaEN]
— DEP Blog: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil And Gas Wells
— DEP Issues Revised Air Quality General Permit For Natural Gas, Oil-Fired Small Combustion Units Up To 100 Million Btu/Hour; Benefits Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]
— Natural Gas Industry, Senate Republicans Launch Effort To Unleash The Industry, Reduce Regulation, Call For Automatic Approval Of Permits, Limit Public Comments [PaEN]
— Damascus Citizens For Sustainability Files Lawsuit Challenging The Delaware River Basin Commission Fracking Wastewater Rule Generally And For Allowing Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Creating Widespread Pollution [PaEN]
— PUC: Act 13 Per Well Drilling Impact Fee To Increase For Calendar Year 2022 Nearly 28% For Unconventional Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]
— FracTracker Alliance Seeking Information On Use Of Drones For Environmental Monitoring Work; Feb. 3 Online Meeting Set On Oil & Gas Facility Monitoring Project [PaEN]
— Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Feb. 1 Monthly Eyes On Shell Meeting. 7:30 p.m.
[Posted: January 28, 2023] PA Environment Digest | Source
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DEP Posts 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 28 PA Bulletin
Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the January 28 PA Bulletin—
— The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin announcing the issuance of a revised Air Quality General Permit for Natural Gas, Oil-Fired Small Combustion Units of up to 100 Million Btu/hour. The changes benefit the oil and gas industry. Read more here.
— Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard – Jan. 21 to 27 [PaEN]
— PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment – Jan. 28 [PaEN]
— The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin that the Calendar Year 2022 Act 13 per well drilling impact fee will increase nearly 28 percent for unconventional shale gas wells. Read more here.
— The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a new Post-Construction Stormwater Management Manual providing guidance on the construction, maintenance and operation of stormwater control measures. The deadline for comments is April 28. Read more here.
— The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin it is now accepting applications for the 2023 Mine Map Grant Program through February 28.
— The Delaware River Basin Commission published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin it will hold a hearing on water withdrawal requests, discharges and other projects on February 8 and a business meeting on March 8. Read more here.
— The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 28 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a federal consistency determination under the Coastal Zone Management Act for the 2023 Maintenance Dredging Of The Delaware River Federal Navigation Channel.
PA Bulletin – January 28, 2023
Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 56 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the January 28 PA Bulletin – pages 620 to 676.
Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
Related Tools ———————-
Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.
— Allegheny County Health Department Public Comment Notices
DEP Proposals Out For Public Review
Other Proposals Open For Public Comment – DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals – DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized – DEP webpage
DEP Regulations In Process
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment – DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods – DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations – DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update – DEP webpage
DEP Technical Guidance In Process
Draft Technical Guidance Documents – DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines – DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance – DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized – DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance – DEP webpage
DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda [February 2022] – DEP webpage
[Posted: January 28, 2023] Source
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