State Plans to Boost Spending for Inspection of Waste Haulers
Washington PA Observer
Reporter
2 September 2010
By Christie Campbell, Staff writer
chriscam@observer-reporter.com
In the first part of the year, more than 40 percent of large trucks
serving the state's Marcellus Shale gas industry were found to be
violating motor vehicle safety regulations.
During a three-day period in June, an enforcement effort across the
state took a total of 250 trucks off the road.
Locally, state troopers from Troop B that covers Washington and Greene
counties issued 241 citations, took 57 vehicles off the road and
completed 227 inspections.
The enforcement efforts are known as FracNet and TrashNet. The
unannounced roadside inspections have removed hundreds of unsafe and
illegally operated waste vehicles from roads.
In order to continue the enforcement, the state Department of
Environmental Protection and state police announced Wednesday they are
increasing funding for inspections in the coming year.
"Pennsylvania is one of the largest importers of trash from other
states and has also seen a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles
hauling wastewater from Marcellus Shale drilling sites," DEP Secretary
John Hanger said in a release. "This partnership with the state police
has proven to be an effective method in addressing waste hauling safety
and compliance issues throughout the state, and in putting drilling
operators and their contractors on notice that we expect them to comply
with our laws."
Noticing an increase in large truck traffic through North Franklin
Township associated with gas extraction activity, police Chief Rich
Horner hired a part-time commercial vehicle inspector.
Recently, he sent several officers to a seminar on truck and trailer
inspection in Pittsburgh and has plans to hold additional surprise
truck enforcement inspections.
"Everyone in the area is getting more aware," he said.
In June, the DEP, state police, the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission and the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration focused
on trucks hauling waste water from Marcellus Shale gas drilling
operations and resulted in 250 commercial vehicles being placed out of
service for safety deficiencies.
Under a similar interagency agreement in 2009, state police and DEP
inspected more than 4,300 waste haulers along Pennsylvania roadways,
placing 770 vehicles out of service and issuing 2,654 traffic
citations.
The state police and DEP have signed a memorandum of understanding that
provides funding to the state police from the Waste Transportation
Safety Account, which is supported by fees, fines and penalties paid by
the waste-hauling industry. The agreement will enable both agencies to
conduct roadside inspections with increased frequency and duration.
"We're pleased to resume our working relationship with our counterparts
in the DEP," said state police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski.