DEP Fines Pennsylvania General Energy Co. LLC $28,960 for Illegal
Surfactant Discharge to Pine Creek in Lycoming County
Incident Occurred at a Marcellus Natural Gas Well Pad in Cummings
Township
PA-DEP Release
2 February 2011
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Daniel T. Spadoni, Department of Environmental
Protection North-central Regional Office, 570-327-3659
WILLIAMSPORT -- The Department of Environmental Protection today
announced that it has fined Pennsylvania General Energy Co. LLC (PGE)
of Warren $28,960 for the illegal discharge of Airfoam HD, a
surfactant, into Pine Creek in Lycoming County last March.
Surfactants are used by natural gas drillers to create a foam that will
lift water and drill cuttings to the surface. Airfoam HD is approved by
DEP for use by the industry.
“PGE responded immediately to this incident and fully cooperated with
the department,” said DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber.
During the weekend of March 13 and 14, 2010, there was significant
rainfall and snow melt that caused residual Airfoam in a Marcellus well
bore to migrate to a spring on the hillside creating a white, foamy
substance. The spring was not used as a source of drinking water.
A DEP investigation on March 15 verified that the material was flowing
from the spring, down the hillside, under Pa. Route 44 via a storm
drain, and into Pine Creek. At the time, the spring was flowing at an
estimated 180 gallons per minute.
PGE began diverting foam from the storm drain in the road berm and
later placed an absorbent boom across the spring run on the hillside,
which prevented further discharges to Pine Creek.
No constituents of Airfoam HD were detected in Pine Creek.
The discharge was a violation of the Clean Streams Law, Solid Waste
Management Act, and DEP’s oil and gas regulations.
The fine was deposited into the fund that supports DEP’s oil and gas
permitting and enforcement programs.
For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us.