Coast Guard Denies Approving Barge Shipment of Drilling Waste
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
4 February 2015
By Katelyn Ferral, Business Writer
The U.S. Coast Guard has denied statements by GreenHunter
Resources that it has given the Texas-based water management
company clearance to ship wastewater from shale drillers by barge
along the Ohio River.
The Coast Guard said Wednesday that it had not taken final action
on a 2012 request by GreenHunter Resources “to transport shale gas
extraction wastewater and has not classified this cargo for
shipment.”
GreenHunter Resources, based in Grapevine, Texas, said in a
statement to investors on its website that it received approval
from the Coast Guard late last year. The company's vice president
of business development, John Jack, did not immediately respond to
phone and email messages.
Earlier, Jack had said he “can't confirm nor deny” the decision
but that the company has been working with the Coast Guard on the
issue for three years.
The Coast Guard, which regulates the nation's waterways, is
considering a policy proposal that would open the nation's rivers
to shipment of waste fluids from fracking. The agency has not said
when it will finalize rules that were proposed in October 2013.
“We are committed to ensuring proper research with regards to
shale gas extraction waste water maritime transportation before
approving any request to transport shale gas extraction waste
water,” the agency said in a statement.
Environmental groups have criticized plans to allow drilling waste
to be transported by barge, saying that a spill could contaminate
a primary source of drinking water. Proponents say barges would be
cheaper and more efficient than using trucks to transport waste to
recycling centers or disposal sites. They also argue that it would
help reduce noise and carbon pollution from waste disposal trucks
that have outraged residents in some communities.
Katelyn Ferral is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be
reached at 412-380-5627 or kferral@tribweb.com