EPA Cites Chesapeake for Illegally Filling Streams

Charleston Gazette
23 November 2010
By The Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency says Chesapeake Appalachia has promised to restore four streams it filled illegally while building roads and laying pipeline for Marcellus shale gas wells.

EPA spokeswoman Donna Heron says inspectors cited Chesapeake after site visits this fall in Wetzel and Marshall counties.

In one case, a stream and waterfall near New Martinsville were completely filled with gravel.

All four streams feed Fish Creek, which flows into the Ohio River.

Chesapeake spokesman Matt Sheppard says the company is working with EPA on what he calls isolated issues concerning earth-moving activity.

Heron says Chesapeake has indicated it will abide by the EPA's administrative compliance orders.

They were issued in October and November.