UPDATED: EPA Looking into Marcellus Shale Operations in Washington County
The federal agency is looking into possible violations here.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 5:10 p.m. to include reaction from local lawmakers.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether Marcellus Shale drilling and compressor station operations in the county have caused any environmental damage or violated federal regulations.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the investigation into air, water and other hazardous materials impacts began in late September.
That's when the agency told the newspaper that on-site testing was completed "and is the initial stage of a possible enforcement action or actions."
"In Washington County, EPA has conducted inspections at active industrial operations including well pads and compressor stations," Terri White, an EPA spokeswoman at the agency's Philadelphia regional office, said in an email response to questions the Post-Gazette posed last week.
The newspaper reported "that the agency will not disclose the names of the facility or facilities where testing has been done until the investigation is complete, and that's expected to take 'several more months.'"
Reached on the matter Monday, state Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, said he hopes for the best.
“As someone who represents a region heavily dependent on the responsible development of Marcellus Shale, I sincerely hope the EPA investigation conclusively confirms the longstanding position by the industry that they are committed to public health and environmental accounability," he said. "I trust our industry neighbors will view this investigation as an opportunity to prove that their performance matches their promise to the people of Washington County.”
State Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane, said, "Hopefully it will affirm that the process is being done properly. If there are any issues found with the process, hopefully we can move forward and make it safer so there is little to no risk to the people of Washington County and Pennsylvania."
Matt Pitzarella, spokesman for Southpointe-based Range Resources—a Marcellus Shale company operating in Washington County—could not immediately be reached by Patch for comment on the matter Monday afternoon.
In This article
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State Rep. Jesse White
3855 Millers Run Road, Cecil, PA -
State Rep. Brandon Neuman
1825 Washington Road, Canonsburg, PA
Bob Zanakis
6:24 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
I find it funny that the spokesperson for Range is not around for comment. His mouth is open all the time and we blitzed with their paid for testimonials on our TV sets daily. I have to say that Matt Pizzerella's silence speaks volumes in this case. Thank you federal government and the EPA in particular. As a victim of the Vitro Chemical swamp from the Manhattan Project, I know the effects of pollution upon the human body.
Billy
9:53 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Bob have you considered this?
"The federal Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether Marcellus Shale drilling and compressor station operations in the county have caused any environmental damage or violated federal regulations."
Now if the EPA saw or knew of a violation wouldn't it make sense that they would have right there and then put a halt to it? Gee you mean the EPA would allow violations to be ongoing while they tried to figure out if they knew the regulations they created? Sounds like the EPA is awaiting the political answer through team Obama not the so called impartial scientific EPA.
EC
6:12 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The chip in on the deal (EPA) will not heed the process of hindering domestic energy development. The outreach of this development is beyond the realm of most, this source of energy is a domestic game changer, remember the foreign investments of EXXON and keep a close eye on the price of gasoline?