PA Frac Waste Disposal Halted

I've been wondering, whether halting the disposal of PA frac waste in the D&L well site in Youngstown Ohio will effect drilling in PA. I mean, if PA can't get rid of its frac waste, what then?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/science/earth/youngstown-injection-well-stays-shut-after-earthquake.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

then I read found this link that lists ALL of the facilities available to PA, at least during the first half of 2011, and came to the conclusion that it will probably have little effect at all, unless Ohio politicians and/or other plants become so concerned about the recent seismic activity that they decide to limit disposal at other sites.

http://www.marcellus-shale.us/waste-wastewater_2011.htm

　

Waste & Wastewater Facilities used for
Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale drilling

January 1, 2011– June 30, 2011 Source: Pennsylvania DEP

　


ADVANCED WASTE SERVICES OF PA –NEW CASTLE, PA

ALLIED WASTE SYSTEMS –NIAGARA FALLS, NY

ALTOONA CITY AUTHORITY - ALTOONA, PA

APEX ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC–AMSTERDAM, OH

APPALACHIAN WATER SERVICES LLC–CONNELLSVILLE, PA

ARMSTRONG ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES–LANCASTER, PA

BDB ENERGY D-1 DISP WELL–TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH

BELDEN & BLAKE #2 - DIAMOND, OH

BROAD STREET ENERGY–COLUMBUS, OH

CAMP CREEK DISPOSAL SERVICES, INC.–CAMP CREEK, WV

CARPER WELL SVC - BRYANE SMITH 1 INJ WELL–MARIETTA, OH

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS–PAINTED POST, NY

CASTLE ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.–NEW CASTLE, PA

CD HAKES LANDFILL–PAINTED POST, NY

CHEMUNG COUNTY LANDFILL–LOWMAN, NY

CLAIRTON MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY–CLAIRTON, PA

CLEAN HARBORS OF BALTIMORE, INC.–BALTIMORE, MD

CLINTON OIL #2 (SWIW #21)–GARRETSVILLE, OH

COMMWEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC–HEGINS, PA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY LANDFILL–NEWBURG, PA

DAVID R. HILL INC–BYESVILLE, OH

DEVCO INJECTION WELL SWIW #11–BYEVILLE, OH

DISPOSAL SITE D-1–TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH

ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY CORPORATION–LANCASTER, PA

EUREKA RESOURCES–WILLIAMSPORT, PA

GROSELLE #2–PARIS, OH

HAKES LANDFILL–PAINTED POST, NY

HART RESOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.–CREEKSIDE, PA

HUNTER DISPOSAL–DEXTER CITY, OH

HUNTERS SWIW #5–RENO, OH

HYLAND FACILITY ASSOCIATION–ANGELICA, NY

IRVIN A SALTWATER DISPOSAL–PA

JOHNSTOWN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT–JOHNSTOWN, PA

KEYSTONE SANITARY LANDFILL–DUNMORE, PA

KOONTZ #1 DISPOSAL WELL–DIAMOND, OH

LAUREL HIGHLANDS LANDFILL–JOHNSTOWN, PA

MAX ENVIRONMENTAL–PITTSBURGH, PA

MCCUTCHEON ENTERPRISE–APOLLO, PA

MCKEAN COUNTY LANDFILL/RUSTICK, LLC–KANE, PA

MCKEESPORT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT–MCKEESPORT, PA

MILLER & CO #3 SWIW #28–GARRETTSVILLE, OH

MOSTOLLER LANDFILL MYERS INJECTION WELL–PARIS, OH

NORTH STAR BRINE DISPOSAL–YOUNGSTOWN, OH

NUIMANS–YOUNGSTOWN, OH

OHIO OIL GATHERING CORP INJ WELL DSPL (BELLS RUN)–WASHINGTON COUNTY, OH

PA BRINE–PA

PA BRINE TRT INC - FRANKLIN PLT - VENANGO CO, FRANKLIN, PA

PA BRINE TRT INC - JOSEPHINE PLT -INDIANA CO, PA

PANDER #1 - NEWTON TWP, TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH

PAROBEK #2 (SWIW #12)–ASHTUBULA COUNTY, OH

PATRIOT WATER TREATMENT–WARREN, OH

PHILLIPS PROD / PC EXPL BRINE–PA

RENSHAW / BRADNAN #1 DISP WELL–ASHTUBULA COUNTY, OH

RES–PITTSBURGH, PA

RESERVED ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES–MOUNT PLEASANT, PA

REYNOLDSVILLE SEWAGE AUTHORITY STP

–PARIDGEWAY BOROUGH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT–PA

SALTYS DISPOSAL - GROSELLE INECTION WELL–PARIS, OH

SENECA MEADOWS LANDFILL–WATERLOO, NY

SPENCER LAND CO #2 DISP WELL (033-22059)–PA

SUNBURY GENERATION WASTE WATER TRMT FAC–PA

TERRAQUA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT–WILLIAMSPORT, PA

THE WEAVERTOWN GROUP–CARNEGIE, PA

TRIAD - DEXTER CITY, OH

TUNNELL HILL RECLAMATION LANDFILL–NEW LEXINGTON, OH

TUNNELTON LIQUIDS COMPANY–SALTSBURG, PA

US ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.–DOWNINGTOWN, PA

VIOLIA ES GREENTREE LANDFILL-PA

WARREN DRILLING CO #1 (SWIW #6)–CITY UNLISTED, OH

WASTE MANAGEMENT–MONROEVILLE, PA

WASTE MANAGEMENT - ARDEN LANDFILL, INC.–WASHINGTON, PA

WASTE MANAGEMENT EVERGREEN LANDFILL–BLAIRSVILLE, PA

WASTE MANAGEMENT OF PA–DOWNINGTOWN, PA

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. - SHADE LANDFILL–NIAGARA FALLS, NY

WASTE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS, INC. - LOCATION NOT LISTED

WASTE TREATMENT CORPORATION–WARREN, PA

WAYNE TOWNSHIP LANDFILL–LOCK HAVEN, PA

WEST VIRGINIA OIL GATHERING - BELMONT, WV

WESTMORELAND WASTE, LLC–BELLE VERNON, PA

WHITE PINES LANDFILL-MILLVILLE, PA

WILLIAMSPORT SAN AUTH - CENTRAL STP - WILLIAMSPORT, PA

WV OIL GATHERING–BELMONT, WV

WV OIL GATHERING - CAIRO–CAIRO, WV

WV OIL GATHERING - ST MARY'S, WV

WV OIL GATHERING - WALLBACK, WV

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 5, 2012 at 12:42pm

Yes ... but.  That list includes facilities that accept only solid waste (drill cuttings), not flow-back water.  For example, the Chemung County Landfill.

I took a quick look at the Tioga County DEP Waste Report for the first half of 2011.  SWEPI is still claiming to be reusing all waste water.  But other companies are using PA treatment facilities:  Eureka and Terraqua in Williamsport, PA Brine in Franklin, and Waste Treatment Corp in Warren.  

https://www.paoilandgasreporting.state.pa.us/publicreports/Modules/...

Permalink Reply by Betty on January 5, 2012 at 2:23pm

Ann,

 

Good catch! I didn't see a reference distinguishing solid vs. flow back water waste on the site I posted, so it never occurred to me that was even an option.  I can't figure out how to access the info differentiating the waste from the site you posted unless I search by individual waste well sites -- am I missing the secret handshake?    I was able to find this news article which confirms Swepi's claim to be reusing 90% of their waste water (hope it ain't all sitting around in frack ponds).  That Swepi is not relying on Ohio waste injection sites is good news for me since we're leased with Swepi.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

http://republicanherald.com/news/epa-releases-marcellus-drillers-wa...,      

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 5, 2012 at 4:27pm

In the left column, click on Waste Reports - By County

In Search Criteria - Select County, type "tioga"    If you're lucky, the system will then return "Loading" and eventually pop up TIOGA, which you click on.  Then again, it may take a couple tries.

Then, select the check box for the period you want.

Click Download Data button.

Finally, click on either CSV or PDF to download.  (In case you're not familiar with it, CSV is a text format that should import into most spreadsheets.) 

I'd like to know where the SWEPI waste is going too.  And, why the DEP lets them get away with filing "unlikely" and incomplete reports.

BTW, afaik it is legal to bury some drilling waste onsite in PA. 

. 

Permalink Reply by Betty on January 6, 2012 at 9:14am

Thanks for the info.  I'll give this a try and see what pops.   As for legally burying drilling waste onsite -- do you mean leased property?   It wouldn't be legal according to my lease.   (off topic, this conjures up images of my now deceased dad burying boat engines all over his property because he couldn't figure out a better way to get rid of them.)

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 6, 2012 at 2:14pm

It appears that - subject to conditions in the regulations - it is ok to bury drilling cuttings and pit liners containing solid waste on a drilling site.

PA Code Title 25 § 78.61. Disposal of drill cuttings.

 (a)  Drill cuttings from above the casing seat—pits. The owner or operator may dispose of drill cuttings from above the casing seat determined in accordance with §  78.83(b) (relating to surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures) in a pit at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following requirements:  
...

PA Code Title 25 § 78.62. Disposal of residual waste—pits.

 (a)  After the removal and disposal of the free liquid fraction of the waste under §  78.60(a) (relating to discharge requirements), the owner or operator may dispose of residual waste, including contaminated drill cuttings, in a pit at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following requirements:  
...
(10)  The pit is lined with a synthetic flexible liner that is compatible with the waste ...
(15)  The liner shall be folded over, or an additional liner shall be added, to completely cover the waste and the waste is shaped so that water does not infiltrate the liner and is not confined above the liner. ...

[See www.pacode.com]

.

Permalink Reply by Betty on January 6, 2012 at 2:38pm

So unless my lease specifies otherwise with regard to waste/trash, the Commonwealth of PA is offering me very little protection.   Further, if I can't identify the waste, since the drilling company is not required to disclose the chemicals/contents they are using, how would I be able to identify whether the "synthetic flexible liner" is compatible to the waste????????  Or am I missing something here?

Permalink Reply by Betty on January 6, 2012 at 2:51pm

Mark,

Do you mean DOER -- department of energy resources?  and, if so, without any or few regulations in place how could they help me? 

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 7, 2012 at 7:15am

Mark,

You can find the regulations in the PACode section(s) mentioned in my previous comment.  But, practically, the DEP can't ensure that they will have an inspector onsite while waste is being buried.  And, even if one was, I wouldn't want a permanent waste pit covered with as little as 18" of soil, as close as 200' from my water source.  

In 2009, Colorado implemented Rule 905.  Absent the landowner's permisstion to bury pit liners onsite, they must be removed and disposed of at an approved facility.  
http://coloradoindependent.com/tag/pit-liners

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