The State Journal reports that Fairmont Brine Processing wastewater recycling facility has delayed its re-opening by a few months. The facility began operations in 2009 but shut down shortly thereafter due to an unmanageable level of corrosion. Wastewater recycling was accomplished through settling, filtration and multi-phase evaporation processes. Fairmont Brine is reportedly hoping to close on funding for the re-opening project by the end of February, and is looking at a potential start date of September 2013.
Ohio law currently authorizes two options for the disposal of the wastewater generated from natural gas production operations – injection into a Class II underground injection control (UIC) well or spreading on roads as a deicer. However, with the development of the Utica Shale in Ohio on the rise, and a significant percentage of the wastewater already being disposed in Ohio’s 179 operating UIC wells coming from out of state, alternative means for the transportation, temporary management, and disposal of the wastewater are being considered.
Industry is advocating the transportation of brine and other liquid wastes by river barge as more efficient, economical, and environmentally sound than transportation by tanker trucks. The U.S. Coast Guard, the agency authorized to regulate the nation’s waterways, plans to issue a decision on the permissibility of wastewater transport via barge in the near future. With respect to the temporary management of wastewater prior to disposal, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is expected to initiate rulemakings addressing storage in pits and impoundments. ODNR currently requires wastewater to be stored in steel tanks.
The disposal capacity of Ohio’s UIC wells has also been an issue of concern. While no permits for new UIC wells were issued for nearly 11 months after seismic events in Youngstown, Ohio were connected to a nearby UIC well, ODNR has issued 10 permits for new UIC wells since November 2012 with another 30 permit applications pending. ODNR also encourages the recycling and re-use of wastewater from one well site for drilling and production operations at other well sites. Another recent development with the potential to alleviate the burden on UIC wells is the disposal of solidified brine in Ohio’s solid waste landfills. Interest in the process of accepting brine for solidification and, ultimately, disposal at solid waste landfills has increased since an Advisory contemplating the practice was issued by Ohio EPA in September 2012. Currently, one landfill in Stark County, one in Mahoning County, and two in Fairfield County have permitted solidification facilities.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced yesterday that it will undertake a study concerning naturally occurring levels of radioactivity in oil and gas drilling by-products. The study, which is expected to take 12 to 14 months, will sample flowback water, rock cuttings, treatment solids and sediments at well pads and wastewater-treatment and waste-disposal facilities. It will also examine pipes and well casings, storage tanks, treatment systems and trucks. DEP Secretary Michael Krancer called the study the “most comprehensive of its kind anywhere.” He also said that it will demonstrate “that states are best suited to responsibly oversee the natural gas exploration and production activities taking place in [their] respective borders.” The DEP retained Perma-Fix Environmental Services to assist in conducting the study, and the DEP announced that it will consult with “independent members of academia to peer review the project’s detailed study plan.” The Scranton Times-Tribune has more.
After taking his oath as the 51st Auditor General of Pennsylvania on January 15, 2013, Eugene DePasquale announced that one of his “first official duties as auditor general will be to initiate a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to make sure our constitutional right to pure water is not being compromised by natural gas drilling.” The following day, Mr. DePasquale called and sent a letter to DEP Secretary Michael Krancer to inform him of the performance audit of the years 2009 through 2012 for the DEP’s water programs related to the “adequacy and effectiveness of DEP’s monitoring of water quality as potentially impacted by shale gas development activities, including but not limited to systems and procedures for testing, screening, reporting and response to adverse impact such as contamination.” Mr. DePasquale’s letter also indicated that the performance audit will review the “adequacy and effectiveness of DEP’s monitoring of the handling, treatment, and disposal of waste” from shale gas development activities. The Post-Gazette has more.
The Potter Leader Enterprise reports that REVH20 LLC may soon begin construction of a shale gas wastewater treatment plant in Ulysses Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania. The company has already obtained the necessary permits from the DEP, and will break ground on the plant as soon as the Ulysses Township supervisors approve it. REVH20 expects the plant, which is to be built along Route 49, to bring new jobs to the area.
WJAC-TV in Johnstown is reporting that the Jefferson County Pennsylvania Commissioners recently drafted and then approved a resolution opposing underground disposal injection wells. Although there are currently no plans for an injection well in Jefferson County, the resolution came about after two oil and gas companies applied for permits for injection wells in nearby Clearfield and Elk counties. Commissioner Jeffrey Pisarcik told WJAC-TV that the commissioners decided to pursue a resolution rather than an ordinance because the latter could potentially lead to a lawsuit if it precluded a company from applying for a permit. The resolution does not prohibit companies from seeking a permit.
Drilling companies have made inquiries to the United States Coast Guard to clarify whether bulk transport of hydraulic fracturing wastewater is permitted on rivers and lakes. Industry officials say this is the cheapest, safest way to transport wastewater. Environmentalists, however, cite concerns over a shipping accident that could cause widespread pollution of rivers, lakes and potentially drinking water.
Some companies have already invested in barge transloading facilities along the Ohio River, such as GreenHunter Water, LLC’s facility in New Matamoras, Ohio. The Coast Guard plans to publish its proposal on transporting wastewater in the Federal Register.
After receiving a favorable decision from the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission (ERAC) and resuming its operations treating low-salinity wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations, Patriot Water Treatment, LLC (Patriot) has filed suit against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Patriot’s operations were shut down as a result of Ohio EPA’s order denying the city of Warren a permit to receive water from Patriot and remained closed for three months until ERAC’s July 3, 2012 decision reversed Ohio EPA’s order. Patriot’s complaint, filed in the Court of Claims of Ohio on November 2, alleges that ODNR concealed public documents which could have prevented Patriot’s operations from being shut down. Patriot seeks $3.5 million in damages and attorney’s fees.
On October 25, 2012, GreenHunter Water, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GreenHunter Energy, Inc., acquired two Class II Underground Injection Control (UIC) wells in Washington County, Ohio and Ritchie County, West Virginia for the disposal of salt water and other wastewater produced from natural gas exploration and production operations. The UIC well in Washington County has a disposal capacity of up to 2,000 Barrels per day, and the Richie County well has a disposal capacity of up to 1,000 Barrels per day. GreenHunter also added five 80-Barrel water hauling to its Appalachia fleet.
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