Marcellus Shale gas wells are very thirsty,
requiring an average of 4-million gallons of water to hydro-fracture
each well. Water fracturing is preferred to other fracturing methods
(nitrogen, propane, carbon dioxide foam, etc) since it can create
more pressure to crack the shale, sometimes in the neighborhood of
15,000 pounds per square inch.
THE SHALE
PIT LEGACY
"Many
of the chemicals found in drilling and evaporation pits
are considered hazardous wastes by the Superfund
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA). Upon closure, every pit has the
potential to become a superfund site."
Source:
Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations
Stalled
Pennsylvania Legislation Introduced June
17, 2013 Pennsylvania HB1542
"Water
management - The following shall apply to water
management: The
use of open water impoundments is prohibited. The
department may permit the use of a closed containment
system or a closed-loop system.
"Open
water impoundment." An open pit, pond, lake, lagoon or
trench used for the containment of produced fluids,
freshwater, treated water or industrial wastes which are
used in or produced during hydraulic fracturing
operations.
Once the fracking (hydraulic
fracturing) is complete, the brackish flowback liquid
that comes back out of the well often amounts to 20% to 40% of the
original liquids and frac fluids that were pumped over a mile deep
into the shale. The fluids coming back over the first 30 days are
called "flowback,"
and the fluids coming back after that are called "produced water."
Rust-colored 'recycled' liquids in impoundments
are usually quite malodorous
With the average Marcellus well frac requiring 4-million gallons, that
translates into .8 to 1.6 million
gallons (using 20% to 40% range) returning to the surface as flowback and produced water. These fluids contain sodium and
calcium salts, barium, oil, strontium, iron, numerous heavy metals,
soap, radium and other
toxic components.
In order to have capacity to handle millions of gallons of these
fluids, earthen impoundments are constructed and lined with black
nitrile material, in the hope they won't leak and contaminate ground
water and aquifers. Many of the newer impoundments around Marcellus
Shale drilling are 300-feet wide x 400-feet long, 15-feet deep, and
can hold 15 million gallons of fluids. While many of these
impoundments begin as 'freshwater' impoundments, they often shift to
holding a wide array of waste fluids that can be multiple colors;
rust-colored, black, white, bright green or blue, you name it.
In February 2012, Pennsylvania passed
legislation allowing these pits to be located within 300-feet of
homes in residential districts.
Here we take a look at photos of gas drilling impoundments near
Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
EXPOSURE
Some people living close to Marcellus Shale drilling,
gas processing facilities and wastewater pits have had
serious health issues from contaminants in their air
and/or water. Things like benzene, toluene and
arsenic have turned up in
their blood and/or urine samples. In addition, pets and livestock have died
from ethyl glycol poisoning.
If you and your children
live near Marcellus activities and are exhibiting any of
symptoms listed here, you should have the blood and/or
urine tests
performed that are listed below. (Note: This lab
information is specific to a hospital in the Washington, Pa area)
Symptoms may include:
Fatigue, skin rashes, headaches, nose bleeds, sore
throat and difficulty breathing. Find more symptoms
listed below:
IMPOUNDMENT #1
Waynesburg 'stink' pit
Shortly after one gas drilling company
reported
the "exciting new breakthrough" of being able
to use
recycled wastewater, this news article
appeared in the Washington
Penna.
Observer-Reporter newspaper...
Odor near I-79 investigated
10/24/2009
Observer-Reporter
Washington, PA
WAYNESBURG - Some said it smelled like sewage
and others said it was like dead fish but
officials believe the odor that occasionally permeated
the area near the Waynesburg interchange of Interstate
79 this week originated from bacteria in a nearby
natural gas drilling retention pond.
Impoundment near I-79 interchange in Waynesburg
Jeff
Marshall, director of the county Department of Emergency
Management, said his office had received a few calls,
starting Monday, regarding the odor. One was from the
state Correctional Institution at Greene, which is near
the drilling site.
The state Department of
Environmental Protection was asked to investigate the
matter, Marshall said. The DEP could not be reached
Friday for comment. Marshall said, however, his office
was informed by the DEP the smell came from bacteria in
a retention pond at a drilling site near the interstate.
The DEP said the odor is
nontoxic and does not present any environmental
problems, Marshall said. Marshall didn't know the name
of the drilling company working at the site, but he was
told the company is taking care of the problem.
IMPOUNDMENT #2
Bednarski Impoundment Dam
April 2009
Stone entry road has been constructed and
earth moving is under way
High wall on the back of the future
impoundment
The bottom of the new impoundment being
excavated and compacted
Long gravel access road leading back out.
Black pipe carries fluids.
Looking at impoundment construction from
the main road.
Six months later the impoundment is full
and has a portable pump set-up with fluid pipes running to and from
the site for fracking wells a few miles away
Impoundment during winter 2009-2010
Impoundment will provide fluids for fracking
this nearby Marcellus well and many others
Brown and white residues indicate this freshwater impoundment
is now being used to hold recycled gas drilling wastewater, produced
water or flowback
August 2010
The Bednarski Impoundment has been drained
so this new liner can be installed
June 2011
Rust-colored "recycled" frack water
Surface disturbance is visible from 8 submerged 'mixers'
December 2011
Pennsylvania DEP
Inspection
3-30-2011
Violation ID
Date
Violation Description
615314
03/30/2011
Failure to properly control
or dispose of industrial or residual waste to prevent
pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth.
Resolution: Corrected/Abated
PA Code Legal Citation: 25 Pa.
Code 78.54 : PA Code Website
Violation Type: Environmental
Health & Safety
Related Enforcements
Please note: the
following related enforcement data is accumulated
from possibly many different sites/facilities that
may be unrelated to the facility for this
inspection.
Enforcement ID: 272563
Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice
of Violation
Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed:
07/15/2011
Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE
RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
Comply/Closed
# of Violations
Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action
(possibly from many facilities): 2
Violation ID
Date
Violation Description
615315
03/30/2011
Failure to properly store,
transport, process or dispose of a residual waste.
Resolution: Corrected/Abated
PA Code Legal Citation: 35 P.S.
6018.301 : PA Code Website
Violation Type: Environmental
Health & Safety
Related Enforcements
Please note: the
following related enforcement data is accumulated
from possibly many different sites/facilities that
may be unrelated to the facility for this
inspection.
Enforcement ID: 272563
Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice
of Violation
Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed:
07/15/2011
Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE
RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
Comply/Closed
# of Violations
Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action
(possibly from many facilities): 2
Pennsylvania DEP
Inspection
3-17-2010
Site ID:
723009
Site Name:
BEDNARSKI IMPOUNDMENT DAM
PERMIT 95-7-60915-1
Client List:
RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC (141142)
Municipality:
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
County:
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Site Permits
Authorization ID:
798407
Authorization Type:
Centralized Impoundment Dam
Date received:
5/14/2009
Issued:
6/24/2009
Site-Level and
Primary Facility-Level Inspections
Inspection Date:
3/17/2010
Inspection ID:
1873352
Compliance Evaluation:
Incident- Response to Accident or Event
Inspection Results:
Violation(s) Noted
Violation ID:
584168
Violation Description:
There is a potential for polluting substance(s)
reaching Waters of the Commonwealth and may require a
permit.
Resolution: Corrected/Abated
PA Code Legal Citation: P.L. 1987 402
Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety
Please note:
the following related enforcement data is
accumulated from possibly many different
sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the
facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID:
261673
Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type:
Notice of Violation
Penalty Amount
Assessed:
Date Executed:
04/07/2010
Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE
RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount
Collected:
On Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
Comply/Closed
# of Violations
Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action
(possibly from many facilities): 2
Please note:
the following related enforcement data is
accumulated from possibly many different
sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the
facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID:
256598
Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type:
Notice of Violation
Penalty Amount
Assessed:
Date Executed:
04/07/2010
Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE
RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount
Collected:
On Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
Comply/Closed
# of Violations
Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action
(possibly from many facilities): 1
Please note:
the following related enforcement data is
accumulated from possibly many different
sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the
facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID:
272171
Penalty Final Date:
06/28/2011
Enforcement Type:
Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty
Penalty Amount
Assessed: 49500
Date Executed:
06/28/2011
Total Amount Due: 0
Taken Against: RANGE
RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount
Collected: 49500
On Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Completed
Enforcement Status:
Comply/Closed
# of Violations
Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action
(possibly from many facilities): 10
IMPOUNDMENT #3
Best Impoundment (Removed)
Residues mark past fluid levels on the
black liner of this impoundment
Neighbors say the odors from this
impoundment range from that of kerosene to raw sewage. Headaches and
nausea have resulted from breathing the fumes.
YouTube
Video of Impoundment
Flaring too close to the pit (flare shown
in the photo below) caused the black liner to catch on fire. The
yellow arrow shows where the burned liner had to be replaced. How
much fluid escaped?
May 19, 2010 - Update This impoundment was removed due to all the complaints.
Proof of what citizen involvement and pressure
by neighbors can
accomplish.
IMPOUNDMENT #4
Newly constructed impoundment.
Many of the seams don't appear to be
sealed, leading to the likelihood of seeps.
White deposits on the black liner.
This new impoundment is only partially
full, so water drawn from streams, lakes or other impoundments will
be piped or trucked in.
IMPOUNDMENT #5 Stewart
Impoundment
How would you like this impoundment
above your house
and water well?
Stewart Impoundment
Stewart Impoundment
June 2011
Stewart Impoundment
December 2011
IMPOUNDMENTS
#6 & #7
Avolio Impoundments
Dual impoundments at Avolio site
Near the intersection of Rt 844 and Rt 231
between Independence and Avella, Pa
Failure to properly store, transport, process
or dispose of a residual waste.
Resolution:
PA Code
Legal Citation: 35 P.S. 6018.301 : PA Code Website
Violation
Type: Environmental Health & Safety
Enforcement
Type: No Enforcement Data
Violation ID
Date
Violation
Description
611882
03/21/2011
Failure to properly control or dispose of
industrial or residual waste to prevent pollution of the
waters of the Commonwealth.
Resolution:
PA Code
Legal Citation: 25 Pa. Code 78.54 : PA Code Website
Violation
Type: Environmental Health & Safety
Related
Enforcements
Please note: the following related
enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many
different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to
the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 270908
Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation
Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date
Executed: 05/25/2011
Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Total Amount Collected:
On
Appeal? N
Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
# of
Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty
Action (possibly from many facilities): 2
OTHER IMPOUNDMENTS
New impoundment dam with liner
Lowry Impoundment
New impoundment dam
Triple impoundments
Pits next to gas well pad
Backyard barbecue
Three wastewater pits
Painted Black
The pit with no liner
Mediterranean-Blue bathtub frack pit
New frac fluids pit
What would you name this color... "Frack me Orange?"
Backyard pit
'Grinch Green' pit
December 2011
Dual pits near Avella, Pa
Removing the pit liner in West Virginia
Two back yard 'pools'
and a well pad
The "Milky White" impoundment
Neighborhood (bottom right) near the
white impoundment
These dual impoundments have
'ring around the tub'
Set of triple impoundments in southwestern
Pa.
Pit "restoration" in progress with liner
being pulled out...
how much is being buried in place?
Foursome of frack pits west of
Centerville, Pa
Three Marcellus Shale impoundments
south of Republic, Pa
near Pennsylvania State Game Lands
Triple frack pits NE of Nemacolin.
On State Game Lands?
Triple fracking impoundments between Rt 166 and
the
Monongahela River in SW Pennsylvania
Marcellus shale
impoundment SE of
Kooser State Park
Large impoundment near homes on Garards Fort Road
S.E. of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Three impoundments between
Marianna and Deemston, Pa.