DEP fines Range Resources $4.15 million over faulty Marcellus Shale impoundments
The state Department of Environmental Protection is forcing Range Resources to pay $4.15 million – the largest fine ever levied against a Marcellus Shale driller – for various leaks and other problems at six of its water impoundments in Washington County.
In addition to the fine, the consent agreement announced Sept. 18 requires Range to close five impoundments and upgrade two others.
The Southpointe-based company must immediately close the Lowry, Worstell and Kearns, impoundments, while also closing the Bednarski impoundment by April 2015. The company has been in the process of closing the beleaguered Yeager impoundment in Amwell Township, which is also on the consent agreement list.
The Carol Baker impoundment in Chartiers Township and Jon Day impoundment in Amwell, which has been excavated after a leak was discovered there in April, must be upgraded to “next generation” standards with thicker liners and better leak detection system.
“This landmark consent order establishes a new, higher benchmark for companies to meet hen designing future impoundments, which is an environmental win for Pennsylvania,” DEP Secretary Christopher Abruzzo said.
The fine comes nearly a year to the day after the DEP also fined Range $107,500 in three consent agreements on Sept. 17, 2014 for various problems at multiple sites, including the Jon Day and Worstell impoundments and Yeager gas well, according to a file review performed by the Observer-Reporter staff last month.
Look for more details in tomorrow’s Observer-Reporter.