COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Northcentral Regional Office
208 W. Third Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, Pa 17701
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/7/2009
CONTACT:
Daniel T. Spadoni
Phone: 570-327-3659
for Hydrochloric Acid Spill in Bradford County
Williamsport – The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Chesapeake Appalachia LLC and Schlumberger Technology Corp. $15,557 each for a 295-gallon hydrochloric acid spill at Chesapeake’s Chancellor well site in Asylum Township, Bradford County.
(promptly reported?)
and
$15,557 / 295 gal. = $52.74 per gal.
“Fortunately, this hazardous waste spill was promptly reported, which proved critical in limiting the environmental damage,” said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell.
Chesapeake staff notified DEP on Feb. 9 that a 21,000-gallon tank containing 36 percent hydrochloric acid was leaking. The acid was used for hydraulic fracturing.
When a DEP inspector arrived at the site, it was determined that the tank had two leaks and was losing about 7.5 gallons per hour of hydrochloric acid.
Chesapeake’s emergency contractor arrived that evening and removed free-standing acid from the ground with absorbent pads; excavated trenches to contain the acid; neutralized acid-contaminated soil with soda ash and hydrated lime; and transferred about 11,000 gallons of acid from the leaking tank to two temporary tanks.
About 126 tons of contaminated soil had to be excavated, and more than 13,800 gallons of a hydrochloric acid and water mixture were removed from the well site.
The fines were paid to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC is a natural gas exploration company located in Charleston, W. Va., and Schlumberger Technology Corp. is a natural gas service company based in Sugar Land, Texas.
For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Hazardous waste.
http://www.ahs2.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=5758
Note: This is the first time I’ve seen the frack company mentioned as responsible for the spill. Usually, they seem to fly under the radar.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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I can't wait for the PR spin on how good 36% HCl acid is for you to drink!
Fines don't work.
That amount of fines is peanuts. As the old saying goes, they spill more than that(amount of the fine) before they get to the second course at the executive dining hall!