Cambria Co., PA (WJAC) — Authorities with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection say the investigation into last month's gas leak at the Equitrans Midstream Rager Mountain storage facility in Jackson Township revealed "numerous violations."
As a result, the DEP has issued multiple orders to Equitrans to correct its violations and prevent future incidents, which includes the temporary plugging of two other storage wells operated by the company.
DEP officials say Equitrans has also failed to provide "a number of documents" that were requested during the course of the investigation.
“Based on what we’ve found thus far through the course of our investigation and the inadequate cooperation from Equitrans, DEP is compelled to order this operator to take immediate measures to prevent future incidents,” said DEP Acting Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management Kurt Klapkowski. “The purpose of this order is to ensure the safe storage and deliverability of natural gas along with the protection of the environment and public health and safety.”
On Dec. 8th, the DEP issued an administrative order, which requires Equitrans to take the following corrective action:
- Monitor all storage wells in the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Reservoir and surrounding soil for gas migration;
- Mitigate and/or control gases coming or migrating from the storage wells;
- Conduct mechanical integrity testing of each wells in the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Reservoir;
- Submit a plan to recondition or plug wells that are not cased and cemented according to current Pennsylvania regulations;
- Conduct a third-party audit of all storage wells, observation wells, and storage fields owned and/or operated by Equitrans in Pennsylvania;
- Cease injection of natural gas into the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Reservoir until the audit has been completed and injection approved by DEP; and
- Provide DEP with a plan and schedule to withdraw gas from the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Reservoir in the event that withdrawal becomes necessary in the future for DEP review.
The DEP noted that the corrective actions "would not hinder" Equitrans ability to provide natural gas services to its customers.
In addition to the administrative order, Equitrans is also required to "hire an environmental remediation consultant, submit a remediation plan for DEP approval, and work to investigate, delineate, and remediate areas contaminated by the brine released during the well control incident."
Lastly, the DEP has also ordered Equitrans to "immediately cease all earth disturbance activities."
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