Key Documents About Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Extraction

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Documents Referred to in 5/12/11 EPA News Release

Natural Gas Drilling Tipline

Report illegal disposal of wastes or other non-emergency suspicious activity related to oil and natural gas development.
- Call 1-877-919-4372 (toll free), or
- Email eyesondrilling@epa.gov
You can provide tips anonymously if you do not want to identify yourself.

Background

Extraction from “unconventional” resources – shale gas formations, coal beds and tight sands – through the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, as well as other techniques, has increased at a rapid pace in recent years.

The Marcellus Shale is a sedimentary formation that underlies most of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and extends into parts of Virginia, Maryland, New York and Ohio. It is one of several important gas reserves in the United States and is one of the largest natural gas “plays” in the world. A "play" is the geographic area underlain by a gas or oil containing geologic formation such as the Marcellus Shale.

Development of these gas plays and other unconventional resources presents significant potential for economic development and energy independence, as well as the potential for environmental impacts on land, water and air.

While EPA is currently undertaking a national study to examine potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing to drinking water resources, EPA is also working with federal, state and local partners to ensure public health and the environment are protected as unconventional resource extraction and production activities become a more prominent component of the oil and gas sector.

EPA has received inquiries from the general public and a diverse range of stakeholders regarding a variety of topics related to unconventional resource extraction and oil and gas development in general. In keeping with EPA’s commitment to transparency, EPA Region 3 has developed this Public Reading Room dedicated to providing public access to documentation of EPA’s activities related to key oil and gas topics in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Site Construction

Administrative Orders Addressing Violations of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act at Oil and Gas Construction Sites

Company	Facility Location	Date of Letter
Antero Resources Corp. - Hill Site (PDF) [7 pp, 782k]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	June 21, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - Hurst Site (PDF) [7 pp, 754k]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	June 21, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - Mary Post Site (PDF) [7 pp, 766k]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	June 21, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - Matthews Site (PDF) [14 pp, 1.1MB]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	May 23, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - Matthey Pad - Matthey Property (PDF) [6 pp, 3MB]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	March 31, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - O. Rice Pad - Mazer Property (PDF) [6 pp, 3MB]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	March 31, 2011
Antero Resources Corp. - Rossco (PDF) [7 pp, 537k]	Harrison Co., W.Va.	July 28, 2011
Caiman Energy - Fish Creek (PDF) [8 pp, 689k]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	May 23, 2011
Caiman Energy - Victory Pipeline (PDF) [8 pp, 833k]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Sept. 28, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Blake Fork (PDF) [6 pp, 413k]	New Martinsville, Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Nov. 2, 2010
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Durig (PDF) [7 pp, 763k]	New Martinsville, Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Sept. 15, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Evick (PDF) [6 pp, 410k]	Cameron, Marshall Co., W.Va.	Nov. 2, 2010
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Michael Ross (PDF) [7 pp, 762k]	Buckhannon, Upshur Co., W.Va.	Sept. 15, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Ray Baker (PDF) [7 pp, 823k]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	June 21, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Stansberry (PDF) [6 pp, 421k]	New Martinsville, Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Nov. 2, 2010
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Tall Trees (PDF) [7 pp, 830k]	Rock Cave, Upshur Co., W.Va.	Sept. 15, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (PDF) [6 pp, 3MB]	New Martinsville, Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Oct. 5, 2010
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Buzzard Property, Cameron, Marshall Co., W.Va.	Jan. 26, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (PDF) [6 pp, 3MB]	Pleasant Ridge, Marshall Co., W.Va.	Jan. 26, 2011
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (PDF) [6 pp, 3MB]	Villers Property, Marshall Co., W.Va.	Jan. 26, 2011
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC - Blake Fork, Middle Fork Lynn Camp Run, and Lynn Camp Run (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Wetzel Co., W.Va.	March 31, 2011
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC - Steener Fork (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	New Martinsville, Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Jan. 11, 2011
Grenadier Energy Partners, LLC (PDF) [8 pp, 777KB]	Knob Fork, W.Va.	Aug. 30, 2012
Jay Bee Oil and Gas - Yeater Well Pad (PDF) [7 pp, 749KB]	Center Point, Doddridge County, W.Va.	Feb. 22, 2012
Mountain V Oil and Gas - Farnsworth Stockert Freshwater Impoundment (PDF) [7 pp, 811k]	Tallmansville, Upshur Co., W.Va.	Dec. 2, 2011
PDC Mountaineer, LLC - 308 Request - D'Annunzio Well Pad (PDF) [6 pp, 408k]	Nutter Fort, Harrison Co., W.Va.	Feb. 2, 2012
PDC Mountaineer, LLC - D'Annunzio Well Pad (PDF) [6 pp, 414k]	Nutter Fort, Harrison Co., W.Va.	Feb. 2, 2012
PDC Mountaineer, LLC - Hudkins Well Pad (PDF) [6 pp, 473k]	Mount Clare, Harrison Co., W.Va.	April 30, 2012
PDC Mountaineer, LLC - GEPCO Pipeline (PDF) [6 pp, 523k]	Mount Clare, Harrison Co., W.Va.	Aug. 23, 2012
Stone Energy, Maury Well Pad (PDF) [7 pp, 553k]	New Martinsville, W.Va.	Nov. 9, 2012
Stone Energy, Weekley Well Pad (PDF) [7 pp, 579k]	Porter Falls, W.Va.	Mar. 29, 2013
Trans Energy Inc. - Anderson Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 926k]	Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Sept. 28, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Christopher Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 951K]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Dec. 17, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Dewhurst Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 936k]	Wetzel Co., W.Va.	Sept. 28, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Goshorn Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 1.04mb]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Dec. 17, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Keaton Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 1007kb]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Dec. 17, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Lucey Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 1022kb]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Dec. 17, 2012
Trans Energy Inc. - Stout Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 878k]	Marshall Co., W.Va.	Sept. 28, 2012
XTO Energy Inc. - Boggess Site (PDF) [8 pp, 819k]	Lumberport, Harrison Co., W.Va.	Sept. 28, 2011
XTO Energy Inc. - Coastal Site (PDF) [7 pp, 785k]	Marion Co., W.Va.	June 23, 2011
XTO Energy Inc. - Fancher Well Pad (PDF) [8 pp, 733k]	Marion Co., W.Va.	Feb. 29, 2012

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Clean Water Act Section 308 Information Requests

EPA Request for Information on Marcellus Shale Flowback Water

On May 12, 2011, EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region issued information request letters to six natural gas drillers directing them to disclose how and where they dispose of or recycle wastewater generated by their Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration, extraction and production activities. These six companies currently hold more than half of all permits issued for natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.

EPA press release on the information request
Letters sent by EPA to the six natural gas drillers
- Atlas Resources (PDF) [3 pp, 178k]
- Cabot Gas & Oil Corp. (PDF) [3 pp, 1873k]
- Chesapeake Energy (PDF) [3 pp, 171k]
- Range Resources- Appalachia (PDF) [3 pp, 188k]
- SWEPI (PDF) [3 pp, 147k]
- Talisman Energy USA (PDF) [3 pp, 184k]
- Enclosures (PDF) [3 pp, 460k]

EPA’s directive followed an April 19, 2011 request by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) that by May 19, 2011, natural gas well drilling operators voluntarily stop taking gas extraction wastewater to 15 facilities in Pennsylvania.

The companies were directed to report back to EPA by May 25, 2011 with information on disposal or recycling practices for the wastewater through the development of natural gas wells they own and/or operate in EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region.

In the letters, EPA required the companies to describe how they intend to handle gas extraction wastewater during 2011. All six companies indicated their intention to employ reuse, disposal, and/or treatment rather than using any of the 15 wastewater treatment facilities referenced in PADEP’s April 19, 2011 request. Some companies expressed an intention to reuse over 90% of gas extraction wastewater in 2011.

Most of this information has been released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). EPA is not endorsing or adopting this information by posting this information on our website.

To facilitate online review of these records, EPA has parsed some files into multiple components and omitted duplicative records.

Atlas Resources
- Pages 1 - 210 (PDF) [210 pp, 16.4MB]
- Pages 211 - 419 (PDF) [209 pp, 17MB]
Cabot Gas & Oil Corp. (PDF) [198 pp, 17.6MB]
Chesapeake Energy (PDF) [147 pp, 8.6MB]
Range Resources- Appalachia (PDF) [102 pp, 26.5MB]
SWEPI
- Pages 1 - 254 (PDF) [249 pp, 22MB]
- Pages 255 - 508 (PDF) [251 pp, 19.1MB]
Talisman Energy USA
- Part 1 (PDF) [202 pp, 20MB]
- Part 2 (PDF) [201 pp, 15.3MB]
- Part 3 (PDF) [201 pp, 17.2MB]
- Part 4 (PDF) [274 pp, 14.4MB]
- Quality Assurance Manual - Benchmark Analytics (PDF) [11 pp, 264k]
- Quality Assurance Manual - Seewald Labs (PDF) [15 pp, 761k]

EPA is in the process of reviewing the information it has received from the natural gas drillers (including review for confidentiality) and, after completing the review, will continue to make this information available as appropriate.

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Requests for Information from Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) Taking Oil and Gas Waste

Plant	Facility Location	Date of Letter
Belle Vernon - Borough of Municipal Authority (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Belle Vernon, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Brownsville Municipal Authority (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Brownsville, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
California - Borough of (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	California, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Charleroi - Authority of the Borough of (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Charleroi, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Clarksburg Sanitary Board (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]	Clarksburg, W.Va.	Feb. 25, 2009
Franklin Twp. Wastewater Treatment Plant (PDF) [6 pp, 905k]	Waynesburg, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Mon Valley Sewage Authority (PDF) [6 pp, 891k]	Donora, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport (PDF) [6 pp, 899k]	McKeesport, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Waynesburg Borough (PDF) [6 pp, 881k]	Waynesburg, Pa.	Feb. 19, 2009
Wheeling - City of (PDF) [6 pp, 868k]	Wheeling, W.Va.	Feb. 25, 2009

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Clean Water Act Section 309 Administrative Orders

Administrative Orders and Information Requests to Wastewater Treatment Facilities Accepting Wastewater From Marcellus Shale Drilling Operations

Allegheny Valley (PDF) [10 pp, 715K]
Borough of Ridgeway (PDF) [10 pp, 725K]
Brockway Area Sewer Authority (PDF) [7 pp, 467K]
Clairton Sewage Treatment Plant (PDF) [8 pp, 576K]
Dominion Transmission Corp. (PDF) [11 pp, 752K]
Gas and Oil Management Association (PDF) [11 pp, 718K]
Great Lakes Energy Partners (PDF) [7 pp, 540K]
Hart Resource Technologies (PDF) [11 pp, 795K]
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority (PDF) [12 pp, 860K]
Minard Run Oil Company (PDF) [11 pp, 738K]
New Castle Oil Company (PDF) [11 pp, 826K]
Pennsylvania Brine Treatment - Franklin (PDF) [11 pp, 702K]
Pennsylvania Brine Treatment - Josephine (PDF)[11 pp, 747K]

Certifications from Sewage Authorities About Accepting Oil and Gas Wastewaters

Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority (PDF) [1 pg, 95k]
Clairton Municipal Authority (PDF) [1 pg, 80k]
Johnson Redevelopment Authority (PDF) [1 pg, 82k]

Wastewater Treatment Facility Effluent Sampling Data Submissions

Wastewater treatment facilities in receipt of the Administrative Orders and Information Requests were given the opportunity to sign and return to EPA certifications stating they were no longer accepting oil and gas exploration and/or production wastewaters. Information request recipients that did not sign and return a certification statement were required to conduct and submit additional effluent sampling in addition to their NPDES permit required monthly discharge monitoring reports. These facilities were required to sample effluent for total dissolved solids, chloride, bromide, sulfate, Gross Alpha, Radium 226 and 228, and Uranium.

Brockway Area Sewer Authority

12-07-11 [1 pg, 403k]

11-21-11 [1 pg, 83k]

11-09-11 [1 pg, 389k]

10-27-11 [1 pg, 396k]

10-12-11 [1 pg, 378k]

Dominion Transmission

October 2012 (1 pg. 600k)

September 2012 (1 pg. 233k)

August 2012 (1 pg. 237k)

July 2012 (1 pg. 715k)

June 2012 (1 pg. 762k)

May 2012 (1pg. 730k)

April 2012 (1 pg. 155k)

March 2012 (1 pg. 770k)

February 2012 (4 pp, 2.67MB)

January 2012 [1 pg, 137k]

December 2011 [1 pg, 115k]

November 2011 [18 pp, 1.4MB]

Minard Run

PADEP dent water treatment facility(1pg. 1.04MB)

3-22-12(1pg. 180k)

3-8-12 (1 pg. 183k)

2-23-12 (1pg. 184k)

2-9-12 (1pg. 324k)

1-25-12 to 1-26-12 [1 pg, 95k]

1-11-12 to 1-12-12 [1 pg, 99k]

12-14-11 to 12-15-11 [1 pg, 91k]

12-01-11 [1 pg, 94k]

10-06-11, 11-02-11 to 11-03-11, and 11-19-11 to 11-20-11 [3 pp, 248k]

Ridgway Borough

October to December 2011 [17 pp, 1.4MB]
June to September 2011 [24 pp, 2MB]

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Wastewater Management

Underground Injection Control

May 12, 2011 Safe Drinking Water Act Proposed Administrative Order to Tunnelton Liquids (PDF) [6 pp, 2MB]

May 12, 2011 Public Notice of Administrative Order to Tunnelton Liquids

Letters regarding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Pennsylvania Accepting Oil and Gas Wastewater

NPDES Permit Name	Facility Location	Date of Letter
Brockway Wastewater Treatment Plant (PDF) [2 pp, 590k]	Brockway Borough, Jefferson Co., Pa.	July 17, 2009
Brockway Wastewater Treatment Plant (PDF) [3 pp, 1MB]	Brockway Borough, Jefferson Co., Pa.	Sept. 21, 2009
New Castle Wastewater Treatment Plant (PDF) [2 pp, 61k]	City of New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pa.	Aug. 5, 2009
TerrAqua Resource Management (PDF) [4 pp, 1MB]	Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Pa.	Sept. 21, 2009

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July 13, 2011 Letters from EPA to 14 Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in Pennsylvania Stating That Drilling Waste May Be Considered a Substantial Change

Location	NPDES Permit Number(s)
Altoona Water Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 394k]	PA0027014 and PA0027022
Brockway Area Sewer Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 397k]	PA0028428
Clairton Municipal Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 395k]	PA0026824
Clearfield Municipal Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 416k]	PA0026310
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 414k]	PA0026034
Leechburg - Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 420k]	PA0027626
McKeesport - Municipal Authority of the City (PDF) [3 pp, 432k]	PA0026913
New Castle Sanitation Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 422k]	PA0027511
Pittsburgh - Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 393k]	PA0026255
Punxsutawney Borough (PDF) [3 pp, 394k]	PA0020346
Reynoldsville Sewer Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 390k]	PA0028207
Ridgway Borough (PDF) [3 pp, 423k]	PA0023213
Waynesburg, Franklin Township Sewer Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 414k]	PA0046426
Williamsport Sanitary Authority (PDF) [3 pp, 409k]	PA0027049 and PA0027057

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2013 Letters to Pennsylvania Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) regarding acception of Oil and Gas Waste

Sample letter to POTWs with approved pretreatment programs (PDF) (3pp, 1.4MB)
Sample letter to POTWs without approved pretreatment programs (PDF) (3pp, 1.56MB)

Information Provided to EPA by PADEP

EPA Correspondence with PA DEP

EPA Region 3 Letter to PA DEP Dated March 7, 2011 Concerning Natural Gas Drilling Operations (PDF) [3 pp, 704k]

Letter from PA DEP to Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin April 6, 2011 (PDF) [3 pp, 140k]

Attachment 1 - Letter from PA DEP to PA American Water Co. March 11, 2011 (PDF) [2 pp, 65k]
Attachment 2 - Letter from PA DEP to Project 5/Timberline Treatment Facility March 18, 2011 (PDF) [2 pp, 56k]
Attachment 3 - Permittees, Addresses and Permit Numbers (PDF) [1 pg, 48k]
Attachment 4 - Oil and Gas Wastewater Facility List (PDF) [3 pp, 113k]

May 12, 2011 Letter from EPA to PADEP Regarding Water Quality Standards (PDF) [2 pp, 756k]

May 12, 2011 Letter from EPA to PADEP Regarding Wastewater Disposal at Tunnelton Liquids Facility (PDF) [2 pp, 891k]

May 12, 2011 Letter from EPA to PADEP Regarding the April 19, 2011 Press Announcement and May 2, 2011 Follow-up Discussions [3 pp, 1.2MB]

July 26, 2011 Letter from PADEP to EPA Regarding PADEP's Call to Gas Drillers to Cease Delivering Wastewater from Shale Gas Extraction to 15 Facilities That Accept It (PDF) [7 pp, 214k]

Information Provided to EPA by PADEP and Through Information Requests to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs). Most of this information has been released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). EPA is not endorsing or adopting this information by posting this information on our website.