October 21,
2011 - Washington County solicitor J.
Lynn DeHaven used the term "reparations"
when announcing an agreement he reached
with Range Resources over clear-cutting
done in error at Cross Creek County Park
near West Middletown. Clear-cutting by a
Range Resources contractor was done "in
an area specifically off-limits. It was
one of the oldest stands of hardwoods in
the park, the hillside we didn't want
them touching," said Lisa Cessna.
Range had
first encroached on West Middletown
Cemetery property, then moved into an
area of the park that was off-limits.
But the mood among the county
commissioners was anything but
belligerent Thursday morning, because
Range agreed to provide $100,000 worth
of in-kind services at the park. Range
is also to reimburse the county $14,247,
which is double the value of the trees
cut, based on estimates given by the
company's forester.
September
16, 2011 - Range Resources' violation of
a lease with Washington County on the
site of a natural gas well pad on park
property in Hopewell Township was raised
Thursday after a Peters Township
resident told county commissioners
"drilling in Cross Creek Park has run
amok."
County
solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven said Range was
told to "cease and desist." "They were
cutting trees where we had not
authorized them to cut trees, so we
stopped them. The pad site was not where
we approved," Fergus said. "It was an
engineering error on their part. They
thought they were on the county property
when they were on cemetery property.
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 5 OG WELL 125-22618 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 3-7-07
GPS: 40.25072 -80.3786
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 6H OG WELL 125-22830 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 8-3-07
GPS: 40.26283 -80.3881
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 7H OG WELL 125-22861 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 8-7-07 GPS:
40.26091 -80.3906
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 8 OG WELL 125-22793 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 7-25-07
GPS: 40.26283 -80.388
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 9H-A OG WELL 125-22668 Cross Creek Twp
Well Plugging Notice Intent to Plug Single Well
Permitted 7-25-07
GPS: 40.26102 -80.3907
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 10 OG WELL 125-22860 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 8-31-07 GPS: -- --
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 14H OG WELL 125-23165 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 5-23-08 GPS:
40.24666 -80.3813
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 15H OG WELL 125-23182 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 5-29-08 GPS:
40.24666 -80.3813
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 16H OG WELL 125-23300 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 10-9-08
GPS: 40.24669 -80.3813
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 19H OG WELL 125-24054 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 4-1-10
(125-23631 3-23-09) GPS: 40.26359 -80.4088
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 20H OG WELL 125-24055 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 4-1-10 (125-23630 Permitted 2-4-09)
GPS: -- --
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 21H OG WELL 125-24056 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 4-14-10 (125-23629 Permitted 3-23-09)
GPS: -- --
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 22H OG WELL 125-24057 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 4-14-10 (125-23628 Permitted 3-19-09)
GPS: -- --
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 25H OG WELL 125-23859 Cross Creek Twp
Permitted 9-11-09 GPS: 40.26106 -80.391
Cross Creek Park 35H, 36H and 39H,
next to Route 844, in the process of
final permitting during Spring 2011
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 35H OG WELL
125-24404 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 4-13-2011 GPS: 40.24378 -80.411
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 36H OG WELL
125-24405 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 4-13-2011 GPS: 40.24385 -80.4111
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 39H OG WELL 125-24376 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 2-28-2011 GPS:
40.24371 -80.411
CROSS CREEK COUNTY PARK 45H OG WELL
125-24568 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 10-27-11 GPS:
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 46H OG WELL 125-24569 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 10-27-11 GPS:
CROSS CREEK COUNTY
PARK 47H OG WELL 125-24570 Hopewell Twp
Permitted 10-27-11 GPS:
We learn from this New York Times
article that radiation levels in the wastewater from Cross Creek
Park 6H OG Well were off the chart! Some of the locations for
dumping that brine (wastewater) were listed, but the largest amount
of brine was disposed of at a location NOT LISTED.
Cross Creek Park 6H had these alarming
levels of liquid radium:
Federal drinking water
limit: 5 pC/iL
Level from this site: 2,260 pC/iL
Below is part of
a table from a DEP Production Report. The largest
quantity of this highly radioactive brine went to an
unknown location:
CROSS CREEKCOUNTYPARK
6H
Drilling
510
ADVANCED WASTE - NEW CASTLE
CROSS CREEKCOUNTYPARK
6H
Brine
65
PA BRINE TRT - FRANKLIN
PLT
CROSS CREEKCOUNTYPARK
6H
Drilling
595
TUNNELTON LIQUIDS COMPANY
CROSS CREEKCOUNTYPARK
6H
Brine
4008
NOT LISTED
July 2011 Tanker truck draining condensate tanks at
Cross Creek Park wells 6H & 8H
NO TRESPASSING signs have been moved back from the access road
gate closer to the 6H & 8H well location area, but the gate is still
kept locked
Cross Creek Park 14H-15H-16H
April 2009
Horizontal drilling of the three Cross Creek County Park
Marcellus Shale gas wells 14H - 15H - 16H. Fracking of
these wells resulted in a
spill and fish kill in the park
July 2011
14H - 15H - 16H well pad and battery of condensate tanks.
Production from these 3 wells dropped an average
of 25%
during the 18 month period ending December 2010
Note: For
some reason, this Washington County spreadsheet does not include
three Cross Creek wells: 7H, 9 and 25H even though they had production.
Cross Creek Park Well #5
First well permitted in the park - March
7, 2007
July 2011 No Trespassing signs have been removed from the
gate area to #5 but the gate remains locked
Production from #5 dropped to a trickle 3 years after it was
drilled, as indicated in the production reports below.
Pennsylvania DEP Production Reports
Farm Name
Well No.
Product
Vol.
Days
Avg/ Day
End Date
CROSS
CREEK
5
Gas
13,345
365
37
6/30/10
Gas
5,801
182
32
12/31/10
Gas
5,286
179
30
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
5
Oil
10
365
.03
6/30/10
Cond.
103
182
.57
12/31/10
Oil
101
179
.56
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
6H
Gas
183,713
365
503
6/30/10
Gas
62,491
171
365
12/31/10
Gas
57,761
151
383
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
6H
Oil
12,529
365
34
6/30/10
Cond.
3,082
171
18
12/31/10
Oil
2,749
151
18
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
7H
Gas
136,353
78
1,748
6/30/10
Gas
248,129
176
1,410
12/31/10
Gas
200,147
164
1,220
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
7H
Oil
4,232
78
54
6/30/10
Cond.
10,287
176
58
12/31/10
Oil
7,202
164
44
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
8
Gas
233,174
365
639
6/30/10
Gas
80,393
172
467
12/31/10
Gas
74,309
152
489
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
8
Oil
12,908
365
35
6/30/10
Cond.
3,201
172
19
12/31/10
Oil
3,197
152
21
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
9A
Gas
96,123
78
1,232
6/30/10
Gas
175,055
176
995
12/31/10
Gas
152,495
175
871
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
9A
Oil
4,232
71
60
6/30/10
Cond.
10,287
176
58
12/31/10
Oil
6,723
175
38
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
14H
Gas
315,977
365
866
6/30/10
Gas
110,153
184
599
12/31/10
Gas
100,299
168
597
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
14H
Oil
14,060
365
39
6/30/10
Cond.
3,699
184
20
12/31/10
Oil
3,056
168
18
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
15H
Gas
288,824
365
791
6/30/10
Gas
115,458
184
627
12/31/10
Gas
96,737
167
579
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
15H
Oil
11,797
365
32
6/30/10
Cond.
3,657
184
20
12/31/10
Oil
2,696
167
16
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
16H
Gas
350,051
365
959
6/30/10
Gas
133,222
184
724
12/31/10
Gas
113,621
168
676
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
16H
Oil
12,439
365
34
6/30/10
Cond.
3,951
184
21
12/31/10
Oil
3,267
168
19
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
19H
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/10
Gas
0
0
0
12/31/10
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
19H
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/10
Cond.
0
0
0
12/31/10
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
21H
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/10
Gas
0
0
0
12/31/10
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
21H
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/10
Cond.
0
0
0
12/31/10
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
22H
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/10
Gas
0
0
0
12/31/10
Gas
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
22H
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/10
Cond.
0
0
0
12/31/10
Oil
0
0
0
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
25H
Gas
63,501
77
825
6/30/10
Gas
130,215
177
736
12/31/10
Gas
117,711
162
727
6/30/11
CROSS
CREEK
25H
Oil
4,232
77
55
6/30/10
Cond.
10,287
177
58
12/31/10
Oil
5,925
162
37
6/30/11
The entry sign may still say Great Lakes Energy Partners, LLC
but these are now Range Resources gas wells. Range Resources
purchased FirstEnergy's 50% share of Great Lakes in 2004, ending a
5-year joint venture.
CROSS CREEK PARK WELLS OWNED IN PART
BY WASHINGTON COUNTY June 7, 2009 Photo shows the drilling pad for 14H, 15H and 16H in
Cross
Creek Park. The three Marcellus wells are being
flared
in this photo. Frac tanks line the drilling pad.
December 23, 2009 through July 15, 2014 -
This modified water plan was approved December 23, 2009 by the Pensylvania DEP:
Range Resources Water Management Plan summary: 200,000 gallons per day from Brush Run 200,000 gallons per day from Cross Creek 800,000 gallons per day from
Cross Creek Lake 200,000 gallons per day from Chartiers Run 665,000 from Connoquenessing Creek 250,000 from a Marion Twp Water Tank 200,000 gallons per day from Whiteley Creek 1,656,000 gallons from three PAWC Pittsburgh-McMurray hydrants
(Monongahela River source) Total = 4,171,000 gallons of water per day from all sources
Over 4-million gallons of
water per day (4,171,000) is DEP-approved to be withdrawn from the Ohio River Basin
by Range Resources through July 15,
2014. Ohio River Basin
water withdrawals by Range and 28 other drilling companies
brings the grand total to 48.5 million gallons per day
through mid-2014 or early 2015.
Eastern American Energy Corp. also has an
approved water plan for withdrawal of 500,000 gallons of
water per day from Whiteley Creek, a waterway that has been detected
as having Golden Algae present, and is therefore very vulnerable to
any situation increasing TDS (total dissolved solids).
Range Resources' DEP-approved water plan allows for withdrawing
800,000 gallons per day from Cross Creek Lake, a prized fishing lake
in Washington County, PA.
FOUR MONTHS
AFTER APPROVAL See how the new water withdrawal plan
is going in 'before and after' photos below. The Washington County
Parks and Recreation Department indicated in mid-November that part
of the water level drop was due to a "leaky gate" which had
temporarily been repaired.
Cross Creek Lake
BEFORE: Spring 2009 above
AFTER: Fall 2009 below
This 244 acre Washington County owned
lake is managed under the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Big Bass and Panfish Enhancement programs. Besides
bluegills, crappies and largemouths, it also yields saugeyes.
Cross Creek Lake
BEFORE: Spring 2009 above
AFTER: Fall 2009 below
Webmaster's
note: This article was written before the fish kill
occurred at Cross Creek Lake. Photos were added later to
illustrate the various areas mentioned in the article.
Politicians should
remember that Cross Creek Lake belongs to the people
By George H. Block
Observer-Reporter, Outdoors Editor
If you were down to your last pair of
shoes you would hardly go out to the barn wearing them
and shovel manure.
With that idea in mind is it any wonder that outdoorsmen
and women are so protective of Cross Creek Park? In past
years I would walk from the upstream bridge, which used
to be a covered bridge, sit along the bank and enjoy the
beauty around me. Sometimes I would spot a soaring
osprey and marvel as it did a better job of catching a
fish than my futile attempts. We complained under our
breath as we walked in the swampy areas stepping on an
occasional skunk cabbage or soft spot, but wouldn't have
it any other way.
Now we sit and listen as the trucks go in and out and
the pumps whine as they draw huge amounts of water from
the lake. Trees and plants that were once green are gray
with dust. The lane leading down to the lake was once a
quiet walk but now one has to dodge large trucks and
uncaring workers. You see my friends, the almighty
dollar has won out again, proving that anything can be
bought if you have enough money.
I was thinking all this as I entered the
park and saw for the first time the No Trespassing signs
on land that as a citizen of Washington County I thought
was mine along with the rest of the populace. Instead of
the birds I listen to the roar of the pumps and the
jabber of the workers. This has been a dry spring as
most have noted and on entering the park and passing the
first swampy cove I noted how little water was running
into the lake.
Little did I know that on my return trip I would have to
cross a stream of mud flowing into the lake. It hadn't
rained so the mud could only be coming from one place.
Before the drilling we were assured this wouldn't
happen. So much for assurances. No matter what the
reason, accident or deliberate. I wasn't supposed to
happen. Of course there is always the money. The economy
is bad so lets sell the county.
We are assured that the drilling does
little damage to the environment and yet at every turn
in the road we see signs warning us of seismic crews
working. If the drilling does no damage then why do we
need to waste resources on seismic crews and such? Don't
believe me? Just take a Sunday drive through Chartiers,
Mt. Pleasant or Cross Creek Townships and see the
beautifying of your county - and I should emphasize your
county.
We have but one lake in the county that is worth fishing
and that is Cross Creek. Is protecting this one piece of
water too much to ask or is anything and everything for
sale. Tom Campbell said it best when he said, "Why can't
they just leave us alone? Allow one small piece of land
and water be, where I can relax and get away from the
pollution and noise of society."
Cross Creek Park and Lake used to be a place of renewal.
Now it's a place of noise and dirt and a definite threat
to the quality of the lake itself. For some years now
the Pennsylvania Game Commission has stocked pheasants
on Cross Creek Park property. Will hunters now face No
Trespassing signs?
What of those who hunt turkey, coyote and woodchucks?
Will they still be allowed to utilize the park property?
Or will the wells and drilling activity supersede the
public's use of the park?
Of course there is always the money.
All one has to do is walk along the bank of the upper
lake to hear the opinion of what is happening at the
park. I can't repeat what is said about the drillers and
the politics that have allowed this to happen.
I can't help but remember that stream of mud flowing
into Cross Creek Lake on a clear dry day during a dry
month. It makes one sick.
A couple of years ago the lake was
lowered to install water lines. The problem was that the
lowering was done in the spring, right after panfish had
spawned. The eggs were left high and dry hanging from
the brush and grass along the shoreline.
We certainly do not need a repeat performance of this.
Hopefully the fish have not spawned yet this year.
Here is where anglers could keep an eye on the shoreline
and report any above-water spawn to the Fish and Boat
Commission or Department of Environmental Protection.
While the public cannot control, nor should they control
the resources on private land, public land is an
entirely different matter. The public is the owner and
the politicians merely the caretakers. You must ask
yourself, are they taking good care of what you own?
Along the above lines or just thinking.
I don't remember my first dollar but I do remember my
first trout. I don't remember my income for 1965 but
remember an eight-point buck. I don't remember my hourly
rate for 1973 but do remember a quiet trout stream in
McKean County full of brook Trout. I don't remember how
much money was in my pocket that day four years ago as I
sat on the patio with my 94-year-old mother. I was
pointing to a Baltimore oriole in the apple tree and she
was thrilled to see it.
That was the last time we sat on the patio.
Do you remember such or do you remember the money?
PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESPASSING
VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED
RANGE RESOURCES
Drilling sites may take away precious hunting spots
August 8, 2010 by
George Block
Observer-Reporter
I think most readers would agree with me that the No. 1 thing
that would bring about a decline in hunter numbers is the loss
of a place to hunt.
Here in my home area of Eighty
Four we have witnessed a tremendous loss of open hunting land over
the last 20 years. With that in mind, I can't help but wonder how
many hunters will go to their deer stands this year only to find a
gas well or drilling operation there. Certainly with the thousands
of wells being drilled in Western Pennsylvania, some of them will
fall around someone's deer stand. When looking at this situation one
must consider that there is a 150-yard safety zone surrounding the
drilling operation.
Also, to be considered is the
human and vehicle activity that could change game movement. When you
look at ponds built to store water, roadways for access and the
drill site itself, they do take up quite a bit of land.
On top of that, most drilling is
done in rural areas, where most hunting takes place. With all of
that in mind, hunters would do well to check their deer stand well
before the season.
Another interesting statistic
would involve the number of non-resident licenses sold this year.
Will there be a significant jump in sales? Remember many of these
men working on the drill sites are from Texas, Oklahoma and even
Canadian provinces. And they hunt.
'Pig launcher' located
near some of the newer wells
