Our look at the
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF McKEESPORT

UPDATES

May 1, 2012 - Clean Water Action and Three Rivers Waterkeeper filed in federal district court today a settlement of their case against the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport. The two groups had filed a lawsuit in July 2011 under the Clean Water Act seeking an end to McKeesport’s acceptance and discharge of wastewater from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations.

Under the settlement, McKeesport has agreed to stop accepting any deliveries of Marcellus Shale wastewater at their plant. Additionally, if McKeesport decides in the future that they want to accept oil and gas wastewater, they will have to apply for a permit under the federal Clean Water Act through the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), subject to EPA approval. Any proposed permit would also undergo public review and comment. The settlement covers both shale gas wastewater and coal bed methane wastewater discharges.

Story Settlement (PDF)

Jan. 25, 2012 - Two environmental groups and McKeesport's municipal authority have settled a federal lawsuit that claimed the city was violating state and federal environmental laws by treating wastewater from Marcellus shale drilling operations, according to court documents.

Story

2011 - According to the Pennsylvania DEP Wastewater Report for the first half of 2011, McKeesport Municipal Authority continued to receive and dispose of Marcellus Shale wastewater. The DEP report details 946,050 gallons (22,525 Bbl – barrels) of Marcellus drilling brine that was dumped there from CNX Gas Co LLC operations in Center Township and Morris Township in Greene County, Pa.

Story 9-22-11

Municipal authorities enjoy the extra revenue created by accepting Marcellus Shale wastewater. If a 4,000 gallon tanker truck pays 5¢ per gallon for wastewater disposal, that amounts to $200.00 per truckload, which adds to a municipal authority's bottom line.

Due to ongoing problems with high-TDS (total dissolved solids) in the Monongahela River, the number of sewage treatment plants allowed to accept natural gas drilling wastewater has declined since the early days of drilling and fracking Marcellus Shale wells. In early 2011, new concerns have arisen about the radioactive content of Marcellus Shale wastewater.

Municipal Authority of McKeesport
The Youghiogheny River flows into the Monongahela
River which then flows toward Pittsburgh

New limits were imposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at the end of 2008 to only allow treatment plants to accept 1% of daily flow as gas drilling wastewater.

Toward the end of 2009, the Municipal Authority of McKeesport was accepting an average of 80,000 gallons (twenty 4,000 gallon tanker loads) of gas drilling wastewater per day. The water is diluted with treated sewage and dumped into the Monongahela River upstream from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Below are photos of this sewage treatment plant located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Youghiogheny River and Monongahela River.

Municipal Authority of McKeesport - Water Pollution Control Center

McKeesport Municipal Authority
100 Atlantic Avenue
McKeesport, PA 15132
Telephone: 412-673-9701

McKeesport Municipal Authority in McKeesport Pa.

McKeesport Municipal Authority
in McKeesport, Pennsylvania

Residual Waste tanker hauling gas drilling wastewater into the McKeesport Municipal Authority

Two 4,000 gallon Residual Waste tankers
entering with gas drilling wastewater

Municipal Authority of McKeesport Water Pollution Control Center

Municipal Authority of McKeesport
Water Pollution Control Facility

Natural gas drilling wastewater tanker in McKeesport, Pa

Brine tanker in the driveway of the
McKeesport Municipal Authority

Two drilling wastewater tankers dumping their loads.
Monongahela River in foreground.

Municipal Authority of McKeesport
with the Mon River in background

Youghiogheny River by McKeesport Pennsylvania

The municipal authority is situated at the confluence
of the Youghiogheny River (above) and
the Monongahela River

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Our look at the MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF McKEESPORT

McKeesport Municipal Authority 100 Atlantic Avenue McKeesport, PA 15132 Telephone: 412-673-9701

Our look at the
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF McKEESPORT

McKeesport Municipal Authority
100 Atlantic Avenue
McKeesport, PA 15132
Telephone: 412-673-9701