West Virginia
Pipeline Project
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BEECH BOTTOM, WEST VIRGINIA - Most drivers probably don't notice very much while passing this Beech Bottom site, except for five blue Dragon mixing tanks. That stretch of highway along the Ohio River is an industrialized area with power plants and heavy industry extending for miles along the banks of the Ohio. This new site, marked only with a small sign "Chesapeake Beech Bottom Water Withdrawal & Staging Area" brings questions to mind. Is this strictly a water withdrawal point, or will it also handle Marcellus Shale gas drilling wastewater? The "mixing" tanks make you wonder, especially since they are sitting on a spill protection mat with raised skirting. Traveling up Route 67 from Route 2 toward Bethany, Pennsylvania, one can see what appears to be the rest of this pipeline plan. Even though signage changes from Chesapeake to Range Resources, the two projects appear to be linked. White plastic pipe is seen at various road and culvert crossings in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The current pipeline appears to end at the Goettel Impoundment Dam along Route 231 (Scenic Drive) within one mile of the intersection with Route 844 (Washington Pike). |
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| Dashed-line marks the
approximate route of the 10-mile interstate pipeline. (Ohio River at top left of map) Approximate scale: 1" = 2¼ miles |
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| Chesapeake Beech Bottom Water Withdrawal & Staging Area Chesapeake Energy Emergency Contact: 1-888-460-0003 |
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| July 29, 2012 aerial photo of
the site along the Ohio River |
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| Black spill matting and
containment dam under blue tanks |
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| Five 'Dragon' 400bbl (400
barrel) mixing tanks on site. The five tanks combined hold 84,000 gallons |
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| Pipeline making a stream
crossing beside Route 67 (Bethany Pike) in West Virginia |
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| Range Resources WV Water Project No.: RIB SIC Permit #6-100188 County: Brooke |
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| Pipeline continues through
field headed east toward Pennsylvania |
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| Marker stake: RL SPK ZOZ |
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| Pipeline covering long
distances, about 10 miles total |
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| Pipeline approaching a highway
crossing on Rt. 88 |
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| Range Resources WV Water Project No.: R/B Permit #6-100188 County: Brooke |
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| Segments of pipe for
connection across highway |
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| Headed east, Pennsylvania
state line is about 1-mile away |
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| Pipeline goes back into some
recently logged woods |
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| Pipeline near Pennsylvania
state line |
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| Pennsylvania sign reflects
changes but still lists Brooke County, WV Range Resources WV Water Pipeline Permit No. P-10-1 / 05-929 County: Brooke |
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| Existing storm water culvert
under road used for pipeline |
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| Booster pump situated on
hillside |
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| What is the black pipeline
used for? |
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| Pipeline follows an existing
gasline right of way |
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| Crossing a Pennsylvania
hilltop nearing its final destination |
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| Goettel Impoundment Dam along
Rt. 231 near Rt. 844 Note pipeline following woodsline at top of photo |
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| Plastic pipeline along Goettel
Impoundment Dam |
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