Our look at
FRACK PITS AND IMPOUNDMENTS

Marcellus Shale gas wells are very thirsty, requiring an average of 4-million gallons of water to hydro-fracture each well. Water fracturing is preferred to other fracturing methods (nitrogen, propane, carbon dioxide foam, etc) since it can create more pressure to crack the shale, sometimes in the neighborhood of 15,000 pounds per square inch.

THE SHALE PIT LEGACY

"Many of the chemicals found in drilling and evaporation pits are considered hazardous wastes by the Superfund Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Upon closure, every pit has the potential to become a superfund site."
Source: Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations

Once the fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is complete, the brackish flowback liquid that comes back out of the well often amounts to 20% to 40% of the original liquids and frac fluids that were pumped over a mile deep into the shale. The fluids coming back over the first 30 days are called "flowback," and the fluids coming back after that are called "produced water."

Yeager Impoundment
Rust-colored 'recycled' liquids in impoundments
are usually quite malodorous
Voyles Lawsuit New!

With the average Marcellus well frac requiring 4-million gallons, that translates into .8 to 1.6 million gallons (using 20% to 40% range) returning to the surface as flowback and produced water. These fluids contain sodium and calcium salts, barium, oil, strontium, iron, numerous heavy metals, soap, radium and other toxic components.

Day Impoundment in Amwell Township Washington County Pennsylvania
Jon Day Unit & Impoundment near
Trinity South Elementary School

In order to have capacity to handle millions of gallons of these fluids, earthen impoundments are constructed and lined with black nitrile material, in the hope they won't leak and contaminate ground water and aquifers. Many of the newer impoundments around Marcellus Shale drilling are 300-feet wide x 400-feet long, 15-feet deep, and can hold 15 million gallons of fluids. While many of these impoundments begin as 'freshwater' impoundments, they often shift to holding a wide array of waste fluids that can be multiple colors; rust-colored, black, white, bright green or blue, you name it.

$frack impoundment near a house$

In February 2012, Pennsylvania passed legislation allowing these pits to be located within 300-feet of homes in residential districts.

Here we take a look at photos of gas drilling impoundments near Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

EXPOSURE

Some people living close to Marcellus Shale drilling, gas processing facilities and wastewater pits have had serious health issues from contaminants in their air and/or water. Things like benzene, toluene and arsenic have turned up in their blood and/or urine samples. In addition, pets and livestock have died from ethyl glycol poisoning.

If you and your children live near Marcellus activities and are exhibiting any of symptoms listed here, you should have the blood and/or urine tests performed that are listed below. (Note: This lab information is specific to a hospital in the Washington, Pa area)

Symptoms may include:
Fatigue, skin rashes, headaches, nose bleeds, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Find more symptoms listed below:

IMPOUNDMENT #1
Waynesburg 'stink' pit

Shortly after one gas drilling company reported
the "exciting new breakthrough" of being able
to use recycled wastewater, this news article
appeared in the Washington Penna.
Observer-Reporter newspaper...

Odor near I-79 investigated

10/24/2009
Observer-Reporter
Washington, PA

WAYNESBURG - Some said it smelled like sewage and others said it was like dead fish but officials believe the odor that occasionally permeated the area near the Waynesburg interchange of Interstate 79 this week originated from bacteria in a nearby natural gas drilling retention pond.

Impoundment near I-79 interchange in Waynesburg

Jeff Marshall, director of the county Department of Emergency Management, said his office had received a few calls, starting Monday, regarding the odor. One was from the state Correctional Institution at Greene, which is near the drilling site.

The state Department of Environmental Protection was asked to investigate the matter, Marshall said. The DEP could not be reached Friday for comment. Marshall said, however, his office was informed by the DEP the smell came from bacteria in a retention pond at a drilling site near the interstate.

The DEP said the odor is nontoxic and does not present any environmental problems, Marshall said. Marshall didn't know the name of the drilling company working at the site, but he was told the company is taking care of the problem.

Waynesburg impoundment remains after drilling has been completed

IMPOUNDMENT #2
Bednarski Impoundment Dam

April 2009
Stone entry road has been constructed and earth moving is under way

High wall on the back of the future impoundment

The bottom of the new impoundment being excavated and compacted

Long gravel access road leading back out. Black pipe carries fluids.

Looking at impoundment construction from the main road.

Six months later the impoundment is full and has a portable pump set-up with fluid pipes running to and from the site for fracking wells a few miles away

Impoundment during winter 2009-2010

Impoundment will provide fluids for fracking
this nearby Marcellus well and many others

Brown and white residues indicate this freshwater impoundment is now being used to hold recycled gas drilling wastewater, produced water or flowback

Relining a Marcellus Shale impoundment dam

August 2010
The Bednarski Impoundment has been drained
so this new liner can be installed

June 2011

Rust-colored "recycled" frack water

Surface disturbance is visible from 8 submerged 'mixers'

December 2011

Pennsylvania DEP Inspection
3-30-2011

Violation ID

Date

Violation Description

615314

03/30/2011

Failure to properly control or dispose of industrial or residual waste to prevent pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth.

Resolution: Corrected/Abated

PA Code Legal Citation: 25 Pa. Code 78.54 : PA Code Website

Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety

Related Enforcements

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 272563	Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation	Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed: 07/15/2011	Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status: Comply/Closed
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 2

Violation ID

Date

Violation Description

615315

03/30/2011

Failure to properly store, transport, process or dispose of a residual waste.

Resolution: Corrected/Abated

PA Code Legal Citation: 35 P.S. 6018.301 : PA Code Website

Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety

Related Enforcements

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 272563	Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation	Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed: 07/15/2011	Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status: Comply/Closed
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 2

Pennsylvania DEP Inspection
3-17-2010

Site ID:

723009

Site Name:

BEDNARSKI IMPOUNDMENT DAM
PERMIT 95-7-60915-1

Client List:

RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC (141142)

Municipality:

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP

County:

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Site Permits

Authorization ID:

798407

Authorization Type:

Centralized Impoundment Dam

Date received:

5/14/2009

Issued:

6/24/2009

Site-Level and Primary Facility-Level Inspections

Inspection Date:

3/17/2010

Inspection ID:

1873352

Compliance Evaluation:

Incident- Response to Accident or Event

Inspection Results:

Violation(s) Noted

Violation ID:

584168

Violation Description:

There is a potential for polluting substance(s) reaching Waters of the Commonwealth and may require a permit.

Resolution: Corrected/Abated

PA Code Legal Citation: P.L. 1987 402

Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 261673	Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation	Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed: 04/07/2010	Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status: Comply/Closed
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 2

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 256598	Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation	Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed: 04/07/2010	Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status: Comply/Closed
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 1

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 272171	Penalty Final Date: 06/28/2011
Enforcement Type: Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty	Penalty Amount Assessed: 49500
Date Executed: 06/28/2011	Total Amount Due: 0
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected: 49500
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status: Completed
Enforcement Status: Comply/Closed
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 10

IMPOUNDMENT #3
Best Impoundment (Removed)

Residues mark past fluid levels on the black liner of this impoundment

Neighbors say the odors from this impoundment range from that of kerosene to raw sewage. Headaches and nausea have resulted from breathing the fumes.

YouTube Video of Impoundment

Flaring too close to the pit (flare shown in the photo below) caused the black liner to catch on fire. The yellow arrow shows where the burned liner had to be replaced. How much fluid escaped?

Photos of impoundment fire New!

This was the flare that caused the pit liner to catch on fire.

Impoundments are never supposed to get this full. It seems obvious this one overflowed into the spillway. Where did the fluids go?

Neighbors rallied to get this stink pit removed
YouTube of meeting

   Yuk!

May 19, 2010 - Update
This impoundment was removed due to all the complaints.
Proof of what citizen involvement and pressure
by neighbors can accomplish.

IMPOUNDMENT #4

Newly constructed impoundment.

Many of the seams don't appear to be sealed, leading to the likelihood of seeps.

White deposits on the black liner.

This new impoundment is only partially full, so water drawn from streams, lakes or other impoundments will be piped or trucked in.

IMPOUNDMENT #5
Stewart Impoundment

How would you like this impoundment
above your house and water well?

Stewart Impoundment

Stewart Impoundment
June 2011

Stewart Impoundment
December 2011

IMPOUNDMENTS #6 & #7
Avolio Impoundments

Dual impoundments at Avolio site
Near the intersection of Rt 844 and Rt 231
between Independence and Avella, Pa

Three impoundments by the summer of 2010

December 2011

December 2011

IMPOUNDMENT #8
Goettel Freshwater Impoundment

Goettel Freshwater Impoundment
near Goettel Unit

IMPOUNDMENT #9
Carter Impoundment Dam

Carter impoundment dam
December 10, 2011

Violation ID	Date	Violation Description
611883	03/21/2011	Failure to properly store, transport, process or dispose of a residual waste.
		Resolution:
		PA Code Legal Citation: 35 P.S. 6018.301 : PA Code Website
		Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety
		Enforcement Type: No Enforcement Data

Violation ID

Date

Violation Description

611882

03/21/2011

Failure to properly control or dispose of industrial or residual waste to prevent pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth.

Resolution:

PA Code Legal Citation: 25 Pa. Code 78.54 : PA Code Website

Violation Type: Environmental Health & Safety

Related Enforcements

Please note: the following related enforcement data is accumulated from possibly many different sites/facilities that may be unrelated to the facility for this inspection.
Enforcement ID: 270908	Penalty Final Date:
Enforcement Type: Notice of Violation	Penalty Amount Assessed:
Date Executed: 05/25/2011	Total Amount Due:
Taken Against: RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC	Total Amount Collected:
On Appeal? N	Penalty Status:
Enforcement Status:
# of Violations Addressed by this Enforcement and Penalty Action (possibly from many facilities): 2