Dear Friend, Eureka Resources is proposing to construct a fracking waste storage and treatment facility in Dimock, PA that will process 189,000 gallons of “oil and gas liquid waste” per day while generating 29,200 tons of potentially dangerous “wet salt” per year. The waste processing will largely consist of heating and treating the gas drilling waste in order to separate the waste into 2 substances: water to be reused in fracking operations and “sodium chloride salt cake” to be shipped offsite to another waste facility. There are major deficiencies in this proposal and Clean Air Council urges you to oppose it. Comments are due today. In its application, Eureka incorrectly claimed that Susquehanna County did not have a comprehensive plan while the county has well-established plans for local development. The Susquehanna County Comprehensive Plan specifically mentions that local government “must monitor the continuing gas development.” Industry should be obligated to communicate with local government. Eureka also failed to indicate in their permit application that their Wysox, PA Standing Stone facility had both Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act violations in the last 2 years. Industry is required to acknowledge previous environmental violations. In a different part of the permit application, Eureka specifically mentions that the “The Susquehanna facility will be similar in size and design to the Standing Stone facility.” It is also concerning that the facilities main waste product “wet sodium chloride salt cake”, has no specific destination for further processing, which will be required as this substance is a regulated waste containing potential environmental contaminants. The proposal contains several potential destinations for this waste product including being deep well injected “likely in Ohio or West Virginia”. The proposal also mentions it could be sent to another waste treatment site or stored onsite for potential “beneficial use”. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and impacted residents should not accept vagueness from such a serious permit application. Eureka Resources should be made to describe the exact destination of this potentially dangerous waste product. It is disturbing that a product that would have to be further treated or deep well injected out of state, could also be “beneficially used” in Pennsylvania. Please tell DEP to reject this incomplete and haphazard application. | |
Joseph Otis Minott, Esq.
Executive Director and Chief Counsel | |
