Recent Bradford County spill results in $52/gal fine. Company investigated by US Dept of Justice, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Back in February of this year, an estimated 295 gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled from a tank located at a well site in Asylum Twp, Bradford County.  On Monday, December 7, PA's Department of Environmental Protection issued a press release stating the two companies involved--Chesapeake Appalachia LLC and Schlumberger Technology Corp of Midland TX would each be fined $15,557 (or roughly $50 per gallon spilled).  According to the PRESS RELEASE, clean up involved the following:

• A contractor "removed free-standing acid from the ground with absorbent pads"
• Trenches were excavated to contain the spill
• Contaminated soil was neutralized with "soda ash and hydrated lime"
• Approximately 125 tons of contaminated soil had to be excavated
• Nearly 14,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid and water mixture were removed from the site 
• An additional 11,000 gallons of acid was transfered from the faulty tank to temporary tanks

Schlumberger Technology Corp is one of the country's leaders in the use of hydraulic fracturing (Halliburton is the other).  The company has been the focus of many investigations including:

• that of a team led by Erin Brockovich (remember the movie?) for a spill in Midland, TX.  You can see footage of Brockovich on a CBS appearance HERE
• STC is suspected to be the cause of 16 cattle dropping dead in a field recently in Louisiana after drinking a mysterious fluid in a field next to a drilling rig.  
• recently been investigated by the US Dept of Justice for having violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in their oil & gas business in Nigeria.
• Investigated and fined by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for having "willfully failed to perform required radiation surveys" in Montana resulting in the exposure of 31 workers to hazardous radioactive material.  Read the full Notice of Violation HERE.

Gas leases in Wellsboro, PA filed illegally

WELLSBORO -- A WENY-TV News investigation shows that there could be a large number of natural gas leases in Pennsylvania that were filed illegally.  The legality of the leases is linked to the process taken by natural gas companies when the leases are signed.  


See video and full story on WENY's site.

Meeting in Mansfield, December 16, of Tioga County Natural Gas Task Force

Wednesday, December 16th @ 7:30pm, there will be a meeting of the Tioga County Natural Gas Task Force.  The meeting will take place at Main Street Yoga Studio in Mansfield, PA.  If you are from Wellsboro and are planning on attending, there's at least one person with a need to hitch a ride.  Save gas and do a good deed!  For custom directions, click here.


For more info on the carpool need--and a great blog besides--see this post from  How do we do the mountain.

Reminder: training to be held tomorrow (Tue) evening in Wellsboro

Please note that the location has been changed to the Deane Center in Wellsboro.  You can view the original blog post with all the details here.  For directions to the Deane Center, you can enter your home address and obtain directions via this googlemaps link.  If you are so inclined, please share any important information you might obtain either here or on our Facebook page.  Many thanks!