Neighbor: Wastewater ‘soup of uncertainty’

Public hearing held by DEP Oct. 20 regarding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit application for Meshoppen Creek

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

TUNKHANNOCK - Mixing the waters of Meshoppen Creek with the natural gas wastewater could be a recipe for disaster, according to some local residents. Those residents presented that message to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection at a public hearing on Oct. 20 at Tunkhannock Middle School.

The hearing was part of the DEP’s public comment process for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit application, which would allow Wyoming Somerset Regional Water Resources Corp. to discharge treated wastewater from natural gas drilling into Meshoppen Creek in Lemon Township. Wyoming Somerset is owned by Larry Mostoller, who operates a similar plant in Somerset County, and Phillip Brown, a resident of Lemon Township. The plant would be constructed on property owned by Brown.

Ron Schlicher of MWH Consultants, an engineering firm hired by Wyoming Somerset, said that the goal is for 100 percent of the treated wastewater to be reused by the natural gas companies or for farming and livestock. Schlicher added that minerals recovered from the treatment process could also be reused.

The permit would allow Wyoming Somerset to discharge up to 380,000 gallons daily into the creek, a number that caused concern among some of those attending the hearing. Gail Brown, who lives near the proposed site, said that the creek is an average of two feet deep and has a low flow even during rainy seasons. “To consider discharging any amount into Meshoppen Creek would be detrimental,” Brown said. “However, to discharge the amount proposed would be catastrophic.” Brown called the treated wastewater a “soup of uncertainty” and said there was no way that Wyoming Somerset or the DEP could guarantee that the wastewater was safe enough to be discharged into a waterway.

Brown’s sentiments were echoed not only by local residents but by those who crossed county and state lines to be heard. Don Williams, of Harleysville, Bucks County, said that the discharge of wastewater into Meshoppen Creek flies in the face of the state Constitution, which preserves the rights of its citizens to have clean air and water. “As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and per our Constitution, I believe these are our lands and these are our waters,” he said. John Anthony Miller, a professional engineer from New Jersey, questioned the application, which excludes details about the proposed plant’s design. “It’s very important that this is done right, and it is important that the details are noted in the application,” said Miller.

DEP officials said that the discharge application did not require design details; these would be included in the second part of the application process.

Others were concerned about the discharge’s influence on the creek’s ecosystem. Lee Ann Phinney of Lemon Township said that the creek is inhabited by several endangered species including a globally rare insect. “This means that the quality of this water is of extremely high quality and it needs to be protected,” Phinney said.

The hearing was attended by state Rep. Sandra Major, R-Susquehanna, Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Jackson Township, and an assistant for Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake. Also attending the meeting was Lemon Township Supervisor John Keefe, who said that he wanted to hear what effect the plant would have on the creek and the community. Keefe said that the proposed site for the plant is on the site of the former Siltex plant, a Superfund site which was reclaimed under Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling program.

Mostoller cited his commitment to producing clean water from the plant. “The intent of this company and its applicants is to take waters from the natural gas industry and clean them,” he said, adding that the treated water would be of drinking water quality. “I didn’t come here to hurt you folks. My number one goal is to help you get clean water.”

At least one person disagreed. “I don’t think your number one goal is to clean water, I think your goal is to make money,” said Scott Davis of Tunkhannock, who asked that the DEP protect the wildlife of Meshoppen Creek as well as the residents nearby.

Wyoming Somerset is the second company in Wyoming County to apply for an NPDES permit. On Oct. 6, the DEP held a public hearing for North Branch Processing LLC, a proposed plant which would operate along the Susquehanna River in Eaton Township. That company sought a permit to discharge 500,000 gallons into the river. Environmental Program Manager Kate Crowley said that the DEP has received two additional applications to treat natural gas wastewater from public sewer facilities in Luzerne County.

DEP Spokesman Mark Carmon said that the public comment period for Wyoming Somerset’s NPDES application will remain open until the close of business on Oct. 30. The permit application is available for public view at the Tunkhannock Public Library.