DEP fines gas company over spills

Tunkhannock Times // News

October 22

The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. $56,650 for three spills of a water/liquid gel mixture at its Heitsman natural gas well in

Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, last month.

“This penalty was assessed for Cabot’s violations of the Clean Streams Law, Solid Waste Management Act and Oil and Gas Act,” said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell, in a release. “We expect that Cabot will do a better job in the future of overseeing its contractors now that the company has an improved preparedness, prevention and contingency plan in place.”

Cabot had two spills at its Heitsman well on Sept. 16 and a third spill on Sept. 22. The spills totaled about 8,000 gallons and caused pollution in Stevens Creek and a nearby wetland. All three spills involved a water/liquid gel mixture used in the hydro fracturing process.

On Sept. 24, DEP ordered Cabot to cease all hydro fracturing in Susquehanna County and submit an updated plan and an engineering study. Cabot submitted those documents on Oct. 6.

DEP reviewed and approved the documents on Oct. 16, and gave Cabot the approval to resume hydro fracturing in the county.

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Malcolm E. Hudgeon said...

So the fine is Paid to the County???

October 22, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Don Williams said...

This miniscule fine is equivalent to a slap on the wrist with a limp noodle. Cabot reported a quarterly profit of $41.4 million in July. How about a fine of 5% of that amount - $2.07M. That would get their attention. The DEP is an anathema and long overdue for a major overhaul.

October 22, 2009 at 4:10 PM

Malcolm E. Hudgeon said...

It does seem that something is askew at the DEP. They are Reactive, as opposed to Proactive. In my estimation when they issue permits it should mean that the operation is compliant to industry standards, and has adequate safegaurds to avoid environmental contamination. This explains why I can't hold a job.

October 24, 2009 at 1:29 AM