DEP investigates spill at gas well site in Washington Co.
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The state Department of Environmental Protection is continuing its investigation of the second spill in three months of condensate - "wet gases" and contaminated drilling liquids - at a Chevron-Appalachia Marcellus Shale gas well operation in Robinson Township, Washington County.
John Poister, a DEP spokesman, said today the spilled condensate was discovered last Thursday by a township employee inspecting a gas pipeline facility nearby. The spill had run into Bigger Run Creek, a tributary of Raccoon Creek. He had no information about whether fish or aquatic life were killed, but cleanup crews placed absorbent material in the creek on Friday.
Mr. Poister said he did not know how much condensate material was spilled. He said DEP is trying to determine the amount and the cause.
Department investigators were at the scene Friday and plan to return this week.
Mr. Poister said Chevron-Appalachia is continuing remediation work that started in December when the first condensate spill occurred. The company has dug up and filled more than 10 Dumpsters with contaminated soil. The DEP has not issued a violation notice for either spill.
First Published February 19, 2012 12:42 pm
